Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: gregduboc on August 21, 2009, 06:01:22 AM

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: gregduboc on August 21, 2009, 06:01:22 AM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: terryc on August 21, 2009, 07:08:22 AM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: spose on August 21, 2009, 08:24:58 AM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: elwoodblue on August 21, 2009, 09:59:57 AM

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?

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 21, 2009, 11:01:01 AM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 21, 2009, 11:06:48 AM

There is an La-2a comp for sale on Portland, Ore craigslist for 1400

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: wideload on August 21, 2009, 03:40:41 PM

Summit Audio TLA-50 sounds great, but I only use it in recording. Live, I want all the pop I can get!

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: mike1762 on August 21, 2009, 05:55:48 PM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: sonicus on August 21, 2009, 07:20:35 PM

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)

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: gregduboc on August 21, 2009, 09:59:11 PM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: sonicus on August 22, 2009, 01:05:42 AM

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 .

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: edwin on August 22, 2009, 02:36:59 AM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: sonicus on August 22, 2009, 03:08:39 AM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: gregduboc on August 22, 2009, 07:14:06 AM

Thanks again guys. I'll have a little chat with him!
Now I have some great argument points!  
Greg

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: mario_farufyno on August 22, 2009, 09:56:16 AM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: briant on August 22, 2009, 03:14:11 PM

I very highly recommend the  FMR Audio RNC 1773 (http://www.fmraudio.com/RNC1773.HTM).  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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: terryc on August 22, 2009, 04:45:50 PM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: saviour on October 17, 2009, 01:54:19 PM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: edwin on October 17, 2009, 11:01:19 PM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: hifiguy on October 19, 2009, 11:12:20 AM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: pace on October 19, 2009, 04:51:45 PM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: oujeebass on October 19, 2009, 06:02:55 PM

Compressors can really help a pick played rocker ,and actually make it work better.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: gregduboc on October 19, 2009, 06:09:53 PM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: mario_farufyno on October 19, 2009, 07:34:15 PM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: worldfamousandy on December 08, 2009, 01:01:59 PM

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.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: sonicus on December 08, 2009, 01:28:24 PM

I like the MULTI-SPECTRAL Compression on the TC ELECTRONIC
FINALIZER.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: dluxe on December 08, 2009, 04:13:56 PM

I've used both rack mount DBX 160x and 160XT units.  Both are very good and simple to use.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: jbybj on December 09, 2009, 10:03:32 AM

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.....

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: u14steelgtr on December 11, 2009, 03:35:22 PM

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

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: toddharris on December 23, 2009, 07:31:19 AM

I use a rack mounted Ashly that Billy Sheehan also uses - dependable - no pumping and very clean.

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: JuancarlinBass on December 28, 2009, 12:30:29 PM

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...

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: JuancarlinBass on December 28, 2009, 12:35:31 PM

 
 
(Message edited by jcdlc72 on December 28, 2009)

Title: Compressing a Series I
Post by: JuancarlinBass on December 28, 2009, 12:40:34 PM

Double post, sorry.
 
(Message edited by jcdlc72 on December 28, 2009)