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Stomp Box Multi Band Compressors - Options?

H

Hippos Melas

Apr 9, 2009
337
7
Milwaukee, WI
#1
Yes, I searched; and yes, I looked through Bongo's website. It was just a lot of information to sift through.

What are the best options for a multi-band compressor in a stomp box? Any that anyone would recommend? I know of a couple rack mount ones that I like but I really don't want to start down that path right now.
 
#2
Hippos Melas said:
Yes, I searched; and yes, I looked through Bongo's website. It was just a lot of information to sift through.

What are the best options for a multi-band compressor in a stomp box? Any that anyone would recommend? I know of a couple rack mount ones that I like but I really don't want to start down that path right now.
Click to expand...

Did you ever see Bongo's Top Picks page ?
My top picks
 
#3
I have the TC Electronic Nova Dynamics and really love it. It has two channels of compression/noise gate and a multiband and stomp mode. Stomp mode is pretty much useless for bass IMO but the multiband and noise gate modes are great. They are no longer made and were being blown out for $99 a few months ago, so if you can find one the price is right as well.
 
#4
I had the Nova Dynamics and I thought it was great, very transparent and allowed for great fine tuning. I ended up changing it for an EBS Compressor, though, because I wanted something that was battery-operated: the Nova requires an adapter. And I do like the simplicity of the EBS and sound a lot better. I don't use the multi-band mode, I use the "tube" mode. The EBS is just fine-tuned to bass so it does a great job and it's more plug and play. The Nova requires more tweaking.
 
#5
In fairness, the info he needed is kinda buried in my FAQ page. I'll have to add a link from the reviews page.

Here are the dual/multi-band comps I can think of at the moment:
Rane DC24
EBS MultiComp
Trace Elliot SMX
FEA Dual Band
Digitech Bass Squeeze
TC Electronic C300, Nova Dynamics, and Triple C
BSS DPR-901II
Ashdown Bass Comp
Aphex Dominator 720
Rocksonics MB-3X

Of the pedals, the EBS is decent and the FEA is brilliant. The Nova has many fine qualities, but I have some issues with both it and the brand.
 
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#8
bongomania said:
In fairness, the info he needed is kinda buried in my FAQ page. I'll have to add a link from the reviews page.

Here are the dual/multi-band comps I can think of at the moment:
Rane DC24
EBS MultiComp
Trace Elliot SMX
FEA Dual Band
Digitech Bass Squeeze
TC Electronic C300, Nova Dynamics, and Triple C
BSS DPR-901II
Ashdown Bass Comp
Aphex Dominator 720
Rocksonics MB-3X

Of the pedals, the EBS is decent and the FEA is brilliant. The Nova has many fine qualities, but I have some issues with both it and the brand.
Click to expand...

Thank you, this was exactly what I was looking for but didn't find after a few minutes of searching. The FEA is looking really really tasty right now. :help:

Random side question, just to make sure I'm looking for what I actually want: I'm looking for something that smooths out the volume in my playing. I want slapping to be the same volume as fingerstyle and tapping and so on. A compressor IS what I want, right? It doesn't sound to me like I want a limiter but I've been wrong before, so...
 
#9
The very best thing for evening out the levels between fingerstyle, slapping, etc. is to work on technique. I know that might sound jerky, but it's the truth.

Second best is a dual/multi-band compressor. A limiter is a type of compressor, or a setting of a compressor. So e.g. I have my FEA Dual-Band set up so the low band acts as a peak limiter and the high band acts as a softer comp.
 
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