Basically I want to have the comp mostly on throughout. My pedalboard consist of a switch looper giving each pedal independence. I was using the Demeter for a number of years. But I was fixing it more than having it on. I just ordered the empress as something new and hearing such good reports from fellow bassist. I always before kept my compressor after the pedalboard. Yet hearing you guys about sidechains has caught my interest. My original intensions was to have something similar to a New York Compression. Being it has a level knob where I can mix the clean with the wet. But hearing you guys I would like to manage the low end to compensate for the high end frequencies. All in all I am excited towards its arrival. And its nice to learn the possibilities many of you are informing me of. Thanks.
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post your Empress Compressor settings!
- Thread starter J.Wolf
- Start date
Basically I want to have the comp mostly on throughout. My pedalboard consist of a switch looper giving each pedal independence. I was using the Demeter for a number of years. But I was fixing it more than having it on. I just ordered the empress as something new and hearing such good reports from fellow bassist. I always before kept my compressor after the pedalboard. Yet hearing you guys about sidechains has caught my interest. My original intensions was to have something similar to a New York Compression. Being it has a level knob where I can mix the clean with the wet. But hearing you guys I would like to manage the low end to compensate for the high end frequencies. All in all I am excited towards its arrival. And its nice to learn the possibilities many of you are informing me of. Thanks.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,073
- 9,789
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
My issue with using a loop switcher is that it’s hard to put the comp after some of the effects but not all the effects, unless you stick it in a channel. I didn’t care for the comp after time based effects, but I do like it after octave, filter and modulation stuff. So I will either have to ditch the loop strip, or dedicate one channel (of only three) to an always on comp channel, or just run it at the beginning as I was previously. The octave In particular sounds better with the comp after, triggering-wise
What happens when you stick the comp in front of the octave, filter, and modulation gear? I kinda get the jest as some of the stuff is sensitive to dynamics.
Riis
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,073
- 9,789
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- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Hard to explain, but the front edge attack of the octabvre in sub mode sounded better with the comp after in front of it. More impact and better note cohesion. Hard to say if it was because it didn’t have the comp messing with the trigger or because the comp after pulled the sound together better. But either way....
Just wondering what would happen if you placed the comp in front with any combination: 1) slow the attack so more of the transient passes...2) drop the ratio to 2:1.
Riis
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,073
- 9,789
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
Perhaps. It’s a fine line between getting the level of effect you want, and triggering the octaver in the optimal way. Pushing the attack knob way out may just do it. I haven’t tried it past 2 o’clock. That might end up being the best compromise.
Got mine yesterday (Sunday, USPS delivers). Used it once and I know already this is a keeper. Love it. Best compressor I ever used and look foward of really getting to know it. But right out of the box I love the compression it has on both passive and Active basses. A great compresser to have.
Now you can join the cool kids on the playground. Don't forget to post the "sweet spot" settings.
Riis
LOL.....I feel cool. I will post my setting of choice, but it worked so nice with an array of settings. One day and I never really attached myself to a pedal like this before. What a amazing compressor. You just can't go wrong with a comp like this.
Keep in mind we've already posted the ideal settings earlier in the thread. If you plan to deviate, please file form RV301 (...in triplicate!) / request-for-variance.
Riis
Riis
Considering my massive experience using a pedal board (just over a month; 12 gigs and counting...) you may consider these the musings of a crazed fool...
I am experiencing a bit of the same difficulty you are. I don't have a loop strip yet. I am going to get one, but I like effects run in parallel. Also, I don't need a huge different array of sounds - just about four to six different things, depending on how you count them up. So, I think I am going to set up small networks on a loop switcher so that when I hit a switch it cuts in a couple of different things at a time.
One of my networks will be Broughton Synth Voice/Boss OC-2/Broughton Josh Wah (makes a killer bass synth sound). I haven't figured the whole thing out yet, and I'm going to need to buy a couple of loop switchers and experiment a fair bit. There will obviously be single unit pedals that work best on their own (I'm thinking chorus and phasor and that type of thing), some that work well in clusters, and some that need the parallel thang.
It will also be expensive, and take up more board space than I might want to use. Likely I will buy things I don't need, and sell them again (or trade them) for things I might need. It will also mean some duplication - for example I'm most likely going to want an "always on" compressor (that's likely the Empress) maybe a post compressor for a particular network, a couple of preamp options, and goodness only knows what else.
Don't know if that helps or even makes any sense, but I'm gonna try it anyways.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,073
- 9,789
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
thanks, yeah thats been my process. I keep moving things around and finding different combo's that work. Ultimately, a comp at the beginning and end would be most ideal, but I'm not really keen on doing this. I'll most likely go back to putting the empress up front and (like Riis suggested) setting it really gently so it doesnt mess with the Octabvre triggering. Then Ill put the Fdeck at the end so my 600w amp doesnt have to squander precious watts on the gig.
I REALLY like using a loop strip, especially with a board this deep front to back. Creating scenes that you can switch seems more user friendly, and I also like bypassing stuff completely when theyre not on..
The board looks like this, roughly.
Attachments
Scenes... that a perfect way to describe it. I'm going to grab one of these soon:
Blender V4 : Wounded Paw, Bass and Guitar Effects and Blenders
I may eventually use it in conjunction with a small loop strip like your One Control. Or I might just buy a second Wounded Paw unit. So many choices...
Shows up at my house weekly...they look suspiciously like my wife's Mahjong circle.
Our friend has nothing to worry about as I've learned one thing in life: if you want to make a plan / proposal / project disappear from the face of the earth, just send it to committee.
Riis
Still love the Empress. Although it may be a little pricey, its still one of the best deals you can find in a pedal like this. I have been working mostly putting the compressor last after the ParaEQ. Input 10:30, Attack 10:30, Release 12:00 To 1:00, Mix 1:30 and output 10:30 at 4:1 ratio. But not always exact. If you are looking for a great eq for your empress comp try their Paraeq. Its a beast...and clean...Same price but well worth it. No noise nor artificial sounding.
