| Author | Message | ||
| gregduboc
Intermediate Member Username: gregduboc Post Number: 187 Registered: 11-2008 |
Hey there everyone. One question that has probably been asked before, but I do want to ask again, in case something new came up... I need to buy a compressor for my new beloved Series I. Which one? Greg | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1010 Registered: 11-2004 |
never use one..is there a need when you have such a great instrument with perfect electronics. BUT if you feel the need there are plently out there..some very expensive some very affordable. Boss do a good range. | ||
| spose
Advanced Member Username: spose Post Number: 269 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have gone back and forth over the years using a Rane DC24 dual band comp. I'm currently not running one but I'm about to put it back into the rack. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 812 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't have a series bass anymore, I find for alot of my applications the HHB radius 30 works well. Are you thinking pedals or rack gear? | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 233 Registered: 9-2008 |
Try the Demeter Compulator (COMP-1). Simple and easy to adjust. People at Bass Player mag says it behaves like the old teletronix LA-2A (that is awesome, since this is the "classic" compressor sound from the 60/70s). If you can afford a studio quality rack compressor, they have the fully adjustable HXC-1 HX. Never tried the Aphex 1404 Punch Factory, but seems nice being able to see how much compression is going on in a Pedal. | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 68 Registered: 7-2009 |
There is an La-2a comp for sale on Portland, Ore craigslist for 1400 | ||
| wideload
Intermediate Member Username: wideload Post Number: 143 Registered: 6-2003 |
Summit Audio TLA-50 sounds great, but I only use it in recording. Live, I want all the pop I can get! | ||
| mike1762
Advanced Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 357 Registered: 1-2008 |
I'm with Larry... I wouldn't use one live, but you do need to tame those transients in the studio. Even then you need to be subtle or the compressor will suck the "life" out of your bass tracks. | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 260 Registered: 5-2009 |
For Live playing I avoid compression . But for the studio in a recording environment the DBX 160 VU sounds good. An old Teletronix La-2a is ok and so is the Fairchild 670 . Manley has one designed after the Fairchild 670 and uses the variable mu circuit design. (variable mu = variable gain) | ||
| gregduboc
Intermediate Member Username: gregduboc Post Number: 190 Registered: 11-2008 |
Actually, it is indeed only for recordings. But my producer really insists... he is even trying to sell me a new Boss pedal he got for a very nice price. Is it a good choice? Thanks for all the recommendations, I'll do the research now! Greg | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 261 Registered: 5-2009 |
For recording I would opt for a 'HIGH END" piece of outboard gear. You indeed have a 'HIGH END" ALEMBIC Bass! Ask your producer to rent a decent unit for the recording process if the studio in use is not stocked with one . | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 456 Registered: 5-2002 |
You needn't compress on the way in unless there is a specific hardware compressor you or the producer likes. It's very hard to uncompress things and given that 24 bit recording represents something 140 db of dynamic range, you are perfectly fine recording straight and then using a plug in or hardware insert of your choice. Edwin | ||
| sonicus
Advanced Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 262 Registered: 5-2009 |
Edwin I totally agree with you. All that said if you are using PROTOOLS to record why not just use a software plug in. They are getting better sounding all the time. If PROTOOLS HD is available in the studio the plug ins are awesome. I use plug ins in PROTOOLS quite a bit doing audio restoration work. They work and you can un do them. | ||
| gregduboc
Intermediate Member Username: gregduboc Post Number: 196 Registered: 11-2008 |
Thanks again guys. I'll have a little chat with him! Now I have some great argument points!  Greg | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 235 Registered: 9-2008 |
Alembics are quite silent, I don't think you need to record them already compressed. This was a must when the recordings were all analogical and we needed to calm down the peaks (transients) to bring up the main signal. And that was needed just because there were a lot of eletric noise at lower levels setings in a tape machine. In digital realms we have more then 120dB of dynamic headroom and no background noise. So, I don't think it is really necessary to compress a Bass before the DAW if your instrument and pre-amp are quiet enough. Remember you can change its transients and wave shape using a compressor. Just record that way if you are really shure about the sound you'll be geting. Once you record it that way, you can't step back... But if your producer really need it, use a good pro compressor, not any pedal. Let it to the gigs, if so. I don't use compressors live anymore since our soundtech will be compressing entire band before send us to the PA. Too many compression in the chain can squash your tone badly. | ||
| briant
Advanced Member Username: briant Post Number: 358 Registered: 12-2004 |
I very highly recommend the FMR Audio RNC 1773. I have a couple of them and they really do what they claim to do - sound absolutely amazing and for very very cheap. A friend of mine who has a very nice studio with lots of very expensive gear swears by them - he turned me onto them when I mentioned I was looking. I don't use a compressor live. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1016 Registered: 11-2004 |
