i'm about to track bass on my new distressor... any suggestions?

[sadworld]

i'm doing a project right now and never worked with a distressor before but just picked one up. unfortunately, the drums have already been tracked but i'm tracking bass next and hoped you guys might give me a starting point ideas, as far as settings and stuff.... thanks, matt.

[Chad]

Yes. I would turn the knobs untill you get a sound that works for you. Thats how I get the best results from my distressor. You have it in front of you, I cant set it to record the particular bass your using, with the amp your using, with the mic your using, for the player thats playing, for the song its being used on. You will only get the best of it if you use it, not set it to what someone else says to.

[dim light]

Originally posted by Chad
Yes. I would turn the knobs untill you get a sound that works for you. Thats how I get the best results from my distressor. You have it in front of you, I cant set it to record the particular bass your using, with the amp your using, with the mic your using, for the player thats playing, for the song its being used on. You will only get the best of it if you use it, not set it to what someone else says to.

Wow this is amazing. That’s why I love Gearslutz there is always something new to learn. Thanks a lot for the tip Mr Cad.

[djui5]

Originally posted by Chad
Yes. I would turn the knobs untill you get a sound that works for you. Thats how I get the best results from my distressor. You have it in front of you, I cant set it to record the particular bass your using, with the amp your using, with the mic your using, for the player thats playing, for the song its being used on. You will only get the best of it if you use it, not set it to what someone else says to.

Well, another very informative post from Chad. Please everyone, trust his vast knowledge and expertise.

[djui5]

Originally posted by sadworld
i'm doing a project right now and never worked with a distressor before but just picked one up. unfortunately, the drums have already been tracked but i'm tracking bass next and hoped you guys might give me a starting point ideas, as far as settings and stuff.... thanks, matt.

Try setting the input to 7, attack to 4, release to 4-6 and output to whatever you need. Ratio at 4:1-6:1, and all "audio" area lights off.

It depends on the bass player....and the type of bass, and the feel for the song. But these settings are a good starting point.

[joeq]

sadworld -

I hear ya, it is very easy to overdo it with a brand new toy and it is especially easy to overdo it with compression. You don't want to listen to a track next year and say "oh yeah- that must have been the week I got my Distressor"

Why not track the bass dry with a nice clean DI and then play around with the distressor to your heart's content after everyone has gone home? run it out of your recorder into the distressor and back in on a new track. In fact, you could do this with your kick and snare too- its not too late.

[dim light]

Originally posted by joeq
sadworld -

I hear ya, it is very easy to overdo it with a brand new toy and it is especially easy to overdo it with compression. You don't want to listen to a track next year and say "oh yeah- that must have been the week I got my Distressor"

Why not track the bass dry with a nice clean DI and then play around with the distressor to your heart's content after everyone has gone home? run it out of your recorder into the distressor and back in on a new track. In fact, you could do this with your kick and snare too- its not too late.

So true!

I own the Fatso and I went compressor sick on some of the tracks... I like tracking bass with no compression. The Tranny is beautiful on the Fatso...

[NathanEldred]

Bass (and vocals) are two of the essential things to compress IMO, unless of course the player has outstanding dynamic control, which usually isn't the case. I like to compress bass guitar (as opposed to usually limiting, although this can depend on how agressive the player is and you may need to do both).
I would start with a moderate ratio (3:1) medium fast attack (maybe 5.5) and a medium slow release (around 5). There is no reason to slam the gain reduction either, I find that the most natural amount is in the -3 range, although you may find you like more. See where that leads you. Like Chad said it is whatever is appropriate to the song, but 99% of the time I don't see myself doing fast releases with high ratios on bass guitar.

[dim light]

I love the automation possibilities in the DAW. I don't need compression all the time; it depends on the song.

[Chad]

Originally posted by djui5
Well, another very informative post from Chad. Please everyone, trust his vast knowledge and expertise.

