Here's what I want. Should I compress?

[scottfeldstein]

It's still the case, though, that he has the time and experience to test these units in ways that I myself cannot. His reviews are therefore pretty valuable to me.

With that said, I did in fact buy a unit that is not reviewed there at all

 

[Uncle Walt]

I'm not 100% a compressor is the right move. If you decide to go that way I'm a HUGE fan of the Symetrix 501 Comp nice rack mount, you can get 'em cheap and they are amazingly perfect for Bass. The limter leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't use it as a limter anyway.

The next question is where do you put it in your signal chain. The effect you want (from your explaination) is to have it between the amp and the cab. You obviously can't pump 500 watts through your comp. So you either have to run it after the bass and before the pre or thought the FX loop after the pre before the Power amp.

If you opt for between the pre and the power there are alot of variables. Does your amp include the EQ in the loop or is the EQ post loop, etc.

If you run your comp before your pre you will need to readjust your gain structure to achieve a similar tone to what your used to.

I used to run a 501 comp between the pre and power of my GK 1000rb but since I switched to Genz I ditched the comp and I set the tube channle's gain and EQ for finger style and the FET channel for slap.

Hope that helps some.

 

[Uncle Walt]

Oops looks like I was a little late with my chime in.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I've read his little reviews, and I'm still not star-struck. Seems like a guy who likes compression, has some worthy opinions and takes some time to write about them. Very helpful, but still not prepared to anoint him "compressor God."

Stick around for more than two days and you may have a different opinion. I believe he prefers "His Royal Compressor Highness".

 

[chessrocks]

If you decide to go that way I'm a HUGE fan of the Symetrix 501 Comp nice rack mount, you can get 'em cheap and they are amazingly perfect for Bass.

Listen to this man. For he speaks with great wisdom in the mythical arts of compression. A fine and worthy unit this symetrix 501 is. But beware the different models.

Much magic lies within the one that has been so endowed with toggle switch of shiny silver. A rare piece of treasure this one is, and it will reward you with sonic riches.

Now go, young man, and seeketh.

 

[boomertech]

I've read his little reviews, and I'm still not star-struck. Seems like a guy who likes compression, has some worthy opinions and takes some time to write about them. Very helpful, but still not prepared to anoint him "compressor God."

By looking at your join date I was giving you the benefit of the doubt that you didn’t make the connection between Bongo and the comp review site.

The site Bongo has built has taken years and thousands of hours of work. Most people here recognize all of that work and respect his unbiased reviews. When he finds a quirk with a compressor he contacts the manufacturer to address it before he mentions it in his review (that is professional respect!). If he hears of some issues with a compressor that he didn’t see with the initial review, he will buy or borrow the compressor again to reevaluate and update the review appropriately. He has also spent countless hours answering questions that people have not only with compression, but with all technical aspects of signal processing.

It appears that you are bothered with his well deserved reputation for his work and knowledge. If you disagree with his reviews and advice, that's fine, but you should make your point in a manner so that we all can benefit.

Stick around for more than two days and you may have a different opinion. I believe he prefers "His Royal Compressor Highness".

+1

I picture Bongo’s girlfriend or wife with ratio and threshold tattoos.

-Frank

 

[MultiScaleMale]

+1

I picture Bongo’s girlfriend or wife with ratio and threshold tattoos.

-Frank

I sooooo want to make a comment.

 

[J-O]

Hmm..

Chessrocks = Mark Olson?

Just a thought, and otherwise a good thread.

 

[MuthaFunk]

For posterity: I just pulled the trigger on the MXR M87 Bass Compressor. It still doesn't have a review over at Bongo's place, but seems just like the Aguilar TLC only with a visible meter on it.

Maybe I'll post a review once it arrives.