For what it is worth I did use one before I got my Alembic MK over 10 years ago. But after so many gigs using it I am in the same boat as everyone else..I don' use on live and prefer 'finger' dynamics instead. I haven't done studio work for ages and I guess the sound engineer has he last word anyway | ||
| saviour
New Username: saviour Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2009 |
Don`t use a compressor with alembic series basses. I own a dbx 160A and an ashley. Bot are great but not with an alembic. Leave the alembic sound pure as much as posible. I only use compressors with passive high gain basses like my yamaha attitude or maybe my Ric 4001C64. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 460 Registered: 5-2002 |
Ashley comps never sounded that great to me. More recently, I've been enjoying some of the software comps. The PSP Audioware Old Timer sounds great to me! So does the Massey comp for Pro Tools. If I were to compress a Series bass, whether live or in the studio, I would seriously try to do it in stereo. It would be interesting to compress the bridge pickup some, but to leave the dynamic range of the low end alone. Or vice versa. Edwin | ||
| hifiguy
Intermediate Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 194 Registered: 10-2006 |
Never used one live, but in the studio, I really like the sound of the Manley Labs all-tube "limiting amp." In my experience, Manley stuff cannot be beat in the studio. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 442 Registered: 4-2004 |
Greg, Are you recording to tape, or disk? I'm trying to figure out exactly where your "producer" is coming from, and if he's acquainted with the inherent tone of your Series. Is he recording to disk, and compressing the drums and bass so they sound like they're hitting tape real hard? Is he used to recording sloppy bass players? Is he going to eq or crossover the compressor so that only a certain frequency range is squashed? FWIW in any circumstance, I think you can do better than a Boss compressor. | ||
| oujeebass
Intermediate Member Username: oujeebass Post Number: 170 Registered: 10-2002 |
Compressors can really help a pick played "rocker" ,and actually make it work better. | ||
| gregduboc
Advanced Member Username: gregduboc Post Number: 224 Registered: 11-2008 |
Mike, I convinced him not to use a compressor. I told him to record me a couple of times, and he realized that he was used to crappy basses/players (not that I'm the god of bass ) and that a compressor will only hide the awesome sound my bass makes. I showed him what Mario said, and he agreed. Thanks for that Mario. Thanks for the help, honestly. Greg | ||
| mario_farufyno
Advanced Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 317 Registered: 9-2008 |
Oh, glad to help... I agree a Compressor can help us many ways, just think it can be used later at mixing without any compromise if you're not recording to tape. | ||
| worldfamousandy
Intermediate Member Username: worldfamousandy Post Number: 127 Registered: 3-2004 |
I like to use a little squeeze live. It helps to keep that G string full. I use the EBS Multicomp, and it's the best stomp box I have heard. Recently, I have experimented with a TC Rebel rig, and I think I like the built-in comp a little better than the EBS, though. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 567 Registered: 5-2009 |
I like the MULTI-SPECTRAL Compression on the TC ELECTRONIC FINALIZER. | ||
| dluxe
Junior Username: dluxe Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2009 |
I've used both rack mount DBX 160x and 160XT units. Both are very good and simple to use. | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 253 Registered: 6-2006 |
"I use the EBS Multicomp, and it's the best stomp box I have heard." I too use the EBS in jamming situations, and I love it. The way I use it, I still have lot's of dynamic range, just the loudest excursions get tamed, It makes all my basses sound just a little bit better, to my ear, in a group setting..... | ||
| u14steelgtr
Intermediate Member Username: u14steelgtr Post Number: 104 Registered: 7-2003 |
In the studio if they insist that you use a compressor I suggest that you split the output and have them record your Bass as 2 tracks; 1 compressed channel and the other not-compressd. That way you will have both when you are ready to do the final mix. I do not understand why someone in this day and age would insist that you use a compressor. I would considder that a red-flag with regard to the expertise or equipment that they are using. It really does not make sense to me. -- Eugene | ||
| toddharris
Intermediate Member Username: toddharris Post Number: 133 Registered: 7-2008 |
I use a rack mounted Ashly that Billy Sheehan also uses - dependable - no pumping and very clean. | ||
| jcdlc72
Junior Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2009 |
I use, on a very scarce way, a DBX163x on my rack, along with a Yamaha PB1 preamp, a Digitech RDS1900 digital delay set for Chorus, and a QSC GX5 power amp. The 163x is "over-easy" to use, just a slider to change the amount of compression, and I use it around 20%, sometimes even less, only to tame certain peaks when slapping, sometimes about 50% if I'm using my fretless, and a little chorus from the RDS... the rest is all on the hands... | ||
| jcdlc72
Junior Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2009 |
(Message edited by jcdlc72 on December 28, 2009) | ||
| jcdlc72
Junior Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 28 Registered: 11-2009 |
Double post, sorry. (Message edited by jcdlc72 on December 28, 2009) |
