| Author | Message | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 299 Registered: 2-2003 |
I am getting the bug again to try out a compressor, and I am planning on buying a new one shortly, I was hoping to hear some recomendations. The only compressor I used in past has been a Demeter Compulator, Great pedal very punchy solid and tight low end, (but I never used one with my Alembics before) but this time around I wanted to try something new... I am looking Hard at the Analogman Bi-Comp and I am on his waiting list, but in the meantime I am thinking about picking up "the Juicer". See here if intersted: http://www.analogman.com/rossmod.htm The analogman stuff in my opinion is very high grade great sounding gear, I have a Chorus pedal with three way toggle switch that sounds absolutely beautiful, lush and rich chorus. what are you guys using? Thanks - Tom | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1699 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tom: I have an Analogman Dyna-Ross - a reissue MXR Dynacomp modded to Ross specs. It removed the whooshy/wavy/breathing of the MXR. I like it. Well worth it in my opinion. Bill, tgo | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 300 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks Bill, At this point I am pretty much set with buying another Analogman pedal, but I have thought about checking out the EH Blackfinger as well as a few others. Has anyone tried out a Keeley on bass? please keep them recommendations coming. - Tom | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 70 Registered: 1-2005 |
I had an one of the new EH Blackfingers. I liked it - I liked the flexibility of being able to control the gain as well as the amount of compression. However, it was NOISY. It may have just been the place where I lived, but every now and again there would be this horrible buzzing noise that would come and go. Right now I use a Compulator and something called a V-Comp by Custom Audio Japan. The Compulator is cool, but I wish it had an LED or something to show when and how much it was compressing. The V-Comp is cool - it's got a tube, as well as an LED to show when you're hitting it. Not sure if they're available in the States though. | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 71 Registered: 1-2005 |
Double-post! So here's a link to the CAJ V-Comp, or at least a page close to it. Custom Audio Japan (it's listed as V-COMP on the left - sorry, no English, but at least you can see a picture!) (Message edited by hieronymous on October 09, 2006) | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 790 Registered: 2-2006 |
I personally don’t like compression on bass. You loose a lot of the dynamic value when your signal is compressed. Now don’t get me wrong, compression can be a good thing on bass but too many cats compress their signal more than they need. This gives you a bland-smooth-Jerry Springer-tone. The violence is there but staged. It happens but there is no excitement. BUT on guitar it I like it somtimes. Especially when playing heavy metal. Now I couldn’t imagine SRV or Buddy Guy with an extremely compressed sound, or (I may get a little flak for this) Steve Gaines, Garry Rossington or Allen Collins (IMHO 3 of the most underrated guitar players around). BUT, I like the sound that Satch and Vai or EVH get with a ton of compression. So To compress or not to compress that is the question. | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 301 Registered: 2-2003 |
Ive never really used a compressor enough to judge, And I cant really say why I would want one now other than to experiment with it. The Compulator I found when I used it gave me a very tight, kick drum punchy tone, Im thinking of it as more of an effect I suppose than something to use all the time. What started me going was the Analogman stuff. Im thinking of just getting the Juicer for now. Although I like that Blackfinger can be overdriven to get a little edge. hmmmmm. - Tom | ||
| jbybj
Junior Username: jbybj Post Number: 15 Registered: 6-2006 |
I tried a friends Keeley comp, I felt like it was a tone sucker. I have been very happy with the EBS multicomp. It has three modes, one of which is multiband. This box seems to coax the tone out of whatever I put through it. You have to really krank down on the threshold before it starts to suck. Probably 60-70% of the threshold range was useful, whereas only about 5% of the keeley's threshold was acceptable. My passive basses love it, and my Epic is very happy being squished by EBS | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 302 Registered: 2-2003 |
EBS yes Ill add that one to my short list, Ive been going back and forth about using only Bass Specific compressors, but I think I would be leaving too many good units out. - Tom | ||
| jet_powers
Advanced Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 292 Registered: 2-2003 |
Now correct me if my naivety shows through.... but I was under the impression that when music is mastered, that in essence, they compress the living s**t out of it. Amongst other things. JP | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1084 Registered: 6-2002 |
