To compress or not to compress

[Feral Feline]

A cold compress helps cool down the fever...

There are so many ways to use and overuse compression, and so much of what's said here in the thread is completely subjective. Do whatever's right for you. That could be compressing the hell out of your signal or it could be ditching it altogether or only using it on some songs for tonality, or on other songs as a limiter or...

When people say it's a a must have – I take it with a grain of salt.
When people say it's not needed – I take it with a grain of salt.

What's right for those people and how they use/don't use compression may not be right for me.


As somebody else mentioned, learning about compression and how to use one is a long road to travel, but there's some great scenery along the way...

 

[mc900ftj]

Never used a compressor pedal, in fact 99% of the time I use on a Sans Amp DI.

How would you make the decision to get/use a compressor?

Obviously "get one and try it"......but what is a generally way of thinking about this?

Try it and see if it works for you. Your call. Only you can make the call.

 

[Mugre]

I think I will need a compressor for playing live to cover up the occasional slip, but I will avoid practicing with it.
I got my eye on an Alesis 3630 for my rack.

NO, NO, NO, Worst compressor EVER. I owned one for a year and never got a sound I could stand out out of it on voice or any other instrument. Through the shop I got to meet one of the designers. Even he called it a Dog.

Mugre

 

[hondo4life]

NO, NO, NO, Worst compressor EVER. I owned one for a year and never got a sound I could stand out out of it on voice or any other instrument. Through the shop I got to meet one of the designers. Even he called it a Dog.

Mugre

Ok Ok OK, I'll stay away!

So how.about the...

Behringer mdx2600
dbx 166a, b, xl, lx, dx, xlt, xls, gtr, ???
Symetrix 501, 511, 522, 526...

The Behringer is obviously the cheapest, but gets really good reviews. It also has the most flashing lights, and I already have a Behringer amp so they would match. yay

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I have to agree if you're buying a compressor to "even out your playing" or any other variation on that theme. You're just masking bad technique, bad setup, heck, even a bad bass. Usually a combination of all the above.
Beyond that, if you haven't spent any significant time in the studio or live as an engineer/mixer, and have learned how to properly use a compressor on bass(or other sources for that matter) in relation to the WHOLE MIX, then don't just slap some stomp compressor in your board and think suddenly you're gonna sound "like the record". (Can you tell it's a pet peeve on mine?

I think there's a larger question here: Why does this gent think he needs a compressor? I truly believe that many folks get the idea that they "need a (insert object here)" because they read that they should need it, rather than truly identifying a need and acting on it. I keep an octave pedal & envelop filter on my little board because I know there are songs I will *need* these for. And yes, I've bought some pedals to see if I'd like them, but a compressor really isn't like that - it's a thing that you have really know WHY you are buying it and then understand how to use it. Me, I've tried a few and ultimately decided I don't need/want one.

 

[Windreaper]

I have to agree if you're buying a compressor to "even out your playing" or any other variation on that theme. You're just masking bad technique, bad setup, heck, even a bad bass. Usually a combination of all the above.

Harmonics, tapping, slapping? A compressor is such a fantastic crutch if you combine different techniques, or just want to dig in every now and then.

 

[anavar]

i love bass compressors. Crank the output gain and make that sucker scream!

i use mine as a signal boost, along with smoothing out the overall sound. heavy pick style, plenty of squash. sounds totally mint. I also use them as a "tone" enhancer. its hard to explain, but i feel like the lows sounds tigher, and the highs sounds nice and glassy, sometimes brittle. but i like that. sounds raw and violent.

some good ones to check out are the;
Empress comp
MXR M87 (or M76 if you prefer it in black)
Darkglass Super Symmetry
Diamond Comp

 

[SplinteredSkull]

Never used a compressor pedal, in fact 99% of the time I use on a Sans Amp DI.

How would you make the decision to get/use a compressor?

Obviously "get one and try it"......but what is a generally way of thinking about this?

For the longest time I was trying to decide if I actually wanted a compressor or not. I went back and forth continuously. First I read what a compressor is supposed to do. Then I listened during practice, shows, etc to see if I had an issue the compressor could resolve. I found the low strings could sometimes be too boomy and the high strings would get a little lost. I got a compressor, used subtle settings, solved the problem.

