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MXR COMPRESSION PEDAL

Leilacore

Leilacore

Sep 4, 2024
39
42
#1
Hello,

Im a newbie so dont kill me in the responses to my dumb ass questions lol. So I just bought the MXR Bass Compression pedal (matte blackout one..sweeeet!) strictly for the purpose of getting a more aggressive tone. When I say aggressive tone, I mean more snarl and clank. I still wanted note articulation and not just a wall of muddy distortion. Lots of youtube videos I have watched on the subject suggested compression, so here I am. Day 2 with this pedal and I am still completely lost. LOL. Im waiting for the response that has the knowledge that will unlock the tone im seeking. I also have a Darkglass B7K Ultra V2 that I would like to use in conjunction with the compressor. Anyways..how the hell do I know set this pedal up for the snarl and clank im looking for? I play a Schecter Stiletto Stealth 4 Pro EX (35" scale, BEAD) through a Peavey Maxx 208 (poopy purchase, I know. The 8 inch speakers are terrible for this active low B but thats another story)..please help with insight..links..ANYTHING.
 
#2
I've spent quite a bit of time with this pedal. I think it boils down to a few things.

1. Set the output to unity gain
2. Set the input gain so normal playing has the LEDs around the 5-7 indicator
3. I usually liked setting a low ratio, see what you like best.
4. Slow attack, fast release for more punch - enhances the attack. The two knobs pointed at each other like this ( > < )
5. Fast Attack, slow release - kick on right away, general smoothing thing. The who knobs pointed away from each other ( < >)

I liked using the compressor for more punch, so #4 is what I ran it at quite a bit. I also really liked it with both of those Attack/Release knobs at noon.

Hope this helps!
 
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#3
Elmstreet said:
I've spent quite a bit of time with this pedal. I think it boils down to a few things.

1. Set the output to unity gain
2. Set the input gain so normal playing has the LEDs around the 5-7 indicator
3. I usually liked setting a low ratio, see what you like best.
4. Slow attack, fast release for more punch - enhances the attack. The two knobs pointed at each other like this ( > < )
5. Fast Attack, slow release - kick on right away, general smoothing thing. The who knobs pointed away from each other ( < >)

I liked using the compressor for more punch, so #4 is what I ran it at quite a bit. I also really liked it with both of those Attack/Release knobs at noon.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
Exactly what I was looking for! So..unity gain is when the volume with the pedal on and off is the same?
 
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#6
Elmstreet said:
I've spent quite a bit of time with this pedal. I think it boils down to a few things.

1. Set the output to unity gain
2. Set the input gain so normal playing has the LEDs around the 5-7 indicator
3. I usually liked setting a low ratio, see what you like best.
4. Slow attack, fast release for more punch - enhances the attack. The two knobs pointed at each other like this ( > < )
5. Fast Attack, slow release - kick on right away, general smoothing thing. The who knobs pointed away from each other ( < >)

I liked using the compressor for more punch, so #4 is what I ran it at quite a bit. I also really liked it with both of those Attack/Release knobs at noon.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Great response! Beat me to it as I have spent a lot of time with this pedal and owned it like 3 separate times haha.
 
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#8
Leilacore said:
So you agree with everything? any insights to add?
Click to expand...
Absolutely none! I'm not an expert but that MXR helped me shape my sound early on. I'm not currently using one but may try a different variety of comp down the road. I believe that M87 is a "Limiting compressor". I've heard say, the Origin Effects Cali76 everyone loves it a bit of a different beast but I have yet to try one. (More of a "tone sweetener")
 
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#9
Leilacore said:
So you agree with everything? any insights to add?
Click to expand...

To me, the key to understanding standing the pedal is twist knobs and look at what that does to the LED indicator.

Too much input gain and your tone will likely be too squished, not enough and it won’t make much of a difference.

Put the attack / release at noon and just mess with the input knob to start and get a feel for that.
 
