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Good Compressor for Harmonics?

chaosMK

chaosMK

May 26, 2005
5,549
1,675
Albuquerque, NM
Disclosures
Too much hip thrust
#1
Hi All,

I am in the market for a compressor and have found there is a really wide range of them in terms of products and also the specific features offered.

One thing that I am hoping to get out of a compressor would be enhanced (natural) harmonics. I've heard that a compressor can cause them to "jump out." With the wide range of products/features out there, which work best for this kind of thing? Another question I have is, to do harmonics do you need a compressor with controls for x-over, or would one without work fine?
 
#2
Hey, I just bought an Aphex Punch Factory $139. The thing is great. It doesn't destroy your tone and yes the harmonics leap from your bass. I looked for a compressor for a long time and bought and traded and tried tons of them and this one won the day. It also has a built in DI which I haven't tried yet. Also there's a switch for active or passive basses. I am confident you would love it!
 
#5
I just got the Aphex as well and it's a fantastic compressor. It really is very transparent. I didn't get a chance to fiddle with the settings (well... the two knobs :p) a whole lot yet but so far I'm very happy with this compressor.
 
#6
I have heard that the punch factory is very ...."tame" or doesn't seem to do very much so, I didn't bother to try one. I actually use the boss bass limiter/compressor (light blue pedal) which is great for natural and billy sheehan pinch harmonics. It sounds very much like the built in compressor found on the ampeg svt-4 pro head. I swore that I would never use a boss bass pedal but bought it when had to play a last minute gig and my rig was in another town. It is now in my rack with "snob" gear. I love it.
 
#7
I just got one too. It's really a great compressor. It's so good you almost can't tell its on. It doesn't color your tone, or completely squash it. I got it cause I'm playing in a metal band right now thats tuned to C. I was having problems with the lower notes just souding like doo-doo. The ahpex tightened it right up, in a very natural way.

Edit: I've also heard great things about Demeter's Compulator.
 
#8
kringle77 said:
I have heard that the punch factory is very ...."tame" or doesn't seem to do very much so, I didn't bother to try one. .
Click to expand...


actually that is why everyone says its so good, cause it douesnd affect your tone, just your dynamics....

i never played one, i own the boss, but the next compressor ill get will be a a dbx rack compressor, using it stereo afeter my crrossover, so it`ll be like a 2 band compresor.
 
#9
Good idea! I guess it's all preference. I like the compressor that brings out harmonics and sustain. Ones like EBS are not for me. They are very even but seem to really just be a limiter. I think thats what most people are going for. Not really compression.
 

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