JP, It's not as black-and-white as all that. Record companies issue special mixes for broadcasting to make the music 'stand out' on the airwaves. Broadcasters again add loads of compression. Listen to the BBC World Service - they invented the Optimod processor ages ago. It makes finding them on your MW radio quite easy - no matter how bad the signal, you can easily make out what the voices are saying - much better than most other radio stations. On the downside, music gets annoying, especially classical stuff. It did add lots of character to John Peel's programme, where he would inflict 30 minutes of the Jesus & Mary Chain (noise for noise's sake) on unsuspecting listeners worldwide. Depending on what the engineer and the producer decide during the recording process, they may or may not add compression. During mastering, especially for a compilation of different recordings, they will either compare the levels and adjust accordingly (costs time and money) or compress the hell out of it (cheap). | ||
| hieronymous
Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 74 Registered: 1-2005 |
And whether or not the final result is (over-)compressed or not, during recording and/or mixdown, individual parts may be compressed to help them "sit in the mix" better, etc. Also, different instruments are often compressed differently. And despite my writing this, I'm no expert! | ||
| jbybj
Junior Username: jbybj Post Number: 16 Registered: 6-2006 |
You could spend days following compression threads on any mastering forum. Most good mastering engineers are constantly fighting the pressures of bands and record companies to over compress the material. Mastering engineers want it to sound good, bands/execs want the mixes to STAND OUT. The kind of compression that is the end result of heavy handed mastering and FM broadcast is extreme compared to what you can apply to your bass, to simply help it stand out, especially in a live situation. Appropriate, helpful, pleasing use of compression on an instrument, still allows for plenty of dynamic range. Not so with an FM rock song. "but I was under the impression that when music is mastered, that in essence, they compress the living s**t out of it" Time to find a new mastering engineer! | ||
| jet_powers
Advanced Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 296 Registered: 2-2003 |
Or learn a bit more about mastering! | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1336 Registered: 3-2004 |
I recently picked up a Trace SMX on the used market. Great value since they are out of production as they can be had in the <$75 range. I suspect it is pretty similar to the EBS, though I haven't tried one. It has the similar feature of separate high/low compression settings. I know that I accidentally pumped up the input signal to max the other day and the result was a very tubey sounding overdrive. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 858 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm using an Aphex Bass Exciter and fin dit has an impressive effect on the overall sound and punch of my basses. MPISANEK also uses one (his recommendation led me to mine). Superb piece of kit. graeme | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 303 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thanks Guys! Bob, if I could find one of those trace units for $75 that would be a steal they look pretty good. Im looking at the Maxon 9-Series CP-9 Pro+ this guys runs at 18 volts for extra headroom, looks very interesting. http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=RXuOZgAA1160523571&uzc=&command=link--cp9 | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1055 Registered: 9-2002 |
Compression: Pedals, the blue BOSS compressors (CS3?) or the EBS are hard to beat. RackMount: Boy the sky's the limit, but I stole a closeout APHEX 661 tube compressor. If that had not gotten in the way, a dbx 160A is fabulous. After that, boy there's lots of them, but that's where my search led me. I prefer compression done right: Just a bit past limiting, where it's just beginning to stretch the notes slightly, level out the overall evenness of the fingerboard (I never heard those low Cs and Ds properly without one) with out that squashed sound, and keeping a lid on things when the thumb or the heavy pick comes out. I just wanted that smooth sheen I get when it's done right. J o e y | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1056 Registered: 9-2002 |
Compression: Pedals, the blue BOSS compressors (CS3?) or the EBS are hard to beat. RackMount: Boy the sky's the limit, but I stole a closeout APHEX 661 tube compressor. If that had not gotten in the way, a dbx 160A is fabulous. After that, boy there's lots of them, but that's where my search led me. I prefer compression done right: Just a bit past limiting, where it's just beginning to stretch the notes slightly, level out the overall evenness of the fingerboard (I never heard those low Cs and Ds properly without one) with out that squashed sound, and keeping a lid on things when the thumb or the heavy pick comes out. I just wanted that smooth sheen I get when it's done right. J o e y | ||
| echo008
Advanced Member Username: echo008 Post Number: 307 Registered: 2-2003 |
Just to folow up I bought a Carl Martin Compressor/ Limiter. It has it own power supply built in just plug and play with plenty of headroom this thing sounds great with my little SCD with Flatwounds and sounds equally at home on my 5 String Essence. I will be taking this one with me whereever I go to get a better feel for it in the upcoming months. Thanks for all the replys ! - Tom |