I have a bunch of different compressors including the MXR M87 and the TLC. You know, they do sound rather different. I'm waiting to play a couple of gigs with the MXR M87 before I write up my review but I can tell you that the M87 has a very quiet audible sign when the signal crosses the threshold at high gain reductions that the TLC doesn't and the TLC imparts a slight 1/2 db frequency bump in the upper mids of the signal giving the TLC some serious presence when compared to the clean and M87. I really like the TLC a lot for the way it makes my Walkabout Scout jump out of the combo but it isn't as transparent as the M87. I mostly use compressors at a low ratio and minimal gain reduction when playing the highest notes.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Good to know! I have uploaded the M87 into the Reviews area, anticipating someone like yourself would step forward and share. You can count on me (a compression novice, admittedly) to do so as well once I've used it for a couple of weeks.

The reason I went with the M87 over the TLC is because of the visible metering.

 

[chessrocks]

Most people here recognize all of that work and respect his unbiased reviews.

And you can count me in with that group, for the most part.

It appears that you are bothered with his well deserved reputation for his work and knowledge.

Bothered is a pretty strong term. What someone does with their time is their thing. I'm a gearhead myself, so who am I to be bothered by someone who likes talking about gear?

If you disagree with his reviews and advice, that's fine, but you should make your point in a manner so that we all can benefit.

Alright, then here goes. This bongo guy has a lot of good things to say. I've used most of the same units that he has reviewed, and a number of units he hasn't. And a lot of my observations mirror his own.

However, in reading his reviews, I have run in to enough "What the frock?" moments that I have concluded, as I normally do in these situations ... that he is just one guy with an opinion on things. And that when it comes right down to it, you should become comfortable enough with compression (or any other effect), that you can learn to trust your own ears and your own judgement, rather than waiting for the resident "compressor guru" to give something his holy blessing.

 

[scottfeldstein]

when it comes right down to it, you should become comfortable enough with compression (or any other effect), that you can learn to trust your own ears and your own judgement, rather than waiting for the resident "compressor guru" to give something his holy blessing.

I think that's putting it a little strongly. It's just a fact that I don't have the time or the resources to carefully compare fifteen different compressors to find the one that will make me happiest.

It's certainly true that one day, after months of owning my new compressor, I'll suddenly have a different one put in front of me and I'll play with it and say "gee, I don't like it as well as my own" or "wow, that's better than the one I have!" This kind of experience, coming few and far between, isn't a sound method of selecting a product from a sea of competitors.

It makes much more sense to start from a position where I've carefully read thorough reviews written by someone who's compared dozens and dozens of these products. Multiple someones, if possible. After that I stand a much greater chance of getting something I'll be happy with right off the bat.

As a photographer I wouldn't dream of buying a camera until after I'd read thorough reviews of it on my favorite gear sites. I can't select a model on the "just shoot them all and see which one YOU like best" principle. I can't borrow eight different camera bodies for a weekend each and make a thorough comparative study of the results. It's not that they know more about photography than I do. It's that they've undertaken a lot of the grunt work in making the decision. And I'm dang grateful for it!

At the very least, such reviews can help me narrow my choice down to a couple so I can do a small comparison of my own between them.

 

[chessrocks]

It makes much more sense to start from a position where I've carefully read thorough reviews written by someone who's compared dozens and dozens of these products. Multiple someones, if possible. After that I stand a much greater chance of getting something I'll be happy with right off the bat.

And we all do that. It's a logical way of doing things, and it's leveraging all of the great things the internets have to offer.

I'm jut saying that, when it comes to things like compression (and audio gear in general), there is maybe only one guy who I've run across on the message board circuit ... who's opinions I trust enough to say ... "I'm going to wait until this guy chimes in" before making a decision.

And his name is Scott Dorsey. Not this Bongo guy, even though I like a lot of what he has to say. Not even Harvey Gerst or Fletcher (Mercenary Audio). Now if I somehow find out that this Bongo dude is actually Scott Dorsey, then I will take back everything I just said.

Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand ... it just gets a little annoying when every single thread you read about compressors ... someone is holding their breath waiting for Bongo to tell them whether it's okay to put something on their list. That's all I'm saying. It's nothing against him at all. I'm just annoyed at people's lack of confidence in their own listening skills, and blind faith in another persons' opinions.

 

[JehuJava]

That's cause he's the pope of compression...

