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New Tech 21 XB Driver

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Not the signed one. Relieved about that, actually. Would not have wanted to Velcro the bottom if it was. Probably would have asked for a replacement bottom panel! LOL
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May I ask why you have compressor before XB Driver? Idea of parallel processing is the separated channels where compressor is in the low end and drive in the top end. Of course if you don't use parallel mode then I understand the setting.
 
May I ask why you have compressor before XB Driver? Idea of parallel processing is the separated channels where compressor is in the low end and drive in the top end. Of course if you don't use parallel mode then I understand the setting.
can't speak for elillywv, but I get the best results (for my sound) with a compressor before my parallel split, but I also still use limiting on two of my lines.
 
May I ask why you have compressor before XB Driver?
Three reasons:
1 Five minutes before that pic, the space the XBD occupies was taken up by an SGT-DI. Not a fan of Ampeg’s 1-knob compressor on that device. Maybe Tech 21’s 1-knob compressor gives me what I need (see #3 below) lol. Time will tell.

2 Saw an opportunity to be the 600th post in this thread. Hadn’t even plugged a bass into the XBD at that moment.

3 To make up for poor technique?

Really haven’t had the time to find out what my new sound will be with the swap from SGT to XBD. We’ll see what develops over the upcoming days.
 
can't speak for elillywv, but I get the best results (for my sound) with a compressor before my parallel split, but I also still use limiting on two of my lines.
I understand. I didn't do this with my parallel processing because I don't want compressor reacting to higher register. In the end it doesn't make much difference, because low end has the most of the energy and compressor usually reacts to this. Good you found the best practices to make your sound.
Three reasons:
1 Five minutes before that pic, the space the XBD occupies was taken up by an SGT-DI. Not a fan of Ampeg’s 1-knob compressor on that device. Maybe Tech 21’s 1-knob compressor gives me what I need (see #3 below) lol. Time will tell.

2 Saw an opportunity to be the 600th post in this thread. Hadn’t even plugged a bass into the XBD at that moment.

3 To make up for poor technique?

Really haven’t had the time to find out what my new sound will be with the swap from SGT to XBD. We’ll see what develops over the upcoming days.
I'll take that and especially number 2 cannot be ignored. But we don't know yet if you'll be using the compressor or not, don't we? :)
 
There’s a lot to unpack and explore and I try to remember what John Entwistle demonstrated in this lecture from the 80s — early on, a student asks about his gear, and JAE reveals that his bi-amp rig puts out two cruddy sounds that only make sense when they combine.
Point being: it’s natural to go for two sounds that are great individually but these may not yield great results when combined.

 
Speaking in general: the use of multiple compressors in series and/or parallel is a common studio technique, so it isn't necessarily a bad thing to stack compressors.

On a related note, some bassists fear using compression at the gig because the sound tech might also be using it. As above, this isn't necessarily a bad thing: if the bassist is using compression, then the sound guy's compressor won't have to work as hard. Sure, stacking compression can be bad (just as a single compressor can sound too squishy), just sayin' it's a good thing when properly done.
 
Speaking in general: the use of multiple compressors in series and/or parallel is a common studio technique, so it isn't necessarily a bad thing to stack compressors.

On a related note, some bassists fear using compression at the gig because the sound tech might also be using it. As above, this isn't necessarily a bad thing: if the bassist is using compression, then the sound guy's compressor won't have to work as hard. Sure, stacking compression can be bad (just as a single compressor can sound too squishy), just sayin' it's a good thing when properly done.
That is definirely true in studio and live, but in my case one compressor in low end is enough, and FOH may use more for my combined signal if needed. I would not use two compressors for my signal before entering the FOH system and not any compression in recording (I'm using pure DI signal and post production).
 
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That is definirely true in studio and live, but in my case one compressor in low end is enough, and FOH may use more for my combined signal if needed. I would not use two compressors for my signal before entering the FOH system and not any compression in recording (I'm using pure DI signal and post production).
Oh sure, I didn't mean to imply that we should all be running multiple comps. I almost always run one or none. Last time I ran two it was comp plus DP3X, which was more like comp plus half-comp, so to speak. :D
 
There’s a lot to unpack and explore and I try to remember what John Entwistle demonstrated in this lecture from the 80s — early on, a student asks about his gear, and JAE reveals that his bi-amp rig puts out two cruddy sounds that only make sense when they combine.
Point being: it’s natural to go for two sounds that are great individually but these may not yield great results when combined.


I have realised long time ago that the kind of tone that works in a mix is rarely the kind of tone which sounds nice soloed…

Edit: sometimes I get complaints from my bandmates during sound check that my sound is too rough…. They never complain after we start playing as a band, though…
 
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Been playing with this for a couple of hours today. Using for now just my passive Yamaha BBP34 bass. I have set my Orange Terror 500 V2 to flat eq. (Bass/Treble full counterclockwise, Mids set to fully clockwise). I set the "clean" and "pad" toggles to off.

Below is how I have my Cali 76 and DCX pedals set ahead of the XB in the chain. The XB is in "Mix" mode. "Bite" on, Pre/Post set to "Pre" (button not engaged). Crossover engaged.

I'm looking for a hard hitting punk sound (not too JJB clanky, but a touch) and these setting combined have got me to the verge of where I want to be. Good bottom- end, a little scooped mids and great clarity - but not too zingy. Oh - and using a pick to dig in.

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I'll echo what was said earlier. In my, very, limited time with the XB, the "Clean" channel is outstanding! The "Drive" channel is going to take some tweaking to find something I like and that mixes. It sounded pretty decent mixed with everything at 12, but I wanted to tweak a bit and I only had a few minutes before I had to head back out, so ignore the settings pictured as that was just some knob twiddling.

The HXS is going straight into the XB and the Mobius is in the XB loop(that solved a "digital whine" I was getting from the Mobius running it through the input of a VT Bass DI!). I'm criminally under-utilizing the HXS, but it works for what I need.

Once I get the dirty channel dialed in, I think I'll have a winner