TomG
Max Output Level: -84 dBFS
- Total Posts : 339
- Joined: 2007/02/19 05:28:39
- Status: offline
Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
Hi all
Just wondering, for those of us that do most / all our work virtually and in-the-box and live-input-monitored, what is your favourite Electric Bass Guitar Compressor VST plugin.
TomG
|
nprime
Max Output Level: -51 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2423
- Joined: 2004/08/16 19:19:49
- Location: Vancouver
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/09 22:36:40
(permalink)
To be honest, these is nothing wrong with the Sonitus compressor. Use it all the time.
Listen Sonar 5PE Intel DP35DP, E6750, 3 GB, 80GB/320 GB Scope (6 DSP) w/A16 interface PadKontrol, Legacy Series MS20, EZDrummer.
|
DaneStewart
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 717
- Joined: 2008/02/18 13:48:58
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/09 22:43:15
(permalink)
I like the Vintage Channel 64 for it's ability to be very smooth, and for the gate and eq being right there.
But then I am a vary dynamics-conscious bass player.
|
JV
Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
- Total Posts : 476
- Joined: 2003/11/15 15:03:21
- Location: San Diego CA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/09 23:12:00
(permalink)
got news for you and I'm NOT being a smart A**.
Learn how to use a BASIC DBX unit until you have it down like your favorite food! Then ANY decent compressor from CakW or ANYone will work beautifully. Promise! ANY one of them from 2.2 on up provides quite fine companders. and THAT is what you will really want to know. Companders. They are monsterous at bringing back dynamics to all those d*** stomp boxes that compress compression! (compressor that triggers a bit of "after processed" expansion. Sounds confusing? Then DON'T buy anything untill ya know...otherwise if you are lazy and just want to kick ass....use the Vintage Channel 64. The presets will knock you down and keep you there.
JV "You can't soar with Eagles when you're flyin with Buzzards"
|
JV
Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
- Total Posts : 476
- Joined: 2003/11/15 15:03:21
- Location: San Diego CA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/09 23:15:31
(permalink)
 By the way, BOTH nprime AND Dane Stewart are SPOT ON. Dead nuts! Oh yeah, my emails are Fretlessjv@.... as in play with bass AND guitar, MIDI guitar...self....
JV "You can't soar with Eagles when you're flyin with Buzzards"
|
Rski
Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
- Total Posts : 146
- Joined: 2004/02/13 20:33:56
- Location: Canada
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 10:09:48
(permalink)
I read on this forum a few weeks ago on VST plug ins and rediscovered some neat free plug ins from Antress ( http://antress.er-webs.com/) that are downloaded as a bundle V4.95. The few that really work well on bass guitar are Dyna Killer, easy to use to get the bass to sit in your mix and the modern black dragon is a great Pultec to control the bottom end on bass or close miked guitars track
|
wintaper
Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
- Total Posts : 464
- Joined: 2007/12/11 22:52:07
- Location: New Jersey
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 11:24:07
(permalink)
my goto compressor for bass is the UAD 1176LN - often in tandem with an uncompressed signal. Carefully mixing the two keeps the bass "solid" but retains the "punch"
Recently, I've also had a lot of success using IK Multimedia's Ampeg SVX virtual amp instead of compression. I've used it on a number of live recordings where I've DI'd the bass. Gotten nothing but raves from those bassists.
Intel i7 @ 3.60GHz, 12GB DDR3 1600MHz, Win7 / OSX 10.6.6, Sonar 8.53 / Pro Tools 9.0.1, RME RayDAT, UAD2-Quad, Focusrite OctoPre (x4), Euphonix MC Mix, Tascam US2400, Monette Ajna (x2), 15' Macbook Pro
|
Legion
Max Output Level: -55.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1986
- Joined: 2007/09/20 03:07:46
- Location: Sweden
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 11:42:55
(permalink)
Depends on the bass and what you want to do with it  Do you mainly want to change the charactaristics of the notes (attack/decay) or are you mainly after some smooth leveling to make the volume more even between different strings/notes?
