Suggestions for a good compressor to help a real bass sit in the mix?

[stevetgn]

I'm getting quite good result from the SSL superanalogue comps at the moment but just wondering what everyone else is using.

I'm looking at alternative comps that will keep the bass upfront, punchy and constant in a busy mix (just assume its been played well for now!)

Cheers

Steve

[Fabio]

Dbx 160x! try the limit section!

[macrae11]

1176 and LA4.

Waves RComp for plugins.

[tcause]

Cranesong STC-8... magic on bass

[funka]

+1 on STC-8.

[Slaytex]

I just got a Purple MC77 and must say I love it on bass.
It smooths it out and adds attitude.

[Flying_Dutchman]

+1 STC8 thumbsup

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by tcause

Cranesong STC-8... magic on bass

Interesting, wonder if the TRAKKER would do the same job?

[marcnyc]

you might also want to consider a multi-band compressor (such as the Waves C4, in the plugin world) which could help you address certain frequencies of the bass that might be boomy/ringing or what not...

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by marcnyc

you might also want to consider a multi-band compressor (such as the Waves C4, in the plugin world) which could help you address certain frequencies of the bass that might be boomy/ringing or what not...

nah, don't like those things. Never seem to sound right or have the right impact. Crack copy bedroom boys EQ! The only one I have used on VERY rare occations is the TC Electronic powercore dynamic EQ. But lets not start the hardware/plug debate.

[anotheranalogguy]

1176 black face F series for me. Almost anything running through it seats in the mix here.

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by anotheranalogguy

1176 black face F series for me. Almost anything running through it seats in the mix here.

Yeah, albeit a reissue I was kinda heading towards an 1176. I would like one to use on vocals too.

[aryschien]

All my old toys do that very well. Atomic Squeeze Box, Manley ELOP, API 525, Chandler LTD-2.

AND my new favorite, the Germanium Compressor.

[peat]

DBX 160x

i love it
great controls too
nice and easy

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by aryschien

All my old toys do that very well. Atomic Squeeze Box, Manley ELOP, API 525, Chandler LTD-2.

AND my new favorite, the Germanium Compressor.

You rate the API 525 on bass then?

[aryschien]

Originally Posted by stevetgn

You rate the API 525 on bass then?

Sorry I'm not a native English speaker, so sometimes there are some very easy sentence that I just don't understand. Can you rephrase your question please?

[stevetgn]

Originally Posted by aryschien

Sorry I'm not a native English speaker, so sometimes there are some very easy sentence that I just don't understand. Can you rephrase your question please?

No problem. Do you like the API 525 on bass?

[aryschien]

Originally Posted by stevetgn

No problem. Do you like the API 525 on bass?

Not as good as those other toys that I mentioned, but good enough for some songs. 1 out of 5 times I even like it better than anything else, and that's why I mentioned it in my first post.

You said "upfront, punchy and constant in a busy mix", and from my experience that 525 is able to do that sometimes. In my ears the 525 prefers a crunchy bass that has a lot of bites. The 525 allows more high frequency content to pass through, and that's what I love to hear from a crunchy bass that has a lot of bites.

The Atomic Squeeze Box is the best at producing a beautiful bass sound, very euphonic. The Manley ELOP is less "sur-real" but still beautiful enough. The LTD-2 is the most neutral of all; you get to enhance all the details while still keeping the sound intact, and use your favorite eq to add the color you want, if that "clean and creamy" character of the LTD-2 is not enough for you.

The Germanium Compressor is like nothing I've heard. It's hard to explain here in one post; I'd just say that it's like 10 FET compressors in one hardware unit, while all of the 10 work great and deliver different characters.

[octatonic]

On the cheap - Summit TLA50. Can be had for $400 ish secondhand

Higher end- I LOVE the combination of the Focusrite Red 3 and the Summit DCL200.
Great on the 2bus also.

[mfender]

1176 for bass.

[thethrillfactor]

Compressor/EQ on the bass track, a comp/EQ on the mult and both multed over to a drum/bass sub comp/EQ group.

Also the EQ you choose to articultate the notes is important. Sometimes this and some automation is all you need.

[gravityminor]

CL-1A for a less aggresive approach. 1176 otherwise. that's my comfort zone

[patrox247]

I didn't know it was even possible to compress bass with anything other than an 1176! JK DBX 160,160X,160XT,165,LA2A,LA3A,BA6A etc. the list could go on forever, but I ussually opt for the 1176.

[stevetgn]

Yep its looking like an 1176. I wanted one for tracking vocals anyway.

[carloff]

I got old MAP 3320 compressor in API 500 format and this is the most magic thing on the bases what I've heard..GREAT!

[heathen]

I know I'm gonna sound like a broken record on this but I'd check out a Buzz Soc 1.1 also, they are outstanding on bass and vox, Buzz essence is great on bass too.

[Brad McGowan]

Another vote for the dbx 160X. I'm going to have to try the suggestion to use it in limit mode.

Brad

[YZ!]

ADR Vocal Stressor.

[Seamus TM]

I've had the most luck with an Inovonics 201, lately.
It's a peak limiter with an "average" compressor.
Kind of like a Urei BL-40, but I did not have luck with the Urei on bass.
While we owned one, the Chandler LTD2 was really sweet, though.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by mfender

1176 for bass.

if i was gonna use one, not to sound like a broken record but Studer 089s pre/eq gives the perfect sit in the mix bass without a compressor...

good luck...