Compression, whos using what?

[NAZ]

It is that time of year again "Christmas" and I am looking into a compressor. I would like to stick with somehting I can slap in my rack.

What about DBX or Alesis or Behrenger, any prefs?
Somehting that will do the job, but wont cost as much as my SR5

 

[Musicfreak1988]

I don't have any expierence with compressors of these brands, but I do have with other gear of Alesis / DBX / Behringer. So let's see...
Behringer isn't expensive, but you can hear it. Not that there is a 100dB of hum or so, but you can simply hear a bit that this is not profi-stuff.
My experience with both Alesis and DBX is that their equipment is well built and sound quality is good, but in the I'd go for DBX.
BTW, be sure to check AVALON compressors!

 

[Psychicpet]

<sheepishly> there was a thread a little while ago regarding compressors and I was fairly bold at saying that you shouldn't need compression..... then recently I started mixing my bass-only CD and ya know what, compression IS a GOOD thing
the only thing I've really liked in the studio is either the compressor in an Avalon 737 or a Joe Meek but from what I've heard dbx is an industry standard.
good luck!

 

[spectorbassguy]

I've never cared for compressors in live situations. They remind me of a little man that is always monitoring my dynamics to HIS taste, not mine, and I already have enough real people who do that! Except my senior pastor - he's cool! He says the bass is JUST RIGHT!

 

[Psychicpet]

ya, my recent 'conversion' to compression is most due to hearing it in the studio and learning how to use it not to the point where it's obviously on but to the point where in the mix it sits a bit better..... but I'm giving myself until July until I retract this statement so... hehehehehe

pd

 

[Ben Clarke]

For amplified music, I pretty much always track with a little compression on everything, and often add more at mixdown. It is very important that you don't overdo it.

Bellari makes a nice little single channel tube unit that I use for bass. You can get different textures by rolling tubes, too. The SR5 has enough output level that I just plug right in to the Bellari, then to the DI, which parallels off to the amp and mixer.

I find that compressing the peaks by 6-8dB is about right for me with this unit. It has an optical sensor, which, with its inherently slow attack response, lets the attack through with pretty predictable results. IOW, you can kinda squash things and they still sound good.

It's great for percussive sounds, too. Huge on kick & snare. You can really have fun with a drum machine & "wrong" compressor technique.

 

[Franky]

instead of using a compressor, why not try an MXR Micro Amp. Hot.

 

[Paz Girasole]

Yeah, I too had convinced myself that I did not need compression. Then I added
a DBX 160A to my rack. It really made a big differcence. How did I ever live
without one ? I dunno .........

Current setup;

Musicman SR5
Samson Airline Wireless
Sansamp RBI
BBE 482 Sonic Maximiser
DBX 160A
QSC PLX 2402
2 x Wayne Jones 2x10 cabs.


Cheers,


Pazman.