Sorry, but my smart ass answer is to people like you Randy Wright, who have pointless answers to these questions. There is no set way to do what the poster wants to do. If you take the time to experiment and use the piece, you will learn a lot more along the way, than just dialing in the lastest suggesion on a message board. You went to school for this if I remember. Well, every guy in town, or well, most, that went to school to be an AE(which is many many people) all seem to have preset ways of doing things, because thats what they learned at school. They learned nothing else. They dont do good work. They left with what they think is a complete knowledge, and experiment no further. If you take the time to teach yourself these things, you will learn a hell fo a lot more, and pick up things you didnt neccessarily head out to learn in the process. Nothing wrong with questions, but there are just some things you HAVE to learn by digging in yourself to learn to the FULLEST extent.

To the original poster: go bring up a previousely recorded bass track, run it through your new toy, and play with it all night till you get the true feel of how the EL8 works. No reply to yoiur post can do that for you. You may find many settings that work well, and know what to use, and when to use it when tracking. You can probably find a BETTER setting that one someone here dialed in for you. In my opinion, asking for a preset answer it just going to cut yourself short. Every bass recording does need to be treated differently. A setting someone just gives you probably wont work nearly as well as the one you found when setting the distressor TO THE PROGRAM MATERIAL BEING RECORDED.

As for Randy Wright, go wack off onto the distressor you probably dont even own.....

[cymatics]

Originally posted by Chad
Sorry, but my smart ass answer is to people like you Randy Wright, who have pointless answers to these questions.

Chad:

If your smart ass answer was directed at people other than the original poster then why make it a part of this thread? Send a PM next time or start your own thread in the Moan Zone.

There is no set way to do what the poster wants to do. If you take the time to experiment and use the piece, you will learn a lot more along the way, than just dialing in the lastest suggesion on a message board.

Excellent point. However, the orginal poster did not ask for a "set way" or a "preset". He specificaly asked for "a starting point" which as far as I can tell means he has every intention of taking the time to experiment and learn the piece.


- jon

[drew]

nevermind

[cymatics]

Originally posted by sadworld
i'm doing a project right now and never worked with a distressor before but just picked one up. unfortunately, the drums have already been tracked but i'm tracking bass next and hoped you guys might give me a starting point ideas, as far as settings and stuff.... thanks, matt.

My ¢2...

On bass I usually start somewhere with a slowish attack (5 or higher), a med/fast release (about 2½ to 3) using the Opto ratio (10:1) and lots of experimenmtation with the distortion settings.

However, it is a powerful enough piece that I would also suggest NOT putting a sound to tape through the Distressor without getting some 'behind the wheel' time first.

I use my distressors most for parallel processing of subgroups or individual tracks during mixdown (with more extreme settings than the one described above).


- jon

[Saucyjack]

Hmmm,
I will have to try the Opto setting when tracking Bass.
I'm usually around 4:1 with attack and release knobs about 5,using 2-4db gain reduction.That's a decent rough starting point and then tweak from there.

[djui5]

Originally posted by Chad
Sorry, but my smart ass answer is to people like you Randy Wright, who have pointless answers to these questions.

As for Randy Wright, go wack off onto the distressor you probably dont even own.....

Never ends does it Chad? May I suggest some Prozac? My reply was a quote from yourself...if you remember that comment.

Personally I think it's rude to reply in a manner like you did. We all know that there's no substitute for twisting the knobs yourself, and every session will have different settings. Hell...even sometimes different passes will have different setting. But I think the original poster was looking for some guide lines/starting points which is what he got from me and others.

I also don't need a lesson on engineering or what I should do when I get out of school. You don't even know me so making comments like that are unfounded and uncalled for. I don't know what you problem is with me but you need to chill. I'd highly suggest some anger management. It's amazing to me how irritated you get with people on here. And it's not just me...you've done it before I came here.

Sorry everyone can't be as perfect as you can there little buddy. Guess the worlds a $hitty place because we all don't think like you do Chad.


Sorry for posting this on the thread, but the pm I sent to Chad last time this happened was unreplied to....

