How do you use a compressor?

[Jibudo]

Hi folks,

How do you use your compressor?

I use mine as an always on effect with light compression, like o tone enhance (EBS multicomp). Either I use it in the beginning of the chain or, like it is now, on the end, compressing some distortion, octaver or a synth from a source audio c4.

Ultimately I was thinking that a light compression on the beginning of the chain and a strong limiter on the end would be ideal, both always on.

But now I am thinking that using the compressor as an effect, switching it in an out would also be cool, like using it to transform a bass with a strong attack to a bass with a more sustained tone character or the opposite.

What do you think? How do you use yours?

Thank you?

 

[Solude]

I use mine post drive as a low always on compressor. ~3dB makeup, 0.8ms attack, 50ms release, 4:1 ratio. Otherwise known as 1176 default bass settings

 

[StyleOverShow]

Yeah, I think you hit the goal posts: pre, to narrow the huge bandwidth fx’s will mod; or post, as another fx. I favor pre because that’s where it’s been in my chain like forever.

 

[sloppy_phil]

Mine's set only for big peak/transient limiting, right at, or near, the very end of my board. Highest ratio possible, quite a high threshold, then fastest attack and release time possible. It's perfect; leaves my playing dynamics completely alone, and just quickly brings any big spikes under control. It's also an always-on pedal for me.

 

[Killing Floor]

Limiting and a little leveling. On my guitar it’s more for sustained lead notes.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I use mine as an always-on clean limiter towards the end. It's not an effect, but a utility tool in order to enhance my tone.

 

[Sam Evans]

Regular finger-style, not at all.
Slapping, pretty heavy.
Picking, I like it always on, very light. I feel like it really brings out the attack without letting it overwhelm the rest of the notes.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Live, it's always-on. HPF precedes it in the chain, to filter out sub lows that might trigger it. I use a Wampler Ego Mini, with a clean/comp mix of about 80% clean/20% compressed. It really helps the instrument sit in the mix nicely.

I like the Wampler, but am thinking of trying something with meters, like the Empress.

 

[pfschim]

I use a Cali76CB at the beginning of my fairly simple signal chain.
Bass => Cali76 => PhaPhuk B => Tech21 VT => Noble DI => amp & FOH

I use a variation of the Origin Effects suggested "parallel compression" settings; high ratio - fast attack, slow release, fairly high DRY setting. So I'm getting a meaningful amount of compression from the box but its limited in the outgoing signal by the Dry control. The Cali76CB (modeled after an 1176) does impart a certain voice to the tone (as I understand the original 1176 did as well) ... mostly heard by me as a certain upper mid "presence" and airy-ness in the highs. It's subtle but I like it a lot.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I have a few compressors and I own/use them in different ways. My OptiFet is always on and does both compression and a bit of tone shaping using the dip switches inside the enclosure. My accountant is used as an effect when I want the specific drive and tone that it offers. My Sex Drive is used as a boost and tone shaper when I need that (usually only when I’m playing old school rock or Americana kinda stuff).

There are a thousand different comps and a hundred different ways that ppl use them. Compressors are some of my favourite pedals!

 

[Zooberwerx]

Seymour Duncan DoubleBack (VCA) or Niche Devices Humboldt (optical w/ console transformer downstream) with a HPF in front. Always-on and with the blend in-play.

Riis

 

[Thumpin6string]

I use my Markbass Compressore always on to even things out and to enhance the tone. I use no other effects.

 

[jschulman]

I use a Broughton Omnicomp early in my chain, right after my octave down/synth pedals. Always on. It's there for transient shaping and light saturation, and my tone just doesn't sound right without it.

I also use a Fairfield Accountant in a crossover FX loop, as a way of adding a little drive and transient emphasis to my high end. It's got a great sound but I only use it in specific cases, more as an effect than as a core part of my tone.

 

[Planespotter]

On my main board it’s first in chain with very light compression and the output turned up to slam the front of my amp. On my huge everything but the kitchen sink board, it’s after all my stuff with volume issues (loud filters, quiet octaves, etc), but before OD/fuzz/mod/delay.

 

[kmon]

cali76: tone enhancer, a bit of leveling out with the HPF at noon. Things just sound better with it always on. The actual compression is very light.

Dunno if anybody else does this but...most of my basses are fairly consistent in terms of output and the cali behaves the same with all of them. I have some basses that are VERY hot, though, an L2K for example. I know how I like to see the jewel bulb reacting so when I switch to the L2K I dial the volume down on the bass until the bulb responds identically to my average output basses. It gives me a consistent signal level through the rest of the chain no matter what bass I'm using. So I use it as a kind of signal strength gauge. It's really helped me to tame the hot ones and I've been super pleased with the resulting tones.

 

[EvilJ]

DBX 160a, always on but pretty light @ 2:1, 3:1. Threshold not to low @ about -8db, just to tame any occasional craziness I might engage in.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Your comment about light compression at the beginning and then hard limiter at the end is my exact recipe and I find it works amazing

 

[r_bnks]

I don't. I only compress during mixing if necessary.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hi folks,

How do you use your compressor?

I use mine as an always on effect with light compression, like o tone enhance (EBS multicomp). Either I use it in the beginning of the chain or, like it is now, on the end, compressing some distortion, octaver or a synth from a source audio c4.

Ultimately I was thinking that a light compression on the beginning of the chain and a strong limiter on the end would be ideal, both always on.

But now I am thinking that using the compressor as an effect, switching it in an out would also be cool, like using it to transform a bass with a strong attack to a bass with a more sustained tone character or the opposite.

What do you think? How do you use yours?

Thank you?

I used to have light compression at the beginning, and a hard knee on and off. But, I ditched the second one. Now I just use a multi band on slightly, and control my fingers. It makes frequencies stand out more, it doesn't actually compress me. I still have full dynamics, and no catch/release.

 

[SLO Surfer]

Mine's set only for big peak/transient limiting, right at, or near, the very end of my board. Highest ratio possible, quite a high threshold, then fastest attack and release time possible. It's perfect; leaves my playing dynamics completely alone, and just quickly brings any big spikes under control. It's also an always-on pedal for me.

Yup me too!