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Signal leaking from compressor?

xring

xring

Sep 16, 2003
1,051
75
Ohio
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#1
I am trying out my new amp, and I am running my modest chain this way: SansAmp RBI (SansAmp 1/4" effected out to BBE Maxcom compressor (1/4" in, then 1/4" out to amp). I used to be able to disengage the RBI's "active" button to put the rig on standby. This was while using a Kustom 1200 for power. Now I notice that I still get a signal to the speakers, even when disengaged. It is a lower volume, coming from the BBE.
I was overdriving the input of the BBE from the RBI- solved by lowering the RBI's level to 11:00 and raising the BBE's output to 2:00 to make up for signal loss. The symptoms persist in either channel of the BBE.
Why am I suddenly getting this bleed over? Any other way to wire this rig? Shouldn't disengaging the RBI kill all signal to the BBE?
Any advice is appreciated.
 
#2
I don't know exactly what the Active button is supposed to do, but I know that the compressor will bring the volume of lower signals to the forefront. It's possible that the active button works as a type of bypass or is just a pad that almost kills the signal and the comp is bringing that back up.

If the active button works like a bypass it would make perfect sense what has happened. You bring the volume of the RBI down, which brings the bypass volume closer to the effect volume. Then you bring the volume of the comp back up to compensate (the comp was already bring quieter sounds to the forefront), and now you start hearing some bleed through of your sound.

I don't have an RBI to test my theory, but it works in my head.:hiding:

Good Luck.
 
#5
I don't know either. I had it from the out, to the Kustoms return - bypassing the pre. I'd deac the button during breaks at church. Dead silent. There is not much of a signal with a passive bass thru it, even when turning up the level knob. It is louder when leaving the button on, then turning the blend down for a straight signal. At least there's nothing wrong here. I do miss having a standby switch though. Thanks for the replys.
 
#6
The active button as stated is just to bypass the SansAmp circuitry on the RBI (much like the bypass on a stompbox) and give you the sound of your bass guitar with no effect. A compressor is really just like another volume control in that it lowers the volume of the signal as determined by the threshold setting and then the volume control on the compressor is used for makeup gain. A bass guitar directly into a power amp is not a sufficient enough signal to drive a power amp fully which is why in your previous setup you though it was muted. Are you now running directly into the front end of a conventional bass amp.

The other thing is that you will need to be very careful how you use the compressor after the RBI and you might want to consider how much you really need it. The SansAmp tube emulation circuitry when driven will give a natural analog type of compression that may negate the use of an additional compressor.
 
#7
On the old rig, I ran the RBI effected out to the Kustomgroove 1200 return, which bypassed the Kustom's pre, giving me all RBI pre.

I do have the compressor set for very mild compression as I've been using the RBI with the blend dialed back. I do notice the compression when cranking to more aggressive settings on the RBI and I dial out the BBE. I mostly use it for the gate, which I like alot.

Can I go off and ask an unrelated question as long as Tech 21 (sorry I don't know your name) might see this thread?
I know what the RBI does. If I get an RPM, and use some of the more aggressive settings (without alot of grit), can my bass still sound like my bass with this unit, or will it be "Sansamped" as with the RBI? I don't know if that even makes sense, but someone understands!

Thank You!

Edit again: I run the RBI into the compressor, then out to a Crown XLS1500, then into an Aggie 212 and 410. Thunder.
 
#8
xring said:
...
Can I go off and ask an unrelated question as long as Tech 21 (sorry I don't know your name) might see this thread?
I know what the RBI does. If I get an RPM, and use some of the more aggressive settings (without alot of grit), can my bass still sound like my bass with this unit, or will it be "Sansamped" as with the RBI? I don't know if that even makes sense, but someone understands!

Thank You!
Click to expand...

The main difference between the RBI and RPM is that the RBI is based on our Bass Driver DI pedal for more modern bass sounds. The RPM on the other hand is based on our Para Driver DI and has a sweepable semi-parametric EQ and also utilizes a 4.7 megOhm instrument level input which works well with acoustic instruments that have piezo pickups. Both units employ SansAmp circuitry but the blend knob allows you to balance the straight sound of your bass with the SansAmp sound.

When you say you would like to use the more aggressive settings but with less grit I assume you mean the suggested settings in the manual are too distorted. The suggested settings for our bass products are just that. Suggested. The settings we have are with a couple of 70's Fender Bass guitars with passive low output pickups. It could be your bass has a much hotter output which would make those settings more extreme. I would suggest just starting with the drive very low and playing your bass as hard as you normally do and gradually turning up the drive to what works for you. Let me know if this helps or perhaps I'm not understanding your question entirely.
 

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