How Can Compression Help My Sound?

     Perhaps one of the most useful tools a Bassist can use, the Compressor/Limiter, is often a miss-understood effect and shrouded in mystery as to what it does and how it can help you. The Electric Bass Guitar has a huge dynamic range and it can be difficult to gain definition due to its pitch and difference in volume between its lowest notes and highest notes. Good technique definitely helps, but it is not the only way to make what you are playing more audible or well defined. Adding a bit of compression helps tame these volume peaks so that no matter where you play on the neck or how hard or soft or the techniques you are using , the notes can be heard. Sound Engineers and Recording Engineers apply Compression to Bass Guitar almost always to help it Sit in a mix better. Extreme Use of Compression can have negative affects on you sound, so it must be used carefully.

      The MXR M87 is A Great Example of A Compressor that provides extensive control of how the compression is applied. It has an Attack Knob, which determines how fast the signal gets compressed(Fast Attack grabs note right way). A release Knob which Determines how quickly after compression the note releases out of compression, and a Ratio Knob which Determines the amount of compression being applied. Input and output are how you match level after application of compression. With the Advent of all these sophisticated and high output on board pre-amps, We have found the M87 to be invaluable in taming the output on ALOT of these hi output basses to a manageable level so it is not clipping input stages of amplifiers and sending square waves to power sections which can ultimately do damage to speakers. sales@basscentral.com