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#10
Adjectives said:
Absolutely none! I'm not an expert but that MXR helped me shape my sound early on. I'm not currently using one but may try a different variety of comp down the road. I believe that M87 is a "Limiting compressor". I've heard say, the Origin Effects Cali76 everyone loves it a bit of a different beast but I have yet to try one. (More of a "tone sweetener")
Click to expand...
cool thanks!! all i know is this MXR made my amp THUMP lls
 
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#11
Elmstreet said:
I've spent quite a bit of time with this pedal. I think it boils down to a few things.

1. Set the output to unity gain
2. Set the input gain so normal playing has the LEDs around the 5-7 indicator
3. I usually liked setting a low ratio, see what you like best.
4. Slow attack, fast release for more punch - enhances the attack. The two knobs pointed at each other like this ( > < )
5. Fast Attack, slow release - kick on right away, general smoothing thing. The who knobs pointed away from each other ( < >)

I liked using the compressor for more punch, so #4 is what I ran it at quite a bit. I also really liked it with both of those Attack/Release knobs at noon.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
One minor heads-up (applicable to basically any pedal): messing with the settings tend to have an impact on the overall output, so I suggest repeating step 1 (setting the output to unity) once you are done, unless of course you want the pedal to act as a booster too....
 
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#13
Elmstreet said:
I've spent quite a bit of time with this pedal. I think it boils down to a few things.

1. Set the output to unity gain
2. Set the input gain so normal playing has the LEDs around the 5-7 indicator
3. I usually liked setting a low ratio, see what you like best.
4. Slow attack, fast release for more punch - enhances the attack. The two knobs pointed at each other like this ( > < )
5. Fast Attack, slow release - kick on right away, general smoothing thing. The who knobs pointed away from each other ( < >)

I liked using the compressor for more punch, so #4 is what I ran it at quite a bit. I also really liked it with both of those Attack/Release knobs at noon.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
This should be on the "quick start" leaflet in the box!
 
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#16
I think of clank as a bright, immediate, metallic sound in the higher frequencies. I’ve found “clank” gets or can get dulled with compression. I think it’s because that clank is an initial loud transient, or a high amount of signal early in the attack of the note. Keep in mind that compression works by having a defined signal level threshold where anything crossing that point gets “turned down.”

A couple of things that can preserve that clanky transient are:
1. A dry blend that lets some of the uncompressed signal pass through to the output.
2. A slower Attack setting so the compression doesn’t begin until after the clanky part of the note.

For reference, I had an amp head which was praised for certain characteristics including some natural compression as part of the design. Some of my clanky distortion pedals sounded dull through this head, but fine through other amps. It just rounded off the edges from my Darkglass and Rat-based pedals. Since there was no control set for the compression the amp didn’t last long.
…however… I did use what I learned and sometimes use compression instead of EQ to soften a sound.
 
#17
monsterthompson said:
I think of clank as a bright, immediate, metallic sound in the higher frequencies. I’ve found “clank” gets or can get dulled with compression. I think it’s because that clank is an initial loud transient, or a high amount of signal early in the attack of the note. Keep in mind that compression works by having a defined signal level threshold where anything crossing that point gets “turned down.”

A couple of things that can preserve that clanky transient are:
1. A dry blend that lets some of the uncompressed signal pass through to the output.
2. A slower Attack setting so the compression doesn’t begin until after the clanky part of the note.

For reference, I had an amp head which was praised for certain characteristics including some natural compression as part of the design. Some of my clanky distortion pedals sounded dull through this head, but fine through other amps. It just rounded off the edges from my Darkglass and Rat-based pedals. Since there was no control set for the compression the amp didn’t last long.
…however… I did use what I learned and sometimes use compression instead of EQ to soften a sound.
Click to expand...
This also reminds me what I forgot to say... that other factors will increase the snarl and clank. Disclaimer: I am far from an expert, and still learning myself, but...
Low action on the bass will help
Picking or plucking technique will also help
EQ settings will also help ( )
 
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#19
SoulApprentice said:
One minor heads-up (applicable to basically any pedal): messing with the settings tend to have an impact on the overall output, so I suggest repeating step 1 (setting the output to unity) once you are done, unless of course you want the pedal to act as a booster too....
Click to expand...
Im loving the boost that the pedal gives..so i dont really mess with resetting unity gain after i set the output
 
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