Compression - what's all the fuss about?

[EBS_freak]

I couldn't take somebody that calls themselves the Wesernator seriously.... even if (which he is) the dogs danglies.

[Al Krow]

7 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Canine undercarriage made me laff!

It's spelt 'larf' mate 

[51m0n]

3 minutes ago, EBS_freak said:

I couldn't take somebody that calls themselves the Wesernator seriously.... even if (which he is) the dogs danglies.

Thats fine, check out his bio, come back to me when you've worked with even 3 of the names on there

 

[EBS_freak]

27 minutes ago, 51m0n said:

Thats fine, check out his bio, come back to me when you've worked with even 3 of the names on there

 

If you read back, I didn't dispute his credentials. I know who he is - and in fact, you'll see I even stated that he is the dog danglies.

[Skol303]

1 hour ago, 51m0n said:

Its just a daft question really.

Think like a bassist and you cant tell what its for, think like a sound engineer and you cant imagine a world without compressors on nearly everything.

Great post.

[Skol303]

43 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

It's spelt 'larf' mate 

Not in the North of England it's not  

Edited March 14, 2018 by Skol303

[Cuzzie]

Thank you!!!

[Al Krow]

22 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Thank you!!!

You're havin' a larf Cuzzie. You're not from the the naff of England are you?

[Al Krow]

1 hour ago, 51m0n said:

Think like a bassist and you can't tell what its for; think like a sound engineer and you can't imagine a world without compressors on nearly everything.

So more like vinegar on chips than glue to firm up the action of screws on a chair? 

Particularly if you're from the norf of England?

Aha, finally, I think the penny is about to drop! Wait I believe the chancellor is about to abolish those...(ooops was that too political? )

[Cuzzie]

You know I am Al, Born and Bred Mancunian,

Dont get sucked in to the Laaaaaandon ting bruv

Edited March 14, 2018 by Cuzzie

[Skol303]

22 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Aha, finally, I think the penny is about to drop!

It'd be fabulous if it finally did.

Failing that, you can always start another thread on this topic in future to add to your collection  

[Al Krow]

Haha! Well according to Cuzzie's other thread on this subject there would clearly be demand for one! Or at least for Indian takeaway cars. 

Compression threads are dead. Long live compression threads. 

Edited March 14, 2018 by Al Krow

[Skol303]

24 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Compression threads are dead.

I think that constitutes a legally binding contract to which I am going to hold you  

[Al Krow]

27 minutes ago, Skol303 said:

I think that constitutes a legally binding contract to which I am going to hold you  

Oh dear. It needs: offer, acceptance and consideration to be legally binding. Law 101. Maybe stick to sound engineering? 

[51m0n]

2 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

If you read back, I didn't dispute his credentials. I know who he is - and in fact, you'll see I even stated that he is the dog danglies.

Sorry old chap, may have read your post a little too rapidly

[Skol303]

41 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Oh dear. It needs: offer, acceptance and consideration to be legally binding. Law 101. Maybe stick to sound engineering? 

I'll just incarcerate any future threads you start on the topic. Job done  

[Al Krow]

A mod and a rocker all in one!

[Skol303]

I may have a few Anthrax tour shirts in my wardrobe... which reminds me they're probably still unwashed since the early 90s 

[la bam]

Ok.

Lets have a different look at it....

If a compressor pedal (using 3+ band compression) was called 'bass balancer' and only had (for sake of argument) 4 sliders on it (no dials) and each slider represented a string and moving the slider adjusted the volume and dynamics of each string, so you ended up with a lovely tone for each string which was also adjusted to be the same volume as the other 3, creating a fantastic balanced sound .....

who would use one? - no dials, thresholds, ratios etc, just 4 sliders that did it for you for each string.

Edited March 14, 2018 by la bam

[Cuzzie]

The minute you said sliders I was thinking of small burgers!

Of course I would, some naysayers will still probably say too many dials...

[Skol303]

9 minutes ago, la bam said:

who would use one? - no dials, thresholds, ratios etc, just 4 sliders that did it for you for each string.

I like your inventiveness! But given some of the discussion above, I think such a device might muddy the waters even further... I dunno.

I think those 'one knob' compressors are probably the best bet for anyone struggling to get their head around attack/ release/ threshold/ ratio.

[dave_bass5]

3 hours ago, Al Krow said:

Compression threads are dead. Long live compression threads. 

I think the mods need to gather all the compressor threads and compress them in to one mega thread...........and then lock it

 

[Ghost_Bass]

28 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

I think the mods need to gather all the compressor threads and compress them in to one mega thread...........and then lock it

 

Thread compressor you say... hum...

 

(wrong thread, probably)

[PaulWarning]

tried a compressor at a gig last night, in front of the sansamp bass drive sim on my Zoom, then switched it off after a few songs, my sound was clearer and more dynamic  with the compressor off, doubt if the crowd noticed, but I did, so I guess the bass drive does enough compressing for me

[Al Krow]

15 minutes ago, PaulWarning said:

tried a compressor at a gig last night, in front of the sansamp bass drive sim on my Zoom, then switched it off after a few songs, my sound was clearer and more dynamic  with the compressor off, doubt if the crowd noticed, but I did, so I guess the bass drive does enough compressing for me

Like the fact that you've tried the thing out in action - cheers for that. What comp were you using or was it a Zoom patch and, if so, what patch / setting did you have it on?

Fyi @Osiris (I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning) has been getting some great results with the Zoom patches especially with the 160 comp modelled on the DBX 160a which he'd previously dismissed as too polite for his tastes but now seems to have found the 'sweet spot' where it adds bags of punch. His precise settings remain a trade secret 'cos they only work with his particular rig and playing style so you'll just have to use your ears, although even some experts e.g. @51m0n have pointed out that they can't actually hear any difference when using the more transparent comps (at which point it basically becomes guess work, right?! )