Bass Compressors Battle! 2018
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- Опубліковано 6 січ 2018
- TABS: gum.co/RdOag
11 Compressors compared playing the same fingerstyle & slap bass lines. I only used pedals that you can still find easily in music stores :)
No FX, no Post-EQ - Recorded through my UAD Apollo Twin soundcard.
-FINGERSTYLE-
FX OFF: 0:03
MXR M87: 0:28
Aguilar TLC: 0:52
Empress: 1:16
Boss BC-1X: 1:40
TC Spectracomp: 2:05
Keeley Bassist: 2:28
Diamond CompJr: 2:52
Xotic SP: 3:15
Boss CS-3: 3:40
Boss LMB-3: 4:04
MarkBass Compressore: 4:28
-SLAP BASS-
FX OFF: 4:54
MXR M87: 5:12
Aguilar TLC: 5:30
Empress: 5:49
Boss BC-1X: 6:07
TC Spectracomp: 6:25
Keeley Bassist: 6:43
Diamond CompJr: 7:02
Xotic SP: 7:20
Boss CS-3: 7:38
Boss LMB-3: 7:57
MarkBass Compressore: 8:14
Listening to this and not looking at the vid shows how similar and subtle they all are.
We’re all guilty as gear heads at listening with our eyes
Maybe. Maybe it just shows that everything gets compressed on UA-cam, and whatever differences there may be are masked by the delivery mechanism. There's not a lot of difference between the "No FX" and any of the compressors. Also, without making adjustments to see the range of what the pedals can do, It's hard to get anything definitive out of this. Hard to ask for much more in a single video covering so many pedals, though.
Great! Seems like we can't add annotations anymore.. soooo here's the timing:
--FINGERSTYLE--
FX OFF: 0:03
MXR M87: 0:28
Aguilar TLC: 0:52
Empress: 1:16
Boss BC-1X: 1:40
TC Spectracomp: 2:05
Keeley Bassist: 2:28
Diamond CompJr: 2:52
Xotic SP: 3:15
Boss CS-3: 3:40
Boss LMB-3: 4:04
MarkBass Compressore: 4:28
--SLAP BASS--
FX OFF: 4:54
MXR M87: 5:12
Aguilar TLC: 5:30
Empress: 5:49
Boss BC-1X: 6:07
TC Spectracomp: 6:25
Keeley Bassist: 6:43
Diamond CompJr: 7:02
Xotic SP: 7:20
Boss CS-3: 7:38
Boss LMB-3: 7:57
MarkBass Compressore: 8:14
beautiful
Duuuude...you helped me pick the perfect bass comp for my needs. Ty so much for making this video! I ended up doing diamond for RMS and Keeley limiter for peak when soloing, slapping. You da man
how it was?
I own the BOSS enhancer / limiter and I love it. It adds nice clarity to my overall sound. In this video I thought the Empress sounded best.
Empress, Diamond, Aguilar, Keeley are really nice! Great demo man 🎸
Btw DAVID THAT SLAPLINE IS JUST GENIUS! LOVE THE DOUBLE THUMPING!
Thanks for the great vid. I hear so little difference, maybe diamond or sp were the best, but the difference is so little that wisest decision is to get the cheapest one. Unless your loaded and wanna get that boutique pedal just to feel more better about yourself.
Perfect timing for a video! I’m just been looking for a compressor to get! Still can’t make up my mind!
great playing. thanks for the video. liked the mxr the best as it can control pretty nice. thanks a lot
MarkBass Compressore 😍👌🏻
Depending on your aim it can be advantageous (and the sign of a good compressor) to NOT hear it’s effect.
If you don’t want the signal to sound squashed but want a nice even volume then you might need a good ‘transparent’ compressor.
If the squashed sound is desired, it’s easier to obtain.
for me , the MXR , the boss bass comp , and the Keeley.
Boss LMB-3 Is a beast, you cant go wrong with it. Always keep enhance knob close to 0 and let it do the rest. It also had the sweetest slap sound.Ty for the amazing video.
Do you use before or after other pedals, say tuner, preamps and drive? I want the Boss to affect my whole sound, no matter what comes in.
@@vassili87 my chain is tuner-Lmb3-sansamp bddi,so its before drive- preamp.
@@Mrmemphisbones is where I want mine to be, do you use to affect your dynamics? I'm a pick player so I need some help with my other techniques.
