• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What do you look for in a compressor?

#43
randall p said:
Spencer, I mentioned this in a thread about tube amps last night, but I will repeat it here. I love the natural,transient, compression of tubes. My small rig is SS and would love a pedal to give me the RESPONSE, not the tone, of a toober.
Click to expand...

My gut reaction is that an expander with a low ratio and a very fast attack would be better for emulating tube amp sag. I could easily modify my design to do this, so thanks for the suggestion.
 
#44
Spencer! said:
You sure you're thinking of the Distressor? One of its defining characteristics is its distortion. It's the "Dis" in Distressor.
Click to expand...

Uh... maybe not! :hiding:
Now that I think about it I've only used a Distressor a handful of times and only on snare drum so maybe that's not the best example for me to give.

Either way... lots of headroom.

I think one of the things that makes the dbx 160 so successful (which I use on bass constantly by the way :) ) is that it has only threshold, gain and ratio knobs. Plus it seems to have a ton of headroom.
 
#46
MonkeyBass said:
Uh... maybe not! :hiding:
Now that I think about it I've only used a Distressor a handful of times and only on snare drum so maybe that's not the best example for me to give.

Either way... lots of headroom.

I think one of the things that makes the dbx 160 so successful (which I use on bass constantly by the way :) ) is that it has only threshold, gain and ratio knobs. Plus it seems to have a ton of headroom.
Click to expand...

The Distressor does have lots of headroom and can get great clean sounds, but generally if you slam the input it's going to distort.

I dig compressors with set attack and release times. The LA-2A is one of my favorite compressors and it only has 2 knobs. That said, I definitely want an attack knob on my compressor. A lot of people like a fast attack to smack down the transients and squash the signal, but I like a slow attack to bring out the punch of the note.
 
#47
This is the current prototype I'm working with. Controls are threshold, output, attack release, and a modern/vintage switch. For the next prototype, I'm planning on making the release fixed (or maybe as an internal trimpot) and adding a two-position ratio switch. I'm also going to add an indicator LED that lights up based on where the threshold is set. I'm looking into a full 10-LED meter bridge, but it might use too much power for a battery-powered pedal.


885da473.gif
 
#57
bongomania said:
I know there are a few battery "diehards" ;) out there, but they are increasingly a minority, and I don't think I would make battery power a priority in the decision-making process.
Click to expand...

A battery option isn't my first priority (the Proton doesn't have one), but it's an option I like to include if the design allows it.
 
#59
+1..
The people that worry about that aren't gigging day after day after day anyway...but then again.. maybe they are.. just my thought..

bongomania said:
I know there are a few battery "diehards" ;) out there, but they are increasingly a minority, and I don't think I would make battery power a priority in the decision-making process.
Click to expand...
 
#60
Now that should be good in any situation.
Nice!
Spencer! said:
This is the current prototype I'm working with. Controls are threshold, output, attack release, and a modern/vintage switch. For the next prototype, I'm planning on making the release fixed (or maybe as an internal trimpot) and adding a two-position ratio switch. I'm also going to add an indicator LED that lights up based on where the threshold is set. I'm looking into a full 10-LED meter bridge, but it might use too much power for a battery-powered pedal.


885da473.gif
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back