![compression settings for bass compression settings for bass](https://musicproductionnerds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/best-compressor-plugin-for-bass.png)
Rankin: My favorite plug-in is the Waves JJP Bass. My new favorite compression to use for bass is in the Slate Virtual Mix Rack.
![compression settings for bass compression settings for bass](https://blog.native-instruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/7-essential-compression-tips-featured.jpg)
I like the Tube-Tech CL 1B plug-in and I generally use higher ratios when mixing-up to 5:1 when necessary-than I use when tracking.
![compression settings for bass compression settings for bass](https://static.musiciansfriend.com/thehub/binaries/content/gallery/mf/tech-tips/tech-tip-compression-bass-header.jpg)
Malloy: I often use plug-in compression in the mixing stage because I use an outboard piece in the tracking phase. I don't necessarily want to hear it working, I just want it to subtly even out the peaks and valleys and extend notes that might not have an intrinsic sustain.īass compression is absolutely essential for recording, and engineers rely heavily on plug-ins- especially in the mixing phase. For band tracks, I use a medium compression setting. It has less character than an 1176, but offers more parameters. I use an 8:1 ratio on an 1176 and will usually drive the input fairly hard (around noon or 1 o'clock) for a passive bass, and then set the output accordingly. Rankin: Because of its quick attack, I dig what an 1176 or similar compressor does to bass-especially for faster patterns or slap parts. The Tube-Tech CL 1B is another one of my favorites because it offers a smoothing tube sound. Then I do the final compression while mixing. I get the needle to move slightly on the 1st string so it efficiently evens the peaks the 5th string creates. For a lot of different songs-regardless of style-I like using a vintage UREI 1176 “Rev F" with a 4:1 ratio, a slow attack setting, and generally a fast-release setting. This way the mix engineer can do what he feels needs to be done at the mixing stage. Lassiter: Unless you are mixing the tune yourself, I would suggest not using much compression at all for tracking. My compression ratio for bass is usually 3:1 going in, and the treatment of attack and release depends on the bass, the player, and the song. You'll stomp on the audio coming in and you can't get that sonic richness back once you diminish it. I find that if you have the right compressors, you can track with them, though I warn new engineers to not use compression at all when tracking, if cheap compressors are the only option. Malloy: I generally track bass through my Tube-Tech CL 1B compressor. Onstage or in the studio, compression is a vital tool for many bassists, yet it's still misunderstood by many others.
Compression settings for bass how to#
Because most of us do a lot of tracking at home, knowing how to compress your bass using a plug-in is an essential skill. To shed light on the subject, I've asked three world-class Nashville engineers-Mitch Malloy, Anthony Rankin, and Pat Lassiter-to share some of their thoughts on compression using outboard units and plug-ins. Here, compression is a necessity for bass and there are lots of opinions and theories on how to do it best. That said, achieving an even attack as a bassist is a life-long quest, and I still practice at home through an amp without my compressor so I can catch any volume inconsistencies in my playing technique. Many FOH engineers are forced to use a lot of compression on inexperienced bassists because of the unevenness of their attack. And I use it primarily as a tool to even out the volumes between the strings and add a punch that helps me be heard in the mix, not just felt. I use a fairly subtle setting on my dual-band compressor pedal when performing live. I've worn out several duplicates of the same pedal, because once I got used to playing with it, I simply couldn't play without it. And we're literally talking over a thousand different shows with countless different artists. Over the past 15 years, there's one pedal I've done very few shows without.