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Just received my Compulator.

willsellout

willsellout

I apologize in advance.
Gold Supporting Member
Aug 13, 2002
6,904
8,668
Fort Wayne, IN
#1
So I received this a couple days ago and have been toying with it. One question; what heck does the thing do? Honestly I can't hear anything really until I completely squash the signal, at which point it has this cool thump,thump,thump effect:smug:. I mean I know people say you don't realize what they do until they are not there but it's really really hard to tell when it's on. I can notice a little bit more low end and the top end is a bit clearer but it isn't anything to write home about. Keep in mind the only compressor I've ever owned was an Art levelar, which I remember noticing right off the bat when it was on. Am I missing something?
Sorry if this is a dumb question I was just curious.

Dan
 
#2
I found the compulator a little too subtle for my taste as well but it's a really good compressor. Try playing through headphones if you've got a decent pair. It was much more obvious into a mixing board and headphones than through my amp. I really loved the sound that way. Wait a while, it may grow on you.
 
#3
Dan,

I honestly feel/felt the same way you have about the Compulator. I bought it because of hype (not saying you did) when they came out. Nice professional Optical Compressor in a box...and it says Demeter! I found that the price tag doesn't quite justify the pedal...so I sold it and then later down the line bought a BBE Opto Stomp. I really liked the BBE because the compression was still Optical and still somewhat bass oriented...but I could tell a difference right away when I adjusted the compressor (I'm one of those leave it on all the time compressor people).

It is totally up to you but I never had much use for the Compulator.
 
#4
Swift713 said:
Wait a while, it may grow on you.
Click to expand...

+1

i had the same feeling when i first got it. it is subtle, but that's the way i like it. try to find the right setting for your bass and sound. i've tried many times to turn it off while playing in my gigs, sort of an excuse to sell it. but i realized that it doesn't sound the same when its off, my tone sounds better when its on. so, just wait a bit. but that's of course my own opinion and taste.
 
#5
Also, try playing some exaggerated plucks, big low notes, etc. without it, into a tube preamp- watch and hear the preamp clipping. Now engage the Compulator, and notice you get the same "loudness" without clipping the amp. Amazing! That's what it does for me anyway.
 
#6
i bought the compulator because it is subtle! no big squish, just pure tone! :)
the compulator is not supposed to be used as an effect, it's best when left on all the time. and i don't hear a difference when i'm playing until i start wailing on my strings, or do big open chords/notes.
it is hands down the best compressor i've ever tried. yeah, i liked it better than the EBS, but i do see why the EBS is so loved.
just don't think of the the Compulator as an effect. think of it as an extension of your tone.
trust me, you'll miss it when it's gone.
 
#7
You know it may be your cabinet. I noticed that speaker configurations can change the compression effect along with the tone. Maybe you can plug your head into a 4x10 or something different and see if there is more of a difference.
 
#8
I'm not looking to get rid of it right now, I was just curious to hear other people's opinions on this one. I read the gigantic, and extremely helpful, compressor review and chose this one based on the positives that were brought up. I have a pretty light touch as it is so maybe that's why I'm not hearing much? I don't know but I'm going to continue to check it out. I have another couple of weeks to evaluate it before I have to return it so I will definitely take my time. I wasn't really looking for an effect type compressor either, just something to even things out and maybe add a little clarity. I think it does that but I need to spend some more time with it I suppose and get familiar with what it can do.


Dan
 
#9
A lot of these simple 2 knob comps have a fixed threshold which may be set too high for your bass. The EBS Multicomp has internal trimpots to adjust, I assume the Demeter has something similar going on?
 
#10
Very good point! Fixed threshold and/or no input gain control makes a lot of compressor pedals seem useless to many people. It results in either "no effect" or "way too much effect". It's especially confusing with the Demeter because there's not even an LED to indicate whether the signal is crossing the threshold, or when.
 
#11
bongomania said:
It's especially confusing with the Demeter because there's not even an LED to indicate whether the signal is crossing the threshold, or when.
Click to expand...

Which is highly annoying, to me anyway. I don't understand why pedal compressors don't provide feedback as to when the threshhold is being crossed and by how much signal.

It's hard to use one's ears to judge this, especially when using a "transparent" comp!
 
#12
Yeah, when I had my EBS, I used the LED to fine tune the threshold (it glows to represent the amount of compression). By default it was glowing even when I played very softly; I only wanted my louder notes to be compressed so I tweaked away.

So, does anyone know if the Demeter Compulator and BBE Opto Stomp have internal threshold trims as well?
 
#16
dannybuoy said:
Yeah, when I had my EBS, I used the LED to fine tune the threshold (it glows to represent the amount of compression). By default it was glowing even when I played very softly; I only wanted my louder notes to be compressed so I tweaked away.

So, does anyone know if the Demeter Compulator and BBE Opto Stomp have internal threshold trims as well?
Click to expand...

My concern with the EBS was that in the reviews it was mentioned that you can overdrive it with hot basses. One of my main basses is an SB2, so i figured I'd try the compulator first. I'll fiddle with the trimpot today when I get home. I should mention that the Compulator is incredibly well built..I was very impressed.


Dan
 
#18
The gain trim on the Compulator isn't exactly internal, as it is accessible without unscrewing the housing. It should be visible through a little opening next to the output jack and adjustable with a small flat-head screw driver. Definitely take some time playing with this before you make any decisions. I got my Compulator from a guy who only plays passive basses, and I play active with lots of boosted EQ, so it took a while to find the sweetspot. Now I love the pedal, always on.
 
#19
Try it with a band and see what you think. That is what a comp is all about. With it in, you should have more evenness and punch in the mix. Otherwise it isn't doing its job.

I disliked the Demeter since it made my attack very soft when getting the amount of compression I needed. Nice transparent tone though.

I disliked the EBS because it sounds sterile and sucks tone even when bypassed (but the dynamics on it are nice).

I like the old Trace Elliot dual comp, even if it does give kind of an 80's boxy/edgy quality to the tone (so it isn't for everything)

I've all but given up on pedal compressors. I guess I should try the Maxon CP9 Pro+ ...

Comps I actually like: the onboards in both my navigator and m-pulse 600, DBX 160, Rane DC24, the optical in the big avalon channel strip, old LA- type opticals. I think it just takes far more than 9v and 6 square inches of board to compress bass.

What I want is the comps and crossover out of a DC24 in a large format pedal with a regular amp/computer power cable and internal power supply.
 
#20
That would be nice. The Nova Dynamics is the closest thing out there ATM, and is worth trying if you can find one at a local shop or buy one from a place with a no-hassle return policy. I'm still waiting for more info from TC before completing my review of it though.
 

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