Compression on Bass Guitar

  • Thread starter Thread starter DarkFriend
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DarkFriend

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I've got a bass guitar track I'm trying to find the right compression for. It is a hard hitting rock type of sound, but the volume levels on the track range a bit too much.

I'm using Sinus' PeakComp2 compressor, and also use the BlueLine compressor at times too.

What are some typical compression settings for a bass guitar?

Thanks!
 
There are no set rules, as always. Try to experiment to get the sound you want. You can start by setting the Ratio to something like 4:1, the Release to 200-300ms, the attack to as little as possible. Then, reduce the Threshold until the signal is really squashed. Then, turn the Attack knob, until the attack of the signal is just how you want it to be (should be somewhere between 0 and 50 ms, maybe even higher). Keep in mind that the signal will not stay that sqaushed, it just helps to judge the attack part. When the attack's right, raise the Threshold until lit feels right. You may then try and fiddle with the Release knob and see what happens. Stop when it sounds right. Violà, a nicely compressed bass.

Hope that helps,

David.
 
Thanks!

Thanks for the tips! Exactly what I was looking for. I'm new to using compression, so I've been stuck using presets in the two plugins I use.
 
I find I end up going with a very fast release more often than not, or at least at first, as it gets out out the way quicker. It's a different feel of course. Try it both ways.
I'll go from .4 to around 6-10 ms on a RNC, then play with the attack, generally in the 6-20 ms range. You'll see it kill too much of the note's attack as you go too fast.
As you combine these with both ratio and threshold, you can sculpt the envelope's shape in many ways. (After a while, all these parameters will start making sense.)
-On bass, you can get the compressor to attack and release so fast it sounds like distortion, so watch out for that.
These settings can smooth out indivdual notes, while the slower approach leaves the individual dynamics in tact, and reacts to more long term cahnges. Both are valid for different sounds.
See ya!
 
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