To compress or not to compress

[KickingBass]

I bought a compression pedal because of hype and used it for a while but realized it was not making much of a difference in my sound and I wasn't slapping much. I realized that my Sansamp was probably giving me all the compression I really needed for my sound. I know JimmyM has mentioned that he played with a compressor till one day he turned it off and he realized he didn't really need it. I tried doing without mine and I don't have a problem. My Sansamp takes care of any basic slight compression I need and at church the mixer puts a compressor on me. I have started slapping again but my amp has a simple one knob that compressor that is usually on at list a quarter turn and that seems to be enough. SO, try one out but if you don't like it or don't seem to notice any difference then you're either doing it wrong or you just don't need it. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Rogatien022]

Whatever works. If you think you need one, then get one. I've decided long ago on not using one because I had to save my money for other stuff and I don't think I perfectly understood why I would need one at that time. Years later, I still don't think I understand perfecly well why I would need one, so I can live without it. The only use I would have for it would be to even out volumes between my passive J Bass and my active Stingray, but I can do that with a clean boost.

But if I was to get a compressor, I would do my homeworks and try as many as I could, they range from cheap to uber expensive so I would try to make it a wise choice/investment.

 

[Jonesy]

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

-Frank

Good one!

 

[BrianVengeance]

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.

Eh, its just a tool like any other dirt box, microphone or effects processor. Stock isn't the best realization, but its the same basic circuit as the DBX 1066, and with a few mods you can get a very usable general purpose compressor (eliminating the gate from the signal path does wonders for cleaning it up).

I wouldn't call it the worst ever - its certainly good enough for Daft Punk, and has probably been used on more albums than you realize! Like all tools though, it has its applications.

 

[Sparkdog]

Speaking as a bassist and occasional FOH guy and studio engineer, live, I let the FOH guy handle it--he's the one hearing how much the bass needs to be compressed given the entire mix. You can't tell that from your position on stage. In the studio too--I'd never print bass with a stomp box compressor, no matter how "studio quality" it's advertised to be. I let the engineer handle it--they're gonna have a nice LA-2A or something like that, and typically it's tracked with very little compression, to allow for options later on in the mix. So, I'm a real stickler for "traditional" compressor use in regards to bass guitar. And I've seen way too many people suck the life out of their sound using one incorrectly, and undermine them improving their technique at the same time.
I do however understand how having one on your pedalboard could be cool at an extreme setting for soloing, or could help if you're a big slapper(but even then, you should be able to control your sound without one), or maybe if you have gobs of unruly pedals inline in front of it. But for the more trad usage--limiting the dynamics of a straight-ahead bass sound--I think it's best left to whoever is handling the full mix.

Best advice ever on compression IMO. I gigged for 20 years in every imaginable scenario and never realized I just HAD to have a compressor until I started reading Talkbass posts I went through a bunch of high quality units and couldn't figure out why it didn't work right for me. Turns out there was a loose nut to blame...Me. I'm sure there are bassists who have mastered the zen of compression, but for me it was just a lot of knob tweaking that got in the way and ultimately made my sound and performance worse. When the sound man does it...ta da! Magic. I'm gonna leave that job to him.

 

[rtslinger]

I use one live it is only a hint of compression, which I find helps me when I switch from finger style to pick or the song calls for playing more aggressively then it makes itself know.

 

[Nephilymbass]

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?

I started using one during a recording session and never stopped. Liked how the record turned out. For me it's about getting the bass more to my liking in the mix (louder and more presence) because I'm limiting the dynamics of my playing. Some people think limiting your dynamics is a bad thing. And it can be if the bass is compressed too much. But you want some. Particularly when playing low stuff. It takes a lot more headroom and a lot more energy for speakers to reproduce low frequencies. The more dynamic your playing is on the low B and e strings in particular the lower you'll probably end up in the mix to save headroom for other instruments. Some people try to solve that issue by EQing their signal to death. I use a combination of compression with EQ in the studio but the eq apply after the bass is tracked and is more of a hpf and lpf type of thing just to get rid some super low and super high frequencies that are not very useful and cause problems (super low frequencies eat up headroom and super high frequencies just add noise/hiss)

 

[Fuzzbass]

Compression is a tricky concept, and the parameters (input/threshold, attack, release, ratio, output) can be non-intuitive Multiply that by all the possible uses of compression, and then by all the available compressors. Some don't like compression at all, but of those who do, some prefer simple compressors with just one or two controls, while others prefer fancier ones with individual controls for all parameters.

I don't always use compression, but when I do I usually prefer transparency. The easiest way for me to get there is via parallel compression, i.e. wet/dry blend: dynamics are retained by using plenty of uncompressed signal. I recommend parallel to those who like the idea of compression but find it too restricting even at low ratios.

