Do be careful though, as too much “enhance” boost and you’ll get a nasty digital hissing sound. There is also a built-in indicator LED that will turn from green to red as your compression gets stronger. Compression pedals. Level parameters can be beneficial if you want to keep your clean and compressed signal at the same volume. Here are the most common types of compression that you’re most likely to come into contact within the world of bass compressor pedals: Optical compression uses a light source (essentially a resistor that is sensitive to light) to change the volume of the signal. Overall, the MXR M87 is transparent in tone and versatile in dynamics. Boss is known for their inexpensive, yet reliable pedals, and the Boss LMB-3 is a sweet little stompbox pedal that has a helluva compression style. You might also love the fact that MXR was able to squeeze all of this into a pedal that doesn’t take up a whole landmass on your board. It’s got a very natural sound and is perfect for those who want their compression to be subtle. We should preface this section by letting you know that: just because a compressor has more knobs doesn’t make it a better compressor. I’m looking for a nice bass preamp and a few questions have come up. FET compressors are excellent for snappier types of sounds. Being able to adjust these parameters can give your bass wildly different sounds. They can elevate the sustain of your bass guitar while not distorting the sound. At the top of the pedal is the unique gain reduction LED meter that gives you a visual representation of the amount of gain reduction that is happening. It might not be such a visible ingredient, but it will bring out the flavor in all the other components. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. As for release, you can get a sweet pumping sound if you’re able to set it long. They balance the volume between notes with a slow attack and release time, enough so that they do work, though are very transparent. That being said, the attack and release, which are both non-adjustable, are pretty much on the in-between for a well-rounded sound. It’s both simple and effective, all while giving you the ability to create a wide range of sounds. The 5 Best Bass Compressor Pedals. What Are Compressor Pedals And How They Work; Why Bass Compressors Are Necessary; … One string pluck harder than the one before can have a massive impact. One of the most common and affordable types of bass pedal compressors is the VCA compressor. Markbass Compressore Tube Bass Compressor. Thank you for your support! (Source). From soft compression to full on limiting, this pedal can honestly do it all. There are four controls onboard. All in all, the tube adds some really lovely thickness and compared to the “harshness” of digital pedals, it’s a unique and sweet kind of feeling. Your email address will not be published. Most compressor with multiple parameters will have some sort of level section, even if it isn’t labeled “level” specifically. For Sale: Bass Guitar Strings and Accessories, The TB Bazaar: Gear For Sale from our Sponsors, For Sale: Double Bass Amps, Strings & Accessories, Wanted: Bass Guitars, Amps, and Accessories, Wanted: Double Basses, Amps & Accessories, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. TalkBass utilizes technology from Skimlinks that may give us a small affiliate commission on purchases made via links on our site. Required fields are marked *, Gain, Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Volume. Best Audio Recording Gear, Musical Instruments, & Home Studio Guides. When you use a compressor, you’re able to keep your sound present, focused, and controlled. These pedals not only have a quality and sturdy feel, but they also allow you to dial in any sound you could think of. Compressors like the Boss CP-1X are a multi-band effects pedal, meaning they process different frequencies in your signal independently. If there’s one thing you can take away from all this, it is that a good bass compressor is the initial point of any quality performance. One year progress - may I ask for some advice.