Sadly very reduced studio equipment as it is... ASUS G750J, 8 gb RAM, Win8, Roland Quad Capture.
|
Guest
Max Output Level: -25.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4951
- Joined: 2009/08/03 10:50:51
- Status: online
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 11:49:30
(permalink)
|
Anubis
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1059
- Joined: 2004/01/16 00:59:30
- Location: Miami
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 11:55:39
(permalink)
wintaper
Recently, I've also had a lot of success using IK Multimedia's Ampeg SVX virtual amp instead of compression.
I like that and TRacks Model 670 compressor.
X2Studio_Win7(64)_SamsungChronos_QuNexus_QuNeo_Axiom25_Saffire24Pro_Saffire6USB_EdirolPCR300_Nocturn Amplitubes_AmpegSVX_StylusRMX_SampleTank/Tron_Komplete7_AddictiveDrums_TRacks3_Wavelab6 miTunes
|
chilldanny
Max Output Level: -74 dBFS
- Total Posts : 830
- Joined: 2009/07/02 04:55:08
- Location: UK
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 12:01:07
(permalink)
* Windows10 (x64), Focusrite Safire Pro24, Sonar Platinum (x64) * MacOS High Sierra, Logic Pro X, Ableton Live 9 * Danny M
|
yorolpal
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13829
- Joined: 2003/11/20 11:50:37
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 12:03:10
(permalink)
UA Fairchild or TRacks equivalent...670.
|
dr.hash 
Max Output Level: -86 dBFS
- Total Posts : 220
- Joined: 2005/11/17 16:43:02
- Location: Australia
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 17:26:06
(permalink)
Agree with my old pal yorolpal if you can afford a UAD card and by crikey they are cheap (my laptop card was only $650 aus of course wait until they have a good deal so you get a couple of good plugs), The Fairchild limiter is gold, the 1176 also on available from UAD and finally I agree with the poster above try the DBX and guess what they are also available from UAD. I have tried a real DBX and for anything rhythm I love them. “In Search Of The Lost Digital Chord” Down with the false Gods. (Audio Schools) Viva la Revolution Sonar Forever, Pro Tools Never Ben B.C.T (Bachelor of Creative Technology) http://www.myspace.com/audiomystics
|
bitflipper
01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
- Total Posts : 26036
- Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
- Location: Everett, WA USA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 20:58:31
(permalink)
My 0.02: it doesn't matter. On bass, the Sonitus compressor works just fine.
Of course, if you have a few hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket - or a few thousand - the 670 or 1176 emulations mentioned above will indeed do a great job. After all, the real hardware units they mimic have been studio standards for fifty years. Just don't think you have to spend a lot of money to compress a bass guitar, because you really don't.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
|
JV
Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
- Total Posts : 476
- Joined: 2003/11/15 15:03:21
- Location: San Diego CA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 22:31:01
(permalink)
All ya needs ta know is HOW TO USE ONE! They Alllll work just fine. It only has a BASSic duty. a few varialbles and the rest is added EQing via pre sets like the 64
JV "You can't soar with Eagles when you're flyin with Buzzards"
|
montezuma
Max Output Level: -50 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2520
- Joined: 2004/10/07 03:44:28
- Location: Australia
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:02:30
(permalink)
Where'd you get that cockatoo JV?
|
mrBun
Max Output Level: -87 dBFS
- Total Posts : 173
- Joined: 2005/11/11 06:54:48
- Location: Sydney Australia
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:04:29
(permalink)
I use the waves SSl channel's comp and gate if needed ... the CLA bass preset is a winner.
I add some waves RenBass if I need massive bottom end.
