Compressor Types - Which do you prefer?

[superheavyfunk]

The title says it all. Obviously, the type of compressor that one actually ends up using will be program dependent - We choose our tools based on the needs of the moment - but if you're like me, your ears and hands prefer the action of a certain TYPE of compression tool. Myself, I love playing with optical comps. I dig the squish and the way the optical compressors I've used sort of "push back" against me. It's like playing in a bouncy castle at the fairgrounds in summertime, except I'm playing bass and there are no clowns, cuz eff that business. I saw the movie "IT" as a child and have never been able to look a clown in it's beady little eyes ever since.

...Anywayyyyy, what is your preferred compressor type? VCA? Optical? FET? Tube? What kind of juice do you like with your grooves?

 

[bongomania]

Surprising exactly nobody, I have "favorites" of each type. But if I was going unexpectedly onstage somewhere and somebody asked what kind of comp I wanted on me just as the lights hit my eyes, I would probably blurt out "optical" just because on average they seem to do the job in a pleasant manner.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

I have been enjoying a digital comp recently, a line 6 constrictor. It has 3 modes set to emulate 2 types of modern pedal comp and vintage tube comp.

The latter is my favorite by far, just a super warm mellow comp that goes good with pretty much everything. I am sure an actual tube comp would be much nicer too.

 

[blindrabbit]

Generally speaking it would seem that optical comps are my jam, but admittedly I've not had enough experience with true tube comps to be able to say one way or another with them. Tube comps certainly intrigue me though.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

Generally speaking it would seem that optical comps are my jam, but admittedly I've not had enough experience with true tube comps to be able to say one way or another with them. Tube comps certainly intrigue me though.

Tube everything just seems better at least in some ways. Tube reverb for example, rectifiers, amps, pretty much anything that can be made with tubes.

I have never used a true tube comp either but I would bet money I would love one. It seems like one of the most transparent and warm varieties.

 

[superheavyfunk]

Generally speaking it would seem that optical comps are my jam, but admittedly I've not had enough experience with true tube comps to be able to say one way or another with them. Tube comps certainly intrigue me though.

I have never used a true tube comp either but I would bet money I would love one. It seems like one of the most transparent and warm varieties.

The Markbass Compressore is a tube comp. I had no idea and used it a long time ago, before I ever came across the ovnilab site. It sounded good but was too finniky for me... I can't say that I really remember it feeling different than the optical ones I have nowadays. Then again, maybe I'd notice the difference more now that I have more experience with compressors in general.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

One other thing to consider is tubes can be implemented in many ways. I know with a lot of cheap tube dirt/ preamp pedals the tubes aren't even doing much of the work and don't add as much to the tone as they could. I know less about compression but it seems feasible the same would be true in some cases at least.

Also as you said experience can make a huge difference, not just with noticing more subtle nuances but for playing with the controls to really test the waters.

 

[blindrabbit]

One other thing to consider is tubes can be implemented in many ways. I know with a lot of cheap tube dirt/ preamp pedals the tubes aren't even doing much of the work and don't add as much to the tone as they could. I know less about compression but it seems feasible the same would be true in some cases at least.

Also as you said experience can make a huge difference, not just with noticing more subtle nuances but for playing with the controls to really test the waters.

The Markbass Comp actually uses the tube for compression, which is not the case with others like the Effectrode, IIRC. But the Markbass is definitely the real deal.

 

[BassAndReeds]

Whatever the Keeley bassist is. My favorite pedal all-time.

 

[corinpills]

We talking for recording or live? For recording, I have a wonderful old Altec 436c tube vari mu that has been modded to the real EMI RS 124 circuit. That's what I like, but a StaLevel, or 1176 or LA-2a are all really good options.

 

[boomertech]

My favorites have been optical for many years. What I think draws me to them, I believe, is the distortions generated in the side-chain control circuit that causes low and mid frequency harmonic distortions in the audio... this gives some of them a nice warm/mellow character. Plus optical compression is accomplished with a resistive element, gotta love them simple basics.

