The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

[andare]

I definitely strongly prefer compressors with good metering. I like to see the gain reduction that’s occurring as I adjust the settings (particularly the threshold and ratio) and especially when using parallel compression. I think sometimes people just plug into compressors without a good sense of what they are actually doing to their signal and end up effectively using them as gain stages or tone shaping boxes (and subsequently judging those compressors based on how well they do in those areas).

I see your point but you could also make the argument that if you can't hear and feel the compression, do you even need it?

A meter helps if you're shooting for a certain amount of gain reduction or to check when you create spikes and adjust your technique. Like a learning tool.

When I learned the basics of mixing audio, a meter was useful but ultimately I realized I had a hard time understanding and hearing what attack, release and knee were doing despite the visual aid.

Once I started using a dyna comp knockoff on my guitar, which only has compression and gain knobs and no meter, it became obvious was compression was doing to my dynamics and tone.

 

[kojdogg]

I see your point but you could also make the argument that if you can't hear and feel the compression, do you even need it?

A meter helps if you're shooting for a certain amount of gain reduction or to check when you create spikes and adjust your technique. Like a learning tool.

When I learned the basics of mixing audio, a meter was useful but ultimately I realized I had a hard time understanding and hearing what attack, release and knee were doing despite the visual aid.

Once I started using a dyna comp knockoff on my guitar, which only has compression and gain knobs and no meter, it became obvious was compression was doing to my dynamics and tone.

Do I need compression? No, but I prefer it because it reduces the dynamic range of my playing so it’s more consistent (as is sort of the point) and yes I am actually shooting for a certain amount of gain reduction (somewhere actually doing something and not squashing every note I play). Good metering allows me to very quickly try different playing styles (fingerstyle, slap, pick) when I set the compressor up and make sure it’s actually compressing the signal to the degree I want and at the point I want in terms of the where the threshold is for it to kick in and how much it gets reduced after that (so I can set the ratio). I’m mostly using a Cali76 BC V2 which has a HPF and parallel compression, so it’s even more helpful to see what the compressor is doing because those features, while they help things sound better, make it harder for me at least to know what the compressor is actually doing because they are largely intended to reduce/obscure the impact of what the compressor is doing— particularly on the attack.

I find it’s a lot easier for me set compressor pedals for guitars because I don’t have to worry about a disproportionate amount of content in the lower EQ frequencies constantly pushing the signal over the threshold.

You should also be able to mix music without metering, and some would prefer to, but the more tracks you have going on, the more metering can help you to localize where a problem is if there is one. I find that metering can help the same way in a long pedal signal chain where the compressor, again for me, is generally the first non tuner pedal in queue. YMMV.

 

[Ritter667]

I see your point but you could also make the argument that if you can't hear and feel the compression, do you even need it?

A meter helps if you're shooting for a certain amount of gain reduction or to check when you create spikes and adjust your technique. Like a learning tool.

When I learned the basics of mixing audio, a meter was useful but ultimately I realized I had a hard time understanding and hearing what attack, release and knee were doing despite the visual aid.

Once I started using a dyna comp knockoff on my guitar, which only has compression and gain knobs and no meter, it became obvious was compression was doing to my dynamics and tone.

Personally I hear better with my ears than my eyes.

 

[Fourstrfury]

My 6-year-old informed me that this picture is pretty enough to share.

Tube-driven VCA compressor with clean blend for parallel compression. I've been told people like that. I tried to keep it as small as possible, and this is (as you can probably tell) the same size as Underground Accelerator et al. I'm still waiting on the final nod to release it, but I'm personally very happy with how it sounds and feels.

View attachment 7083712

@Sushi Box FX is the Single slice still based on your original Deep Dish, La-2A inspired comp, or did you revamp it all together. What tube do you have in there?

 

[lomo]

Is the comp dial ratio, or is it a combination of things?

I'd also like to know this. Is it just ratio or is input gain also affected?
I dig the graphic and am happily surprised at the flexibility/blend.

 

[lomo]

......and how many dead presidents are required for admission?

 

[Fourstrfury]

......and how many dead presidents are required for admission?

Dependent on which president you want to use.

 

[lomo]

Dependent on which president you want to use.

In the context of discussing price, the 1st prez is conventionally the reference

 

[Tassieviking]

My 6-year-old informed me that this picture is pretty enough to share.

Tube-driven VCA compressor with clean blend for parallel compression. I've been told people like that. I tried to keep it as small as possible, and this is (as you can probably tell) the same size as Underground Accelerator et al. I'm still waiting on the final nod to release it, but I'm personally very happy with how it sounds and feels.

View attachment 7083712

One should always listen to the quality assurance team in the business.

EDIT: unless they want unicorns on distortion pedals

 

[HueyFreeman]

Metering does squat for assessing attack and release rates with compression. It only helps with assessing threshold levels, which IMO, is the easiest to hear and differientiate of all the variables.

 

[mrperkolator]

One should always listen to the quality assurance team in the business.

EDIT: unless they want unicorns on distortion pedals

I for one would love a pedal which was cosmetically designed by his kids. Perhaps a Father’s Day special one year?

Perhaps that’s my dad side coming out…

 

[Tassieviking]

I for one would love a pedal which was cosmetically designed by his kids. Perhaps a Father’s Day special one year?