So listen to see if you think it could improve your tone, and there's your answer.

 

[Mousekillaz]

I use three.

 

[Jonesy]

I got into bass compression when I started singing lead and playing bass at the time back in the late 80's. I was making my living as a bassist at the time and needed to get on top of doing both in a hurry for a new band and I needed a bit of help keeping the bass dynamics consistent as I concentrated on doing both. Luckily, I found a used Ibanez BP10 pedal compressor at a pawn shop, which 26 years later, I still think is one of the best sounding and transparent bass compressors ever made and I've tried a lot of compressors and limiters since (I agree with Mugre, the Alesis 3630 is the worst compressor ever, followed by most other pedal compressors)
That said, if you are already using a Sansamp BDDI, I don't think you need a separate compressor as the BDDI provides enough compression by itself for my taste.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I have to agree if you're buying a compressor to "even out your playing" or any other variation on that theme. You're just masking bad technique, bad setup, heck, even a bad bass. Usually a combination of all the above.

Yeah, but if you're a beginner and you know your technique is flawed, but you're playing with your band in a live situation, then compression could be a GOOD thing: doing what's best for the performance.

As I said early on, it's a bad idea for a beginner to use a compressor when rehearsing at home, because he should learn to control dynamics with his hands. Just pointing out an instance where it's fine to minimize flaws.

Of course compression has many uses, most of which have nothing to do with flawed technique.

I think there's a larger question here: Why does this gent think he needs a compressor?

He didn't say he thinks he needs one, he's merely curious and is asking how and why Talkbassers use them, which is the right thing to do before buying one.

 

[monsterthompson]

Never used a compressor pedal, in fact 99% of the time I use on a Sans Amp DI.

How would you make the decision to get/use a compressor?

Obviously "get one and try it"......but what is a generally way of thinking about this?

Using higher gain or distortion? Probably getting compression from that, so pass unless you have a specific sound you want.

Playing with lots of dynamics but want them to not sound as dynamic, then you may want one.

My most recent compression purchase was to tighten up the low end at lower volumes, particularly since my amp has lots of watts and only has a volume knob (no pre gain) so I can't push the gain.

 

[boomertech]

I have a question.... can frets be considered a crutch for poor fingering technique?

-Frank

 

[d-dave]

I used a compressor for the past 2 1/2 years until last week. My pedalboard had a short and I didn't have time to run it down. I played our show this weekend (opened for The Record Company. Pretty cool gig.) without my pedalboard. Before I say anything else, the crowd dug it. Both my band mates dug it. The show went freaking great.

I missed my octave on a couple of tunes. I missed my phaser on one. Missed my overdrive on another. SO glad I didn't have my compressor. My playing was so much more dynamic. So much more expressive control. I had no clue how sterile my compressor was making my playing.

I won't be squashing my signal again any time soon.

Listen, I'm not saying this applies to everyone. Heck, I'm not even saying it applies to anyone besides me. I just know that I have an aggressive play style and that's a big part of my sound. Always has been. Compressor just isn't for me.

Thank God for cable shorts.

 

[kat888]

+1 on the Diamond BCP-1, it's like the 70s all over again - *I WAS THERE MAN!*

 

[bassedsouth]

Its like most things , used in moderation compression is a great tool. Squashing ones signal with heavy compression in most situations is not desirable . 'taming' the peaks can be very helpful though when getting the bass to sit in a mix either live or recorded. I think its a great tool if used with discretion not to mention helpful in smoothing the dynamic difference when alternating between fingers and slap.

 

[Eternal Day]

I use the Markbass Compressore to get some tube warmth and (with high gain setting)
a little bit of overdrive...can't recommend it enough.

 

[andruca]

IDK why it reminded me of "Last action hero"...



Sorry for the stupid derail. Now as for me the answer should be "TO COMPRESS", always, for me it's basic standard processing, as EQ and crunch/overdrive/warmth are.

 

[madbass6]

Too or not too? Sure why not..

 

[AndyLES]

I use some sort of compression at every show (either the inherent squashing of my VT bass pedal, or the spectracomp toneprint on my TCBH250), mainly because I have to PERFORM!

I'm expected to pogo, run around the stage, etc. - this is the entertainment business, after all, right?