How to level out massive volume differences?

i'm not sure i understand your setup, but: i use a preamp pedal (volume and tone) to even things out (or to boost/attenuate) the signal from one playing 'mode' to another.

 

What controls do you have on the bass?

 

Try a volume pedal.

 

There's a few things to consider. You could set up the Markbass with a high threshold & ratio setting to act as a limiter but at the expense of dynamics. You could pass on the humbucking mode altogether and use the Tonehammer as your boost/fat sound solution. You can use the Aphex to balance the volume by setting its gain and only use it when you change from hum to single or single to hum. You can set the Tonehammer the same way and only use it when you change p/u configuration with its gain set to match the differences.
Having two pedals with their own gain controls is all you need, you'll just have to activate one or the other as you switch p/u modes.
I would - if it were me - stick with the best sound from the bass you like and use the Aphex as a boost, the Tonehammer as your drive and use its controls to match levels.

 

use a volume pedal that you can stomp to switch on and off. set it to either turn down or turn up, then activate it as needed, bypass it when it's not.

 

TC Mini-Spark

 

It would be useful to have a knob on the bass you could use to compensate for volume differences, but I don't know what you'd call it.

 

With the Tone Hammer, I'd forget about using the AGS switch on and off during a set. I treat mine as if that AGS switch should have been a toggle switch at the factory. I leave it permanently on, then adjust the volume accordingly so that it's equal with the pedal on and off.

You could use other pedals to reduce the volume when you turn AGS on, if so I would use a simple pedal like an EHX signal pad rather than a compressor. Using a limiter to bring the volume down when you use AGS would compress the life out of your sound. But then you're having to do more tap dancing. Then you might start thinking actually I want the EQ settings different when AGS is on also... at which point you're looking at just using two Tone Hammers, or some other preamp pedal for your clean tone!

 

^^^^^This

 

Interactive De-Loudening Modulator? Simple and to the point.

 

The IDLM should become an industry standard feature.

 

The ToneHammer's volume differences between the two "channels" is widely known to be unusable in a standard two-channel way. So that is one big thing. Guessing your Spector is similarly boosted when switching modes. Compressors won't necessarily help because they're not really for evening volume of setup A vs volume of setup B so much as they are evening the volume of the given program data unto itself. You could *maybe* get by with using a comp as a strict limiter, setting the threshold to be at your typical 'mode 1' volume max and the ratio to as high as you have available? But I think it'd still end up with mode 2 > mode 1.

 

Or the latest "db Ratio Induction Pre-amp", better known as a DRIP.

 

A compressor is absolutely not what you want.

You'll need a separate volume pedal or something similar.

 

A volume pedal is the thing. Or, as I tend to do, just use the volume knob on the bass.

 

Southampton Pedals All Things Equal should let you do this
Southampton All Things Equal V2 aka stealth 2 channel Fifth Gear

 

I also use an analogue Multi-Digit Dynamic Note Amplifier/Deamplifier Attack Selector that can actively tailor the level of notes on the bass as I play.