 

[phatbass]

Depending on your budget, I like the Boss LMB-3. Around 50 bucks or so off eBay and you'll always get your money back when you sell it if you decide you don't like it.

It's transparent and subtle enough for live use on the rare occasions I want a compressor. Has the most important controls, Ratio and Threshold (I absolutely LOATHE one knob compressors) and the fixed attack and release times seem fine for Bass use. I don't use the Enhance control, BTW, so I won't comment. And as usual for Boss it's pretty well indestructible.

Studio use is a different matter; this is why the studios have the gazillion dlollar units.

 

[boomertech]

...And I don't understand why people feel like they need this "Bongo" guy to bless it, as if he were the pope of compression.

...Very helpful, but still not prepared to anoint him "compressor God."

Bothered is a pretty strong term. What someone does with their time is their thing. I'm a gearhead myself, so who am I to be bothered by someone who likes talking about gear?

...rather than waiting for the resident "compressor guru" to give something his holy blessing.

I'm jut saying that, when it comes to things like compression (and audio gear in general), there is maybe only one guy who I've run across on the message board circuit ... who's opinions I trust enough to say ... "I'm going to wait until this guy chimes in" before making a decision.

And his name is Scott Dorsey.

Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand ... it just gets a little annoying when every single thread you read about compressors ... someone is holding their breath waiting for Bongo to tell them whether it's okay to put something on their list. That's all I'm saying. It's nothing against him at all. I'm just annoyed at people's lack of confidence in their own listening skills, and blind faith in another persons' opinions.

OK… so you are not bothered but you are annoyed. My apologies for seeing your statements as being bothered instead of annoyed.

So it is OK for you to wait for your guy to give his opinion on a piece of gear before you pull the trigger. But you get annoyed when other people wait for a another guys opinion (that they respect) before they pull the trigger. Really?

I am confused… you throw jabs for people waiting for Bongo’s review and then you state that you agree with most of what he has said in his other reviews.

IMO, you have contradicted yourself several times in this thread and are being hypocritical towards others.

-Frank

 

[chessrocks]

OK… so you are not bothered but you are annoyed. My apologies for seeing your statements as being bothered instead of annoyed.

The point I'm trying to make is that you guys seem to think that I'm annoyed with him.

And I'm not. I'm rather annoyed with you. Because I think people need to give themselves more credit. Also, when it comes to something like compression ... I get a real sense on a board like this one that there are a lot of people who don't know what to listen for. And I get that, because for newbs especially, compression is a tricky beast to wrap your head around.

And for those guys, I think their time would be better spent learning compression ... instead of just saying "Aw screw it, I'll just wait for so-and-so to say whether or not (insert name of gear) is worth buying."

So it is OK for you to wait for your guy to give his opinion on a piece of gear before you pull the trigger. But you get annoyed when other people wait for a another guys opinion (that they respect) before they pull the trigger. Really?

I was trying to make a point that there are only one or two guys on this planet that I might lend that kind of weight to their opinions ... and even that is kind of iffy. And I'm sorry if this bursts your bubble, but Bongo ain't in that group. I'm not in that group. And I don't know if there is anyone currently alive and regularly blogging ... who falls in to that group.

And if you're really interested in my no-holds barred assessment of Bongo boy ... I think there's a lot of hit and miss. It's not contradictory at all to say I agree with a lot of his assessments but some of them leave me scratching my head thinking "What-in-the-holy-heck?"

So bottom line is ... learn how to listen for compression, and trust your own ears over someone else's. That's all. It's just a really simple message I am trying to pass on to you; which you can take or leave as you wish.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand ... it just gets a little annoying when every single thread you read about compressors ... someone is holding their breath waiting for Bongo to tell them whether it's okay to put something on their list. That's all I'm saying. It's nothing against him at all. I'm just annoyed at people's lack of confidence in their own listening skills, and blind faith in another persons' opinions.

You should stop while you're ahead.

 

[chessrocks]

I didn't realize I was ever "ahead" in this discussion.

Or that anyone was keeping score. But you're welcome.

 

[BioDriver]

Or you could, you know, just ignore it and not let a website or others' opinions grind your gears.