Listening to people reporting that they've had trouble getting it to compress makes me realize just how hard I hit. I've got to keep the input at ~8-10 am to not get full-meter compression.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Embarrassing MXR M87 bass comp question...
- Thread starter Bassmike62
- Start date
Yes, it totally does. As others have pointed out this is a super fast compresor, so with the knob at 3 o'clock most of you attack is being compressed. I personally set the knob at 9:00, and anything past 10:00 is already to fast for my taste.
To the OP, if you really want to see what the compressor is doing, I'd suggest the following:
1. Set the compression ratio to the max (20:1) and cranck the input so most of the leds are lighting when you play. This should make the compression much more obvious and ease the adjustment of the attack and release times (you should be able to hear much easier how much of the attack the compression is taking away and how much it takes to the volume to go back to normal). Keep in mind that long release time may also suck out the attack of the folloging note, so don't forget to play some 8ths and 16ths while adjusting the knobs.
2. Once you have the attack and release set more or less to your liking, set the compression ratio where you want it (4:1 in your case) and re-adjust the attack and release if necessary.
3. Finally, back down the input to achive the amount of compression that you would like and make the final fine-tune adjustments to the attack and release (which at these point won't probably be necessary).
After all this, you'll probably notice that you ended up with the same setting as you started
. BTW, those settings that you describe in the OP are VERY close to the ones I use 
. It doesn't surprise me that you have difficulties to hear what the effect is doing; with those setting this compressor is as subtle as it gets 
.
1. Set the compression ratio to the max (20:1) and cranck the input so most of the leds are lighting when you play. This should make the compression much more obvious and ease the adjustment of the attack and release times (you should be able to hear much easier how much of the attack the compression is taking away and how much it takes to the volume to go back to normal). Keep in mind that long release time may also suck out the attack of the folloging note, so don't forget to play some 8ths and 16ths while adjusting the knobs.
2. Once you have the attack and release set more or less to your liking, set the compression ratio where you want it (4:1 in your case) and re-adjust the attack and release if necessary.
3. Finally, back down the input to achive the amount of compression that you would like and make the final fine-tune adjustments to the attack and release (which at these point won't probably be necessary).
After all this, you'll probably notice that you ended up with the same setting as you started
. BTW, those settings that you describe in the OP are VERY close to the ones I use . It doesn't surprise me that you have difficulties to hear what the effect is doing; with those setting this compressor is as subtle as it gets .
Thanks for your replies, this helps me a great deal. I've not quoted everybody, but did take notes from just about every post.
I did read the manual about setting up the input at a level generating 3-5 leds, but I honestly didn't believe I had to crank it up that much. Since most comments I'm getting also point in that direction, I'm now cranking the input at 3 oc (all other knobs at noon with the ratio set at 4:1) and am getting in the 3-7 leds area, but I have to play fairly hard (for me). And 2 other things: (1) this tells me I'm a light player, which I had not really paid attention to and (2) my American Standard Jazz's output is low.
@XLunacy : lesson learned as for using another player's settings. Also, I still can't feel the difference, but I'm now seeing the Led's behaviour. So at least, I now know my unit is not defective.
@Wito :as for the attack, I think I can feel the muffling with the knob set @ 3 oc, does that make sense ?
All this also tells me that I have still much more to learn about compression and will have to invest more time than anticipated with this pedal, if only to justify to myself how much I paid for it. Interesting challenge for a mostly-set-and-forget guy
So I run my input sensitivity at between 2:30 and 4:30 (just looked over right now, it's at 3:00), this is a normal playing weight for me.
Edit: I meant 4:30
1. Set the compression ratio to the max (20:1) and cranck the input so most of the leds are lighting when you play. This should make the compression much more obvious and ease the adjustment of the attack and release times (you should be able to hear much easier how much of the attack the compression is taking away and how much it takes to the volume to go back to normal). Keep in mind that long release time may also suck out the attack of the folloging note, so don't forget to play some 8ths and 16ths while adjusting the knobs.
2. Once you have the attack and release set more or less to your liking, set the compression ratio where you want it (4:1 in your case) and re-adjust the attack and release if necessary.
3. Finally, back down the input to achive the amount of compression that you would like and make the final fine-tune adjustments to the attack and release (which at these point won't probably be necessary).
After all this, you'll probably notice that you ended up with the same setting as you started
After applying trying this, I'm hearing a bit more of what this comp does. Can't say its obvious to my ears, but I'm starting to get a feel for it. For now, I'm keeping the attack @ 10 oc, input @ 3oc, ratio @4:1 and the output and release @ noon. Definitely not a plug-and-play comp, but I'm moving forward.
Thx