@@vassili87 Yes i use it to smooth my sound and dynamics as a compressor and not as a hard limiter for peaks. my settings are Level at will , enhance 0, ratio 9 o clock threshold 12 o clock. hope that helps. I play fingerstyle metal. Its a very decent sounding compressor, that works better with passive basses from my experience.
@@Mrmemphisbones my current bass is an active/passive bass but I was planning on installing a tone control and only use the active as a clean boost as I have plenty of preamp pedals
Aguilar TLC all the way, if you want any more headroom with it you can always get a PS which gives you 18v instead of the 9v that is required for that one. The only ''con'' to me is that you don't see how much compression are you having but you'll be good once you train your ears a little.
I don't hear much difference either. Maybe at the end of the day, it comes down to which controls one is looking for. I personally like the controls on the MXR and Aguilar.
Its very good video and finally someone whose instrument sounds good in his hands!
DOD FX84 Milkbox. One of the best Bass Compressors ever made. I would so love to see someone finally do a detailed video shoot out between the Milkbox, and the MXR M87. The Milkbox has been popping up in a lot of newer reviews over the past couple years and as a result its used resale value has more then doubled; and I've seen new "mint" ones listed for as much as $300! So would love to see this late 80's bass behemoth go up against some of todays top pedal compressors.
Ahhhh finally a real review. No long worthless intro of how long you been playing and playing like doing a personal concert. Same riff played over and over on different units . This is how it is F'ing done. A++++++ You should of had an affiliate link to each unit on amazon or something. You helped me make my decision and should have been paid for a stellar review !
I like the smooth high end of the Boss BC-1X
Isaac Pezo that’s the multi-band magic 🙌🏻
I have to agree
In studio, I usually use a compressor, alongside a multiband. So I'm thinking of buying the spectracomp, and using it with the MXR bass comp. I hope it will work 😀
Thats so Nerdy!! I get having different distortion/delay/modulation pedals because the tones can be radically different, but one good compressor is definitely enough!
just wanna say I love that bass line
Boss BC-1X and Xotic SP are perfect!
I'm on my 4th bass compressor, the TCE Spectracomp. Hands down the best one for me and what I wanted for an always on pedal. And I just use the default Toneprint. It's just simple to use.
Though I don't always have it set to default, I have to agree. The multiband compressor just really brings out the quiet tones in your overall sound; it not only evens out the dynamics, but it does so differently depending on frequency, so loud low notes don't draw down your high notes. It actually shapes up the tone a little (or a lot). It's my always-on pedal. I can't even tell it's on until I turn it off.
I hate it
I hate the toneprint design
Beaming it to your pick ups was such a stupid design
@@dakotakeller1606 you can load it via usb.
@@Andyanddiana467 Among all the things you should be spending your time on would be creating a software defined compressor.. I guess there're better things to do with my time..
@@joshmcdzz6925 I use the default setting, so...*shrug*
Keely has that color to the tone even with guitar compression. Best bang for the buck is probably tc. Can’t go wrong with any bass boss.
The concept of comparing compressors is very good, but the knobs settings should have been uniform to point out that the sound & compression difference is not caused by the cranked up settings. Anyway, I love this comparison and I've learned that not all compressors sound the same. I'm buying the LMB-3. :D
such a great player !!!
I own the MXR 87, the TC Electronic Spectracomp,the Boss CS-3 and an EBS Multi Comp and I prefer the TC Electronic Spectracomp which is amazingly the cheapest of the four.
What about it makes you prefer it?
Gotta get the Cali-76!!
😊great comparisons. Nice chops too
Excellent demo!
damn, that old boss limiter enhancer sounds best with slap!
Perhaps... or could it be that it was set a tad louder than the rest with only the last one MarkBass Compressore set at about the same level (and to me sounding less squashed and more alive).
Partially about volume, but the LMB-3 also seemed to handle the highest peaks better than any of the other pedals - Markbass sounded close to me.
@@Andrey.Balandin the player gave the comment most likely indicating it's one of the best .. the volume was set to 12 o'clock like every other one and presence turned off yet it still sounded FULL
- Cool!! Thanks for this video!!
That's a lot of compressor pedals lol.. good playing man!
Thank you !!! Its helps me a lot !!!!
Please do more videos like this!
