To compress or not to compress?

[Daniel Douglass]

i was reading a bass supplement that came with a guitar magazine and it said every bassist should be using a compressor pedal,

1) would you agree with that?
2) what does it actually achieve?

 

[tfer]

My compressor is always on.

What another player does or thinks, has no affect on that.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I use a compressor most of the time.

 

[RattleSnack]

I understand compression and have used compressors. I believe it is usefull, but not essential for live playing. There are number of reasons your shouldn't need compressor:
1. You don't like how it changes your sound
2. Compression was not used for music you play (i.e. old school rock)
3. You usualy play very low volume gigs
4. You usualy play big stage, and believe (like me) compression is best left to sound guy
5. You play one technique (i.e. pick) so your signal is fairly consistent.
There are probably many more. Also, there are number of reasons you should use it, but none of them is: because someone said so.

 

[Rambazamba]

I tried it with an always on compressor and hated it. Didn't feel good at all. So I cranked it and use it as a dedicated sound effect.

 

[monsterthompson]

Useful FAQ from Ovnilab.
Compressor and Audio Gear FAQ

 

[JKydd]

My compressor doesn't really play well with some of my pedals so I use it more to shape my tone depending on what I'm playing.

 

[gelinas666]

I use my compressor to even out certain passages when I'm using Class D or Hybrid amps. When I'm using Class A/B amps I don't because the All tube power section compresses it nicely by itself.

 

[That Coyote]

I use compression always on at the end of my chain, pre looper. I find that it allows me to dial in my different distortion, drive and fuzz tones how I want them without the worry of volume spikes. I use a keeley Bassist which is super transparent but really levels out all the spikes form various effects.
That being said, when I play a gig without effects, or just one or two, I go without compression and use right hand technique to control my dynamics.
Most of the time I'm running a large chain of effects and find a compressor extremely needed and valuable.

 

[Jrussblues]

It really depends on the bass and the player more than anything else. I have run a compressor for the last year or so for live gigs and as my instruments changed out and my technique has changed there are way virtually no signal spikes coming from my end anymore to the point that I haven’t noticed it missing from my chain now that it’s gone.
I still get compressed at foh and the degree of that changes from sound guy to sound guy. I play dynamically and I have found many people don’t. So I will pan and do slight boosts and cuts that can overload a board that’s pushed to the brink of clipping already because most techs won’t account for a bass player tweaking and in tweaking mid set. But I feel like not every song should sound the same from a tone perspective.

 

[tpaul]

It's generally used to even out the volume by squashing peaks and amplifying valleys. I'll leave more technical explanations to the experts.

Whether you need it or want it is a personal decision.

 

[Matt Dean]

IMO, it's not essential. I've got one on my board, but, I only use it when I am playing clean bass. When using one of my dirty pedals, I tend not to use compression as dirt pedals add some compression on their own.

 

[monsterthompson]

I won't say there's a rule about using them.

I will say I use one ahead of my dirt pedals to control how they clip, but mainly with my Demeter head, which has no preamp gain control. I recently picked up a Darkglass head, and I use the built in drive for low gain sounds, and I find the compressor doesn't work well with that signal chain. So, the answer is: it depends

 

[MrBassman17]

I have recently been using a TC Electronics Spectra Comp with the TonePrint feature. It's not always 'on', and the TonePrint allows me to change what the compression does. You should check this out, because, it adds an almost infinite degree of variation, and, we all know just how much fun adding variables is! Right?

 

[petrus61]

I've been using compression almost as long as I've been playing. I don't think I'd want it otherwise at this point. It's my desert island "effect".

 

[leonard]

Naah.

 

[DavC]

i insist on having a Mix or Blend knob ... !!

stopping the occasional spike is very important to protect your speakers and FOH ...

but maintaining YOUR tone is just as important ... the Mix/Blend knob helps you facilitate both .. !!!

 

[Igotsoul4u]

It depends on your playing. In recent years I have been playing lighter with louder amp settings. If I accidentally dig in to much it can be quite a dynamic jump so my compressor helps keep those moments under the radar. Knowing how to use a compressor is equally important. Some are more heavy handed then others so you may have to go through a few to find the "one" that fits your playing style.

 

[Nohrellas]

When I just play fingerstyle I like to play without a compressor in general, keeps the sound more open and dynamic IMO.
Just using a pick, both work for me either with or without.
Slap needs a decent compressor to sound right IMO.
If I have to use several styles within a song (usually fingerstyle + slap) then I opt for the compressor as well. If I had to switch between fingerstyle and pick I'd also use one. It's just another tool, doesn't have to be permanently on or off.

 

[davegt666]

When you're a jumping bean on stage, it should be mandatory to have a compressor on.

So because I am, it's always on hahaha