But I have really liked some FET and OTA/VCA comps. I saw a diode comp that really piqued my interest about two years ago.

-Frank

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

All i can say is I like compressors that add something to my tone, either punch, fatness or sparkle and sustain. Depends on what I'm after at the time.
I like optical but also found digital comps that have done a great job(spectracomp).

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

Whatever my Empress is... analog? I am liking it a lot. Then again, I am a fickle idiot with compression and this pedal could be for sale any day now. I'm trying fight off being that idiot.

 

[verstft]

No a pro or anything but for bass I love the VCA type comps like the DBX160VU and Valley People Dynamite.
They are not transparent at all and give a very percussive twack that sound awesome with a P bass and flats.

Just read an article about Butch Vig's favorite gear and coincidently these are his two favorite comps as well.
Also somebody mentioned Keeley compressors. I believe those are ross style comps..at least the guitar ones...I assume the bass ones are similar.

 

[rodv66]

I tried a compressor chained first, but squashed the sound of my San amp VT. Tried after it, but still seemed to deaden the overall sound. I just stopped using it. Run my sans amp through my one amp and my le bass through another. Not using any other pedals at all

 

[40Hz]

My absolute favorite compression is the slight natural bit of compression you get from most all-tube heads.

As far as compressor pedals go, I pick them by their sound rather than their underlying technology. I'm a real " Don't bore me with the details, darling!" type when it comes to some things.

The compressors I think sound the best for what I'm doing? (YMMV)

Keeley Bassist
Cali76 TX
Ovinfx Smoothie
FEA DE-CL

As you can see they're all over the lot.

But different compressors excel at different things, so there's always a reason to own more than one if you regularly use compression.

 

[blindrabbit]

My favorites have been optical for many years. What I think draws me to them, I believe, is the distortions generated in the side-chain control circuit that causes low and mid frequency harmonic distortions in the audio... this gives some of them a nice warm/mellow character. Plus optical compression is accomplished with a resistive element, gotta love them simple basics.

But I have really liked some FET and OTA/VCA comps. I saw a diode comp that really piqued my interest about two years ago.

-Frank

Frank, forgive my ignorance, but when you are talking about those distortions in the side chain control circuit, would that be only in comps like your OptiFet that have a "side-chain" in them?

 

[NortyFiner]

I've had probably a dozen comps in the last decade. From all that experimenting, I've found that I like my compressors to have some action or color to them, rather than being wholly transparent. Call me weird, but I like to be able to tell when my pedals are doing something, instead of wondering if I've been sold an empty metal box. Which is exactly how I felt about the BBE Opto Stomp and Aguilar TLC -- they were too transparent for my taste.

The first comp that really caught my ear was actually a fake -- the MXR Dyna Comp emulation in the Boss ME-50B multi. I was disappointed by the real pedal, though. I think the ME-50B's version must have been polished up in some way.

My fav for years has been my DOD Milk Box, which I still have. No idea what kind of circuit it uses, but given the dip and swell action and noise as I dial it up, I suspect it might be a variation on an Orange Squeezer. Speaking of which, the Toadworks Mr. Squishy has been on my try list for some time now; I really should get around to that at some point.

The comp currently on my board is the Fairfield Accountant, which doubles on my board as a somewhat dirty boost. I like what it adds to my signal chain down the line. I am A/B'ing it against a Durham Sex Drive right now, and at first blush, I'm liking the Fairfield better. You'll know which one wins when the other turns up for sale.

The Wampler Ego is an evolved Ross OTA type compressor that has impressed me in demos lately. It sounds a lot like what I wanted the Dyna Comp to be. I may be taking a shot at that soon.

 

[MCS4]

I've had the best luck with optical compressors overall, although The Accountant (JFET) probably had the longest run of any individual pedal compressor I've used.

 

[pbass2]

For live I don't use a comp stomp, so I dunno whatever FOH is using. But for recording, give me the venerable LA-2A any day on bass. I also love my trusty little Summit Audio TLA-50. Ridiculous bang for buck:
TLA-50 Tube Compressor