what does a bass compressor pedal do?

notmeagain · 11-02-2006, 01:55

Thats pretty much what i want to know...

Doctor J · 11-02-2006, 11:25

A compressor basically tries to even out the volume coming out of your bass by squeezing the level once it passes a certain point, called the threshold. If you find some notes are louder than others you can set any signal which goes beyond the threshold you set to be squashed at a ratio set by you.

Ratio means, say a 2:1 ratio would be gentle compression. For every note that goes over your threshold, if it went over by 2db it would squash the note so only 1db more is heard. If you went 4db over your threshold you'd hear only 2db over your threshold. If your ratio is, say, 4:1, if you went 4db over your threshold you'd only actually hear an extra 1db. The effect is to even out the peaks in your playing, so it sounds more level.

Downsides are that two much compression sounds chronic and can take some of the natural changes in level out of your playing. Personally, I think it's a good thing to work on your technique to even out your playing though when used appropriately a smidge of compression can help.

Rustar · 11-02-2006, 12:06

It's especially important for loud live music, where you may have 16 different mics picking up wildly varying volumes and 3-5 players playing with different ideas about dynamics.
Usually, though, there is a compressor unit attached to the mixing board that can compress the whole band at once (and even separate instruments through the effects bus, I believe). If your band has a real PA with effects, or you play at places with a real PA, this might not be a crucial item to have.... you probably wouldn't need it for home practice or garage-type band playing, but it might come in handy for doing some recording (although most computer effects packages probably have some kind of compression built-in).
I would also say that it's probably less important for a bass player to have a stand-alone unit live, as many times the bass is DI'd to the mixing rack and compressed there.
Edit: Most new amps these days seem to be including some sort of 'limiting' on the output (the top end of a compressor's job), making the compressor pedal possibly even less necessary.

There's a danger in too much compression, too....in the little tune in my sig, I over-compressed the first bass part with a multi-effects pedal and you can't really hear that I'm popping the last few notes of each phrase....a little too laid-back!

Steoob · 11-02-2006, 12:52

ya theyre pretty handy i have one but i dont play bass anymore so if youre interested in buying it let me know....

its the digitech x series bass compressor

jtsuited · 15-02-2006, 20:34

they're filthy things that suck all the life out of the performance. compression works well when recording. that's about it.
bye yourself a big muff. money better spent. and don't give me that 'but i don't need a big muff' malarky!!
Everyone needs one!!

notmeagain · 17-02-2006, 23:44

got a big muff already, love it. Any other pedals that people would reccomend for bass?

Steoob · 18-02-2006, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by notmeagain

got a big muff already, love it. Any other pedals that people would reccomend for bass?

a digitech x series bass compressor pedal?:v:

Rustar · 19-02-2006, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by notmeagain

got a big muff already, love it. Any other pedals that people would reccomend for bass?

A Boss ME50B or a PODxtLive bass. Enough toys to play around with for a century or two.

guitarmano · 22-02-2006, 19:59

hi all....what the hell does bump mean?..im new to boards.ie/

Steoob · 22-02-2006, 20:11

lol very bass compressor related indeed

you say it when you want your thread to go back to the top of the list of threads so that people will see it... btw keep it After hours for these kinda questions..

also the urban dictionary should help you out alot

guitarmano · 24-02-2006, 12:22

cheers..i feel i can now join the ranks of great forum posters

11-02-2006, 01:55	#1
notmeagain Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 46 Adverts \| Friends	what does a bass compressor pedal do? Thats pretty much what i want to know...

11-02-2006, 12:06	#3
Rustar Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shiny New England (not the old used England) Posts: 1,128 Adverts \| Friends	It's especially important for loud live music, where you may have 16 different mics picking up wildly varying volumes and 3-5 players playing with different ideas about dynamics. Usually, though, there is a compressor unit attached to the mixing board that can compress the whole band at once (and even separate instruments through the effects bus, I believe). If your band has a real PA with effects, or you play at places with a real PA, this might not be a crucial item to have.... you probably wouldn't need it for home practice or garage-type band playing, but it might come in handy for doing some recording (although most computer effects packages probably have some kind of compression built-in). I would also say that it's probably less important for a bass player to have a stand-alone unit live, as many times the bass is DI'd to the mixing rack and compressed there. Edit: Most new amps these days seem to be including some sort of 'limiting' on the output (the top end of a compressor's job), making the compressor pedal possibly even less necessary. There's a danger in too much compression, too....in the little tune in my sig, I over-compressed the first bass part with a multi-effects pedal and you can't really hear that I'm popping the last few notes of each phrase....a little too laid-back! Last edited by Rustar; 11-02-2006 at 12:29.

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11-02-2006, 11:25	#2
Doctor J Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pre-Mortem Posts: 11,582 Adverts \| Friends	A compressor basically tries to even out the volume coming out of your bass by squeezing the level once it passes a certain point, called the threshold. If you find some notes are louder than others you can set any signal which goes beyond the threshold you set to be squashed at a ratio set by you. Ratio means, say a 2:1 ratio would be gentle compression. For every note that goes over your threshold, if it went over by 2db it would squash the note so only 1db more is heard. If you went 4db over your threshold you'd hear only 2db over your threshold. If your ratio is, say, 4:1, if you went 4db over your threshold you'd only actually hear an extra 1db. The effect is to even out the peaks in your playing, so it sounds more level. Downsides are that two much compression sounds chronic and can take some of the natural changes in level out of your playing. Personally, I think it's a good thing to work on your technique to even out your playing though when used appropriately a smidge of compression can help.

11-02-2006, 12:52	#4
Steoob Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cork Posts: 2,325 Adverts \| Friends	ya theyre pretty handy i have one but i dont play bass anymore so if youre interested in buying it let me know.... its the digitech x series bass compressor

15-02-2006, 20:34	#5
jtsuited Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On a periphery of a periphery Posts: 6,066 Adverts \| Friends	they're filthy things that suck all the life out of the performance. compression works well when recording. that's about it. bye yourself a big muff. money better spent. and don't give me that 'but i don't need a big muff' malarky!! Everyone needs one!!

17-02-2006, 23:44	#6
notmeagain Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 46 Adverts \| Friends	got a big muff already, love it. Any other pedals that people would reccomend for bass?

22-02-2006, 19:59	#9
guitarmano Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 8 Adverts \| Friends	hi all....what the hell does bump mean?..im new to boards.ie/

22-02-2006, 20:11	#10
Steoob Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cork Posts: 2,325 Adverts \| Friends	lol very bass compressor related indeed you say it when you want your thread to go back to the top of the list of threads so that people will see it... btw keep it After hours for these kinda questions.. also the urban dictionary should help you out alot

24-02-2006, 12:22	#11
guitarmano Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 8 Adverts \| Friends	cheers..i feel i can now join the ranks of great forum posters