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MXR Dyna Comp Bass Compressor (Mini!)
- Thread starter Badmuthaplucka
- Start date
I'm also intrigued by this. I had the MXR Bass Compressor a few years back and never quite got where I needed to go with it. Hopefully this simplified format will work for me.
A couple of clips here - each time demo'ed after the new Vintage Bass Octave.
A couple of clips here - each time demo'ed after the new Vintage Bass Octave.
I think they are pricing it at $150. I will likely wait and get it on sale. I'm good on comps for now, me thinks. I'm not a huge fan of mini pedals myself
Unfortunately I think they released this too late too.
Unfortunately I think they released this too late too.
I've had a really awful time with this one. I bought one used and when I plugged it in I couldn't get it to stop clipping. I've owned many a Dyna/Ross compressor and never heard the sort of behavior I was getting from this unit, so I filed a claim with MXR assuming it was simply broken and after some finagling received a new pedal in the mail this week. It does exactly the same thing. I can't dial a setting with more than about 40% clean blend or anything approaching unity gain without it fuzzing out, and with the attack switch depressed the available range is limited even further; try maybe 20% of the clean or sensitivity knobs. If I were to hazard a guess I'd say there's only volume addition happening with these various elements and things get out of hand very quickly for whatever reason. (Not an engineer; sorry, folks.) Now I'm sure somebody will say I'm supposed to learn to adapt to the confines of the limited range, which is valid particularly if coming into this experience you were to think to yourself, "Yes, I'd like the most unusable and unintuitive version of a classic pedal design so I can beat my head against a brick wall trying to achieve simple compression tasks! Please!" My goals with this type of compressor are straightforward. Squash just below limiting and dial back with clean blend to add the presence and playability of big compression. On this one the 1k boost looked like the perfect addition as well; my favorite frequency for a little boost. Great on paper, but seems totally and bizarrely incapable of delivering in reality. I'm VERY curious to know if I'm the only one who has had this experience with this pedal.
Paging @scubaduba to the review department
Just saw this. Let me see what I can do.
Quick update that unfortunately doesn't function to update my opinion. Since I was fed up messing with this thing I decided to try and run it at 18v; insert Dolph Lundgren line here. It seems to be perfectly capable of functioning, but despite the typical increase in headroom it still can't quite deal with my bog-standard Precision Bass. For a real laugh, I plugged an extremely hot Raven Labs active P into it and it turned into a Philosopher Bass with the grit switch engaged! Hur. Anyway, final therapy post. I'm over it. Really. I just don't feel right selling it and er... inflicting it on anyone else.
Is the Ross Orange/Dyna same as the Armstrong Orange Squeezer? If so, that clipping behavior on bass sounds pretty typical...
Lol philosopher bass. So much squash you can get a swell.
Lol philosopher bass. So much squash you can get a swell.
I bought this one in february 'cause I initialy thought it did better than my Darkglass Hyper Luminal.
That was until DG fixed a problem with my HL. I returned the MXR back to the store. MXR is really a good comp, but the fast attack button is useless. If you want fast attack and medium to high compression, the pedal only gives you big distortion and that sucks. If you do not use fast attack button, and want high compression, then it pumps badly. Long story short it is a really good compression if you only need low to mild compression. But it is simple to use and very transparent. I actually think about buying it back for some tone changes or different usages. It is definitelly overpriced in my opinion
That was until DG fixed a problem with my HL. I returned the MXR back to the store. MXR is really a good comp, but the fast attack button is useless. If you want fast attack and medium to high compression, the pedal only gives you big distortion and that sucks. If you do not use fast attack button, and want high compression, then it pumps badly. Long story short it is a really good compression if you only need low to mild compression. But it is simple to use and very transparent. I actually think about buying it back for some tone changes or different usages. It is definitelly overpriced in my opinion
I just received a new M282 yesterday. Initial reaction was very positive as I tested at low compression and 100% wet to learn the sound of the compression. I started dialing in clean signal and receiving a lot of digital-sounding buzz. It's weird because it will not last the full duration of a note. And there is no buzz when not playing. There is no noise on the effect, only the clean blend.
I also noticed how easy to push into distortion even with my passive PJ 4-string. Haven't even plugged in my hot active 5-string yet.
I'd like to reiterate the behavior with the fast attack button. Huge change in the reaction of the Sensitivity knob when engaging the fast attack. Instant massive gain jump into distortion even with Sensitivity at medium-ish setting. As above, this is with the passive.
I don't know that I'll bother testing my active if I can't get the clean buzzing to stop. I've eliminated all other pedals from the chain and the buzzing is definitely coming from the M282. The only other thing I can try is another power supply as I have a cheap Caline iso brick. But the brick plays fine with 7 other pedals I have tried it with so far.
sad to hear that. Ive seen nothing bad comments on this pedal. Its not your power supplys fault, no active basses will make it less distorted.
I even spoke to MXR themselves and they said its « normal behavior and some people actually like that ».
really disappointed. This pedal was awesome on paper. poopy execution, unacceptable for the price tag
The distortion when pushed into overload is not overly offensive and I can see how some might even like it. But I already have a dual overdrive pedal. I want my compressor pedal to ... well, compress the signal rather than distort it. Considering this is a bass-specific pedal I expected its parameter ranges to compliment bass signals, including switching between passive & active instruments which is something standard guitar pedals don't have to accommodate.
I agree on your assessment. On paper this should have checked all boxes except a GR meter for me (not expected at price point). It's a shame because I thought the compression sound was pleasing. But I cannot accept a pedal that buzzes when mixing in the clean signal. And the reaction between the Attack button and Sensitivity knob is unacceptable, IMO. I expected a much more professional product from MXR.