The best compressor imo is the Joe Meek FloorQ
Im such a noob. They all sound the same to me
I'd say you need better headphones
nice playing thanks
Great great video! It is a salvation for us who wander for years between these toys :D
Just two questions:
Which ended up on yours pedalboard? (my choice is MXR M87)
And second... Can You do a similar video for the other two, most funkY bass toys that bother many bassists,
Envelope filters (AWahs) and (or) Octavers?
THX again for these comparison and all the best!
the mxr has a nice filter quite mic on cab, in a blind test that would edge it
MXR and Empress for me, maybe the Diamond.
Man, that Jazzy is slick!
Muito top.. Bom demais.!!!!
Hi David! what is your opinion about the Empress compressor?
Everyone has a different opinion which one is best, does it mean all are the same?
Great video, love the Empress! I'm still working on mine, 16 compressors, 3 different basses!!!
Awesome! I'll be sure to watch it :)
On this demo the Diamond comp sounds weird, doesn’t cut peaks at all.
IDK, but I heard only the most minor differences on fingerstyle, mostly due to uneven makeup gain, and really only minor differences between them on slap, though I did have a clear preference for the BC-1X (good thing, since that's what I use).
That being said, I also own a SpectraComp, and the SpectraComp needs a bit of clarification before I can say how I feel about it, since it's a multiband compressor where every parametre is precisely tweakable, and therefore doesn't have a set characteristic. My BC-1X replaced my SpectraComp on bass, but is wonderful on acoustic/electric guitar with the same custom toneprint I originally wrote for use on bass.
With the knob set that low on the SpectraComp, I'm wondering if you are even blending in enough of the compressed signal to get an idea of how it sounds.
On slap, I also liked the Xotic SP and the MarkBass (which surprised me). The LMB-3 is a little tubby in the low end, but I'd take that any day over the CS-3, while the BC-1X blows them both away.
The MXR was alright, above average, but nothing to write home about. The rest didn't interest me, at all.
On a second listen to fingerstyle, using the bookmarks, I like the BC-1X best there, too, but on fingerstyle, they all sounded fine, to me.
Yep, cork sniffing.
Pretty the same and nice on a clean record, but what about DC-noise and knobs-buzzes?
Thanks for this comparison... you should do an update of these... The MXR (felt well rounded), Empress (nice tone, felt a little boomy), and Boss BC-1X (maintained the most clear treble) were my top here. The Aguilar felt squished to my ears and didn't care for tone. The Keely and ones toward end I was just less interested in. Would love to see addition of the Darkglass and the Origin Effects Cali 76. Those 5 to me would be the ultimate shoot-out... see if Origin and Darkglass are worth the extra money?!?!?
Note, I listened blind using studio monitors I've calibrated.
The LMB3 smokes a lot of the expensive ones
Which ones do you like the most? Personally gotta love the MXR and Diamond Bass Comp.
I bought the MXR Really like it.
Yep, I guess I'm an MXR fanboy.
It also gives you the best feedback on how much it's _compressing_
Interesting, my taste in tone hasn't changed since I first watched this.
Yeah, I ended up getting the MXR.
I've got EBS MultiComp and it's perfect for the Jazz Bass. However, I don't like it with a Music Man. David, I know you play StingRays also. Which compressor would you recommend for high output bass such as Music Man?
I am not sure which one. Difficult between the Mark Bass compressore or Boss CS-3. Any advise? I am a beginner bass player.
That fingerstyle line is fucken groovy man.
TC for the win
Awesome
not sure how to make any kind of comparison when the control settings were all over the place ie attack etc. as well, the lights, while being a nice touch, do little but measure the input level. compression can be very effective in recording. intended originally to protect delicate recording equipment, it was used as an effect with roger mcguinn's rick. just a beginner? get a behringer to experiment with though not up to heavy gigging(plastic.) these are my just my humble offerings-i'm no expert.
Wonderful video! Helpful, solid playing.
My only critique is that you had the pedals on different settings (e.g., MXR on fast attack, CS-3 on slow attack), so it's not perfect for comparison. But great representation!
Nope.. the mxr is set in slow attack...
j'aurais été curieux de voir comment sonnait le EBS aussi avec cette basse, j'aime bien l'Aguilar et l'Empress sinon ^^
I Like TLC, SP, Cs-3.
So they all sound the same to me even when he didn't have any pedals on. What exactly do the pedals do with the bass sound?
That Markbass sure is a weird beast
The MXR M87 is the best!! Sounds like a beast
1. MXR rules
2. where EBS?