[lefthando]

Sadworld,

You might want to take a quick read through the Distressor owner's manual. It has a number of excellent tips and techniques to get you up and running quickly. In fact, it very clearly explains what the unit is all about and how to approach it's unique features.

I would read the manual first.
It is full of great starting points for specific inst as well as for certian comp emulations.

I think it states to start a 5,5,5,5 if you have no idea.
Obviously the I/O will need to be adjusted right off the bat to get the right level of reduction and level to tape/HD.

I really liked the opto mode until I got a few decent opto compressors. I have not used it much since.

Nathan stated hit it for around "-3".
I personally would go a little harder than this with the distressor if it was the only comp in the chain. And definitely if I was using a light ratio like 4:1 or less.
No offense Nathan!

I tend to run through an opto then to the distressor for bass.
I get the first one to do the job.
And the EL-8 to work "That note", you know...the one that seems to be way hotter than the rest AND to protect the take from overs. The real optos can't seem to ever grab fast enough to protect my non-soft limiting rig.

As stated before:
I have no idea what I am doing!


D

[Jose Mrochek]

Originally posted by Chad
Yes. I would turn the knobs untill you get a sound that works for you. Thats how I get the best results from my distressor. You have it in front of you, I cant set it to record the particular bass your using, with the amp your using, with the mic your using, for the player thats playing, for the song its being used on. You will only get the best of it if you use it, not set it to what someone else says to.

Chad, have you ever compared your mixes with commercial releases? Meaning, you never follow a set standard? Man, I have a feeling I would go up to you for a rock mix and (because you don't follow any rules because that is BAD) I will end up with a rock song sounding like asian relaxion stuff. Sorry for the exageration, but do you get my point? Michael for example (mwagener) has set a standard for millons of mix engineers on how rock songs, rock.. and to know his compression starting points or settings would really help don't you think?? I will never mix like him or you, but the time saved is priceless and very much appreciated. think about it..

[Jason Poulin]

I think this forum would be better off without Chad and his "why can't you just turn the knobs until you find what you like" comments.

I don't know how many times he posts the same damn answer to these questions.

Some of these members are seeking a little orientation. A distressor will surely not make your tracks better just by passing a signal through (although it does give a little zip to it) but... The knowledge shared on this forum will give the user an advantage when trying out his or her new piece of equipment.

Such as a good starting point when tracking bass.

Also, there's nothing wrong with sharing info with others. Even if I know the answer to a question, it's not wrong to still ask. Maybe I was wrong on something or maybe someone else has an alternative way to doing something that may be better.

Chad, pull your bottom lip over your head, and try real hard to swallow. Or, take a hike!

Jason

ps: I don't usually do this but this guy is always bashing these type of threads... (the ones I usually like to read)

[darwin]

I just got one a few days ago, and I am a bass player. I tracked with it, and it's definitely a weird but beautiful peace of gear.

Call me stupid, but it took me awhile to figure out that I can get a better sound if I play and just let somebody else turn the knobs. I found that if I played with the music, I hit it alot harder than when I was trying to turn knobs. I would just say, "suck...cool". I think this gave more accurate compression settings.

just like all compressors, be especially mindful of the attack settings on bass. to fast with too much gr and you will swallow the attack. you cant undo that and you can lose a lot of the presence in the bass.

mess around with the distortion settings. they are particularly useful when tracking clean or di bass imo.

[jbuntz]

Originally posted by chikkenguy
just like all compressors, be especially mindful of the attack settings on bass. to fast with too much gr and you will swallow the attack. you cant undo that and you can lose a lot of the presence in the bass.

mess around with the distortion settings. they are particularly useful when tracking clean or di bass imo.

Just the point I was going to make. The attack time will probably depend greatly on primarily if the bass is fingered or picked, DI'd or Mic'd. Use your ears to pick what you think is best. By the way, I wouldn't really reccomend doing DI + pick. Not usually a good combo.