That said, I definitely appreciate other uses of compression, such as adding warmth, simulating tube amp response when digging in, etc.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

The major reason I was led to putting a compressor in my chain really came down to situations were the bass sounded "foggy" in certain rooms, regardless of otherwise using high quality gear or twisting EQ knobs or pushing EQ sliders with little to to no positive treatment on how the bass sat in the mix. There were times where I needed to shape the envelope of the note to get the proverbial "punch" for which we all long and to help the bass sit in the mix better. This was often a situation where stage volume needed to be kept low, so obtaining punch and presence from pushing the gain or one of the more obnoxious mid-band frequencies wasn't always an option.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

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

-Frank

Don't ask that question on the DB side.

 

[smo]

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

I played without a compressor (I use tube amps) for over 15 years in bands etc.
I got a cheap compressor some 10 years ago, instantly hated it and forgot about them.
Then I bought a good one on a whim about a year ago, and took the time to properly learn how to use it. And now I always wanna use it.
FWIW, I'm using it for both guitar and bass.

I use mine first in chain, set fairly subtle. It helps to thicken up the sound a touch and even out the tones coming through.
I never thought I'd dig compression, but it really helps to get the best out of pedals, especially filters and octavers.

 

[d-dave]

I use mine first in chain, set fairly subtle. It helps to thicken up the sound a touch and even out the tones coming through.
I never thought I'd dig compression, but it really helps to get the best out of pedals, especially filters and octavers.

Question: Using it first in your chain, does it not take away from pedals that rely heavily on expressive attacks (i.e.; envelope filter, od, dist)?

When I was using my compressor, I always added it at the end of my signal chain.

 

[ddnidd1]

Question: Using it first in your chain, does it not take away from pedals that rely heavily on expressive attacks (i.e.; envelope filter, od, dist)?

When I was using my compressor, I always added it at the end of my signal chain.

Whether it's first or last depends upon what's in the chain and what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[smo]

Question: Using it first in your chain, does it not take away from pedals that rely heavily on expressive attacks (i.e.; envelope filter, od, dist)?

I don't find that true in a lot of cases. YMMV

For a filter set with a high intensity, yeah sure. I'd agree with you on that, but I don't use a high intensity filter.
I don't find OD's or dist, or fuzz need to be before the comp all that often, and most of the time it's simply because the pedal doesn't like being after a buffer (Woolly Mammoth etc.)
I am setting my comp subtle, not heavy squish. If I was going for a heavy squish sound, then I would probably put it later in the chain, but then I hate a heavy squish sound.

Whether it's first or last depends upon what's in the chain and what you are trying to accomplish.

Exactly.
I have my comp set subtle, first in chain, as it helps me get the best out of the pedals I'm using for the tones I'm chasing.

 

[Feral Feline]

Question: Using it first in your chain, does it not take away from pedals that rely heavily on expressive attacks (i.e.; envelope filter, od, dist)?

When I was using my compressor, I always added it at the end of my signal chain.

Whether it's first or last depends upon what's in the chain and what you are trying to accomplish.

Yes, and "Settings" — where you set it in your chain (first, last or somewhere in the middle) and ...

... the actual settings of the compressor, type of compression etsetteringsa...

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Some people like a lot of spice or sauce with their meal. Other people are happy to have beans and rice every day.

If it's well made, and you're in the mood for it, plain ol' beans and rice is Tasty-Nice.

I crave variety though, couldn't eat beans and rice every day even though I do enjoy it once in a while.

 

[esoxhntr]

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?

Thank goodness, for the search function - I was about to ask the very same question.

 

[esoxhntr]

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.

What one are you using?

 

[Fuzzbass]

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.

What one are you using?

PMFJI, but compression is tricky, and so is choosing a compressor. IMO the Ovnilab site is second to none, it's helpful to users of all experience levels: Compressor Reviews

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Most everyone I've seen and heard that was anti-compression had either used a "bad" compressor (e.g. Not good for bass) or thought they needed to have the compression knob at noon or above for it to do anything. For those with a high end compressor that don't understand what it does: set the compression (or ratio) knob at 9 o'clock, and bring the volume knob up to unity. You will likely not hear too much difference while plunking around at home, but I assure you, if you keep it on at your next show, you will notice it and you will like it.
Every bass recording ever has had some compression applied. Every quality FOH rig has compression available. You have the opportunity to learn how compression works, what it does, and why it's used. You can either use it yourself, or forever leave it in the hands of others. But seriously, it's impossible to say that you never use compression because if you don't, someone else will use it for you.

 

[esoxhntr]

PMFJI, but compression is tricky, and so is choosing a compressor. IMO the Ovnilab site is second to none, it's helpful to users of all experience levels: Compressor Reviews

Yup, that is a great resource - I've been reading it bit by bit over the last week or so. It makes me wonder if I'm really looking for a compressor or limiter. Also, the material there leaves me with more questions than answers, BUT... now I'm asking the right questions.