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Markbass compressore??

#161
You're not supposed to hear it working. ;) Here is how mine is set currently:

Gain 1:00
Threshold depends on the instrument
Ratio 2:00
Attack 9:00
Release 8:00
Volume set to unity

I set the threshold so the yellow "active" LED lights up about 50% of the time while I play.
 
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#163
Anyone compare this to the Retrospec yet? I'm curious that bongo has this on his pedalboard instead of the retro. I'm very happy with my retro but can always use more options, I love that the compressore has adjustable attack/release in a tube format. That's been needed for years.
 
#164
Oh, it's complicated. I mostly sold the Retro just to pay for the next round of pedals to review, and the reason I didn't feel compelled to keep it was because the noise level was a bit higher than I like. The tone of the Retro is hard to beat. The Markbass doesn't have the same thickness and rubbery "impact" as the Retro--the MB has more like a smooth/warm version of "transparency" rather than a big thick tube effect. And it has very low noise. The Retro is like a specialized tool for one excellent tone, while the MB is more general-purpose.
 
#165
Ah, thx for that. I use my Retro for recording and it's dead quiet unless I turn on the dimmers, lol. I'm in the middle of building a Drip 175b box for the vari-mu flavor but I might keep an eye out for a used compressore when they are no longer the flavor of the month. Can never have too much tube compression!
 
#166
bkbirge said:
Ah, thx for that. I use my Retro for recording and it's dead quiet unless I turn on the dimmers, lol. I'm in the middle of building a Drip 175b box for the vari-mu flavor but I might keep an eye out for a used compressore when they are no longer the flavor of the month. Can never have too much tube compression!
Click to expand...

My drummer replace all his bulbs with energy effiecient flouresance and my J-retro pre picks up some noticeable hum when plugged into my interface but not my amp...weird:hmm:.

I've been using the compressore for months now for recording and it does wonders to my tone. Sadly I may replace it with a TLC in the future:( as I get great tube warmth from both my amps and am in need more need of a serious limiter than a magic compressor for my Mutron III and slapping. It does have some tone magic to it when I record direct, maybe I'll have to save and own more than one compressor, pretty sure that would be the bongo answer.
 
#168
It does that dip swell thing you described in your review when I slap the E string and also messes with the sound out of my Mutron III. It steels the Mutron's mojo, I think due to the dip swell but so much filtering going on it is hard to tell. It doesn’t affect the Groove Regulator as much but does darken it a bit to my disliking; no biggie as the GR needs no peak limiting and can go after the compresore.

I mostly play with a finger style but do fit in some slap and Mutron in every performance and have not the skill or time to make stage adjustments on those hard to turn with a foot knobs. I love the funky thing it does to my finger style the way I have it set now; however, I have no problem setting it exclusively for peak limiting if I can find the right setting. If it helps, the signal in from my j-retro pre is hotter than passive though I roll it off just enough to push the Mutron at ~ unity.

Maybe you can help me with my settings.

Gain: <10:00
Threshold: 10-12:00
Ratio: 1:00
Attack: 9:00
Release: 10:30
Volume: Set for unity
 
#169
I am using a friend's Markbass compressore. What a sweet device. The manual describes functions in a clear way. Markbass's Youtube video shows it, as well. Bongomania's settings above are a good starting point.

It's a very smooth, responsive, adjustable musical device. I can see why these are backordered.

Has anyone used one of these with the Markbass DI to FOH?

I am curious . . . Maybe it's the topic for a new thread. . .
 
#170
I'm a little late to the party, but I picked up a Compressore today. Damn! That's a great pedal. I didn't have room for it on my pedal board so I was searching for a smaller form factor. Today I pulled off some pedals that weren't being used and had some empty space. Took a trip to GC and they had a Compressore in stock so I bought it. Very nice. This is the compressor pedal I've been searching for all along. I can get the squash sound when I want it and the light compression for when I'm don't need or want the "effect" and just want it to do what it's designed to do.

The only way they could improve it is if they would put an LED behind the tube. (I kid. I kid.)

Awesome, awesome pedal.
 
#172
Mingus Addict said:
Wellllll, I could argue that another way to improve it would be to make it smaller and have it run off of a less strange power supply.;)
Click to expand...

Smaller would be nice, but I'm not sure if that's possible. I'll have to look inside but I'm sure the tube takes up a lot of space. For the power supply, I'd be happy with some king of short power cord that plugs into the wall wart instead of the prongs. That would make it easier to velcro/zip tie under your pedal board.
 
#174
Mingus Addict said:
Well my main complaint is that the unit requires such a high amount of current. 12v is one thing, but add onto that, that it needs at least 500ma and it becomes slightly annoying. Of course, maybe the pedal just wouldn't sound the same with a lower current draw...
Click to expand...

You'd have to take out the tube for a lower current draw. The heater of the tube eats at least 300-350 mA not to mention what the rest of the circuit draws.
 
#175
Just a quick follow-up after 3 months use: I think this thing is fantastic!

A minor complaint from me: I just went to change the settings for the first time in a while last night and had a very hard time seeing the correct setting knob due to the brightness of the blue light (under stage lighting conditions.) Might want to tame that light somehow.

I dialed in a more squashed tone with one quick knob turn (once I covered the bright light and my eyes adjusted to see the labels) and instantly changed this from transparent limiter into something I could taste a little. I really like this compressor!
 
#179
cybersnyder said:
I looked at it in the case. It's expensive, strike one. It's big, strike two. It uses a 12V adapter, strike three. So unless there is a lot of rave reviews, it's off my radar.
Click to expand...

cybersnyder said:
I'm a little late to the party, but I picked up a Compressore today. Damn! That's a great pedal. I didn't have room for it on my pedal board so I was searching for a smaller form factor. Today I pulled off some pedals that weren't being used and had some empty space. Took a trip to GC and they had a Compressore in stock so I bought it. Very nice. This is the compressor pedal I've been searching for all along. I can get the squash sound when I want it and the light compression for when I'm don't need or want the "effect" and just want it to do what it's designed to do.

The only way they could improve it is if they would put an LED behind the tube. (I kid. I kid.)

Awesome, awesome pedal.
Click to expand...

What a turn-around ;)
 
#180
Bro222 said:
Regarding the Markbass suitability for a line level effects loop...
Click to expand...
So I just tested it, and regrettably it does not handle +4dBu line-level well. I was just barely able to get it into a functional range by turning the gain to minimum and the threshold to maximum, but even then the response wasn't great. However, note that many effects loops are at a lower level of "line level", so you may still get good results in some effects loops. E.g. if your amp manual says the loop is at -10dBu line level, then it will probably be fine.
 

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