Perhaps that’s my dad side coming out…

You got me there, my daughter was always into dragons and I might have made a pedal or two with dragons on them for her over the years.
My pedals usually got very colourful when I put the effort into it for her.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

Nathan, wasn't Single Slice originally claimed to become an optical compression?

(Note, I don't claim to know anything on compression other than the very basics, and probably I got these wrong, either.)

The first prototype of Single Slice was optical, but I was never able to get it to a point I was happy with, so I scrapped it and started over completely. Trying the VCA was kind of just a "let's see what happens" idea, but I really like the results.

I love the graphics on that! Looks like it has all the features I go for in a compressor.
Is the comp dial ratio, or is it a combination of things?
Looks like I'll be ordering one of these as well then.
And on the metering point, it's not something I'm all that bothered about in a pedal compressor, I usually dial it in to something I like the sound of then leave it there.

Yeah it could reasonably be considered a ratio control.

 

[Sushi Box FX]

@Sushi Box FX is the Single slice still based on your original Deep Dish, La-2A inspired comp, or did you revamp it all together. What tube do you have in there?

Deep Dish was basically a clone of the Effectrode LA-1A, this has absolutely nothing in common with it and is a complete scratch design.

......and how many dead presidents are required for admission?

Probably looking at $250.

 

[kojdogg]

Metering does squat for assessing attack and release rates with compression. It only helps with assessing threshold levels, which IMO, is the easiest to hear and differientiate of all the variables.

If this was by any chance in response to something in my post where I reference attack, my only point in mentioning it is communicating my experience that when using parallel compression, it’s harder for me at least to hear when the compression kicks in. When using the HPF (on the Cali76 V2 BC) the compression isn’t triggered as often and drastically, at least in my usage, which also makes it less audible particularly when using parallel compression, so it’s harder for me (maybe just me) to hear how much gain reduction (which I believe = “threshold levels”) is occurring.

 

[lomo]

Metering can be very useful. I love the Empress because I can switch basses and have it properly adjusted in a few seconds, even in a very noisy environment. Metering is never a disadvantage, and it looks cool, just like the LEDs in a box of sushi

 

[HueyFreeman]

If this was by any chance in response to something in my post where I reference attack, my only point in mentioning it is communicating my experience that when using parallel compression, it’s harder for me at least to hear when the compression kicks in. When using the HPF (on the Cali76 V2 BC) the compression isn’t triggered as often and drastically, at least in my usage, which also makes it less audible particularly when using parallel compression, so it’s harder for me (maybe just me) to hear how much gain reduction (which I believe = “threshold levels”) is occurring.

Absolutely not. No reference to your post at all. In fact, you have a valid argument. Metering helps, but it only serves 1/4 of the functions we need for effective compression with bass.

What I do to assess compression with blended circuits (with or without metering, all ears) is to first dial completely wet, set my compression here so I can hear what I'm doing. I try to get it to sound as good as I can here, then blend in dry to taste afterwards. This method works well with side chain fiitering as well.

 

[Mr_BK]

For me, metering is a feedback mechanism that translates sound into visuals. It is very helpul as it allows to correlate the audio signal I hear with the workings of the device presented by the metering. It is especially useful when my ears are lost and can't tell me what's wrong with my sound. Like a beacon to guide me back on track.
Or when I simply can't use my ears because of a loud environment.

Also, what @kojdogg said.

So ... I do prefer compressors with good metering. I will consider compressors without it, but they would need to be really impressive, looking at the abundance of great compressors already out there.

 

[RCM-Bass]

Speaking about compression : I know that a tube preamp compress the signal a bit. I have the feeling that the Grand Slampegg adds a bit more compression than the other preamps I have. I find it very lovely, and it’s perfect for my use case (a bass, a GS, an amp), and I don’t feel the need to add a compressor in that situation. Two pedals in one !

The more I use the Grand Slampegg the more I love it. Thanks @Sushi Box FX !

The only issue I have is that the preamp makes some weird noises after some time. Noises that goes away when I unplug the bass and replug it. I guess it catches some EM noises and the cable acts as an antenna, or something else.

I had the same issue with my Neptunium. Only happens once in a while.

 

[RCM-Bass]

Do I need compression? No, but I prefer it because it reduces the dynamic range of my playing so it’s more consistent (as is sort of the point) and yes I am actually shooting for a certain amount of gain reduction (somewhere actually doing something and not squashing every note I play). Good metering allows me to very quickly try different playing styles (fingerstyle, slap, pick) when I set the compressor up and make sure it’s actually compressing the signal to the degree I want and at the point I want in terms of the where the threshold is for it to kick in and how much it gets reduced after that (so I can set the ratio). I’m mostly using a Cali76 BC V2 which has a HPF and parallel compression, so it’s even more helpful to see what the compressor is doing because those features, while they help things sound better, make it harder for me at least to know what the compressor is actually doing because they are largely intended to reduce/obscure the impact of what the compressor is doing— particularly on the attack.

I find it’s a lot easier for me set compressor pedals for guitars because I don’t have to worry about a disproportionate amount of content in the lower EQ frequencies constantly pushing the signal over the threshold.

You should also be able to mix music without metering, and some would prefer to, but the more tracks you have going on, the more metering can help you to localize where a problem is if there is one. I find that metering can help the same way in a long pedal signal chain where the compressor, again for me, is generally the first non tuner pedal in queue. YMMV.

I see a lot of you have the Cali on this thread. I have the Empress and love the metering. I’ve never played a Cali, kind of don’t want to because I have G.A.S. Real bad.