Whoever told you that is misinformed… I’ve never even heard of that and I spend wayyyy to much time researching bass stuff and not enough time playing.
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Do you user a compressor with an active bass?
- Thread starter Just Wrong
- Start date
active or passive has no impact on the need for a compressor, that's hogwash. compressors control dynamics, so unless for some reason active basses have no change in volume on the output, not matter how hard or soft you play, you can still benefit from a compressors just the same as with a passive bass
You're getting some bad info there, or you've misunderstood what you read. If anything, an active bass may have a bit more dynamic range than passive and a compressor could be more desirable. Not saying that's the case, but it is far more likely than active electronics themselves compressing, which that just doesn't happen. Also, your comment about tube amps is incorrect. The self-compression a good tube amp enters prior to breakup is indeed the same compression - compression is compression - it's just not controllable in terms of attack, release and ratio (which would be a bonus for most players as most who use compressors I am convinced have no notion of what these parameters do, or what a compressor itself does for that matter). It is also much more complex in that tube amp self-compression is not linear, much like an analog tape deck's hysteresis curve.
To answer your question though, I've been a bassist since 1966, have owned active, but now have all passive basses (though a new custom-built active is on the way) and I have never used a compressor in my chain other than in the studio, and that a rack-mount studio-quality compressor. But never a pedal, and never live.
The first time I heard you need a compressor for an active bass was your post right here.
If you boost a lot of bass/low mids and the compressor doesn't have a high pass filter it's really easy to overcompress. Also what you think sounds good on stage may not work out in front or "on tape", and it's easier to add compression at the board than undo whatever the player has added.
- Aug 21, 2003
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That’s certainly an option when setting up a signal chain but there are as many options to setting up a signal chain as there are people setting them up and my typical signal chain looks nothing like what you’re describing. In a live setting I usually aim for as much clean headroom as possible straight through the chain. On a rock gig I might opt to hit the first gain stage in my amp a little harder, so that will compress a bit. I leave the amp’s onboard limiter defeated. If the FOH engineer wants to add compression in the mix (and most do) I leave that to their discretion. I am definitely NOT looking for multiple sources of compression throughout my signal path. That doesn’t make your approach wrong, but it’s wrong for me.
Can? Absolutely. Should? That’s all about context and preferences.
I assume this idea came about because the transistors in the pre-amp technically do compress the signal but hardly noticeable to me if at all.
Because,
a passive signal also compresses ever so slightly if the cable is more than a few ft.
However, in the wild I've noticed. Players with-out compression units more often use passive basses classic simplicity.
Either way, I always use a compressor.
The compression of an all tube amp just isn't very controlable.
Ratio, attack and release are all miserably tied to volume...
So for example, you cant simply dial in a higher ratio, slow attack (to preserve transient) and fast release, not even at high volume.
Because,
a passive signal also compresses ever so slightly if the cable is more than a few ft.
However, in the wild I've noticed. Players with-out compression units more often use passive basses classic simplicity.
Either way, I always use a compressor.
The compression of an all tube amp just isn't very controlable.
Ratio, attack and release are all miserably tied to volume...
So for example, you cant simply dial in a higher ratio, slow attack (to preserve transient) and fast release, not even at high volume.
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One more Markbass Compressore user here; light settings for the benefit of the octave(up)after it. Dirt, then a bass wah(as opposed to a dynamic filter)next, on to a preamp(Radial Bassbone), modulation in the FX loop. Passive, active, steam powered, it doesn’t matter.
Not only do I use one, but I'm just about to permanently install one onboard my main bass.
As many have said before, compression has nothing to do with the bass being active or passive.
As many have said before, compression has nothing to do with the bass being active or passive.
When I refer to an amps onboard limiter, I am not necessarily referring to the compression/limiter controls on the panel.
Many (most?) amps have failsafe limiting circuits to prevent unsafe spikes. Those are rather important. FOH does too.
Those are the "shoulds" I refer to.
I use an Empress bass compressor with my active Stingray. End of the chain. I also use a lot of dirt which people say compresses as well. Still run the compressor at the end. I don’t live life based on other people’s opinions. It works for me.
Seymour Duncan Studio Bass. I’ve also used the Empress Bass Comp and Keeley Bassist but prefer the SD to both.
I use quite a lot of compression on my Stingray. I have my Darkglass X Ultra at the end of my chain in full bandwidth (blue) mode, with the compressor up around 2:00.
I think the main consideration when picking a compressor for an active bass is simply making sure it can handle the amount of signal. Passive bass is easy mode. Almost anything will work. I used to use a Wampler Ego on my P bass and it sounded awesome. When I switched to my Stingray, the Ego just couldn't handle the signal well enough. I had to lower the compression and raise the clean blend to the point where it was too subtle for me.
What I like about the X Ultra is that I can set the compression pretty high and get that liquid sustain but it'll still feel dynamic to play and handle other things running into it really well. Even if I run a clean blended big muff and an octaver into it, it doesn't choke.
I think the main consideration when picking a compressor for an active bass is simply making sure it can handle the amount of signal. Passive bass is easy mode. Almost anything will work. I used to use a Wampler Ego on my P bass and it sounded awesome. When I switched to my Stingray, the Ego just couldn't handle the signal well enough. I had to lower the compression and raise the clean blend to the point where it was too subtle for me.
What I like about the X Ultra is that I can set the compression pretty high and get that liquid sustain but it'll still feel dynamic to play and handle other things running into it really well. Even if I run a clean blended big muff and an octaver into it, it doesn't choke.