The MXR,..Empress,...Boss LMB,..Boss Bass Comp,...Mark Bass...and the Aguilar are my choices.
Either one of these I feel could get you thru a gig covering all sorts of genres and playing styles considering you are using an adequate Bass & Amp!..(or even direct out DI to a PA)
To each,..his or her own!..
Play on!✌🏾🎸🎵
Am I the only one wondering where I can find the tabs?
Listened to it while i was filing my fingernails. Only when i glanced at the screen could i tell something had changed. Just listening I could not tell. And I think I have good ears and i was using my AKG headphones I'm sure I could tell On vs Off but in this video everything sounds the same to me. Now if there is so little difference when you really pay attention with headphones, how much of a difference would you hear on stage with a band? Maybe we're geeking out a bit too much on this stuff?
gimmeagig l agree l don’t hear a great amount of difference between most of these examples
Thanks for video ! But why you compare the pedals with different knobs positions?? Moreover - with the opposite ! For example : Mxr - attack max, release min; Empress - in a contrary! When you set the release in min position - you hardly can hear the work of the compressor. Absolutely violating , thus, the objectivity of comparison ((
Why not to set all the knobs at 12 o’clock??
Where's the EHX bass preacher ?
Empress & Keeley
I don`t understand comments like "Don´t hear a difference", cause the differences jumps out of the phones to me; i like the compressore very much also it changes the sound quite a bit, and also like the Keeley cause it keeps lots of the sounddetails or even brings them out; and really don´t like the Diamond for it´s primitive sound -might be great for punk ???
Not sure why the majority of ratio's you have set at 4:1 and then the rest at really high ratios. That is referring just to the fingerstyle. Oh and the lmb-3 enhance all the way anti-clockwise cuts out all the highs.
You can't turn the enhance up much anyway, I have an LMB3 and love it but the enhance above 9 o'clock gets a bit hissy.
MarkBass-MXR M87
are they supposed to actually change the tone or be as transparent as possible?
MXR es de lo mejor
Aguilar or Empress to me.
I would have liked to hear the providence BTC-1 compared here but that's entirely because of my own self interest.
I use an Emma Transmorgrifier
It’s all fun and games until UA-cam comes along and compresses the sound in every video anyway
thanks for pointing that out ,tim...somtimes ill play a lick ,then send it to a buddy (guitarist ) on my fon ,, and the play back will have more growl . and sound better. for some reason my bass sound comes out more equalized and more refined on my devices. , my lap top does the same thing... we are not hearing those pedals in the raw.
That's a different kind of compression. It doesn't compress the actual dynamic range.
Yeah, for best compression use you tube stuff.
Where's the Cali76 BC?
Do you use your Boss Limiter before or after other pedals, say tuner, preamps and drive? I want it to affect my whole sound no matter what comes in.
So put it at the end of the chain then
why 0 attack?
Great video! My question is, can any of these bass compressors
be used on an electric guitar as well? Especially a Tube comp like MarkBass? Thx!
no Wampler?
EBS?
Le compresseur Empress dechire tout !!!
For my taste, BC-1X for both styles
why is the brightness turned down on this video??
Hi David. Could you tell me apart those compressors what you used in that video? Other pedal (s) or settings on the amp to get that sound? Don't tell me it's only from the jazz bass! You must have used something else. I need to know, i want that sound! Thank you.
It’s easier than you think :p You just need a good made in Japan 62 reissue Fender Jazz + some Elixir Nickels 45-105 strings and a quality DI. In my case, it was the HiZ input of my Apollo twin. Cheers!
Boss CS-2 for me. (Not the CS-3)
Absolutely CS2 is one of the best compressor that exist in this planet.
Wow who woulda thought the old Boss pedal is so good? And that the exotic is so bad?? The exotic is noisy and muddy AF... and I just ditched my EP-1 by them this week too.
Just when Steve Terryberry play Bass?
Great name, i might use that :o
Stevie T !!!!
Would be a great video if you'd used comparable settings, for example the Empress set almost completely open at a ratio of 4:1 bears no relation to an LMB-3 limiter set for an extreme squash. Other than that, fantastic.
Thanks man! Yeah sorry about that, I've just set them with my "usual" settings :)
Only one I didn't like was the Boss BC-1X, it stood out to me.
C'est assez dingue de voir à quel point on peut sous estimer l'importance des compresseurs, en les écoutant ainsi tous côte à côte !
BC-1X 🔝
Keeley!