I record all my Electric basses through a Pod X3 pro (Ampeg SVT... BX'74 rock classic with an 8x10 cab sim is a favourite)
Upright bass I mic (using a Jomeek VC3 as mic pre) into a Finalizer set to "aggressive jazz bass" preset The Ampeg svx is also a fine plugin... I switched to Pod X3 pro when I bought it last year as it has a nice selection of bass amps on board.
My recording template has Waves SSL channel on every channel.... It replaces the Sonar mixer . I just leave every (Sonar) channel set at unity. I mix as I go and find the comp included with that plugin to be more than adequate for the job.
|
yorolpal
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 13829
- Joined: 2003/11/20 11:50:37
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:14:35
(permalink)
Bit's got the right idea...the Sonitus compressor that comes with Sonar is perfectly capable of controlling (or squashing) your bass track. You just need to know how to use it. Study. Learn. Practise...practise...practise.
|
cryophonik
Max Output Level: -28 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4724
- Joined: 2006/04/03 17:28:17
- Location: Elk Grove, CA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:16:26
(permalink)
FabFilter Pro-C. I use it for just about all my compression needs these days. For electric bass I usually use Classic mode, but Opto and Clean modes do the job in the right situation as well.
|
Lanceindastudio
Max Output Level: -29 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4604
- Joined: 2004/01/22 02:28:30
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:49:44
(permalink)
bitflipper
My 0.02: it doesn't matter. On bass, the Sonitus compressor works just fine.
Of course, if you have a few hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket - or a few thousand - the 670 or 1176 emulations mentioned above will indeed do a great job. After all, the real hardware units they mimic have been studio standards for fifty years. Just don't think you have to spend a lot of money to compress a bass guitar, because you really don't.
yep you really dont 
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
|
smoochy
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 629
- Joined: 2009/03/30 22:14:19
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:49:54
(permalink)
uad2 quad card... any of their comps are awesome. I'm partial to the fair child myself. and as usual bit is right... it's not the unit it's the operator
post edited by smoochy - 2010/10/10 23:52:04
Benchmark production V-STUDIO 700 I7-920 ASUS P6TD 12GIG Ocz PLATINUM ATI RADEON 4800hd SERIES 3 seagate 160gig 32meg 7,200 sata2 1wd 1tb 7,200 sata2 2 24" digital samsung monitors OZG 1,000WATT MODULAR UAD1 UAD2 QUAD TOFT ATB24 FRONTIER TRANZPORT yamaha kx8 controller
|
Legion
Max Output Level: -55.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1986
- Joined: 2007/09/20 03:07:46
- Location: Sweden
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:54:24
(permalink)
It doesn't matter what compressor you use if you don't know what you want to use it for. When you know what you want to do with the compressor (not only what generic type of instrument) different compressors have different streanghts and weaknesses.
Sadly very reduced studio equipment as it is... ASUS G750J, 8 gb RAM, Win8, Roland Quad Capture.
|
Jose7822
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10031
- Joined: 2005/11/07 18:59:54
- Location: United States
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/10 23:56:22
(permalink)
cryophonik
FabFilter Pro-C. I use it for just about all my compression needs these days. For electric bass I usually use Classic mode, but Opto and Clean modes do the job in the right situation as well.
+1 to Pro-C, though I also agree with Bitflipper. On a side note, how are ya doing Cryo? Long time no see! Hope everything is well with you :-)
Intel Q9400 2.66 GHz 8 GB of RAM @ 800 Mhz ATI Radeon HD 3650 Windows 7 Professional (SP1) x64 Cubase 6.03 x64 Sonar PE 8.5.3 x64 RME FireFace 400 Frontier Design Alpha Track Studio Logic VMK-188 Plus http://www.youtube.com/user/SonarHD
|
cryophonik
Max Output Level: -28 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4724
- Joined: 2006/04/03 17:28:17
- Location: Elk Grove, CA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/11 00:08:47
(permalink)
Jose7822
cryophonik
FabFilter Pro-C. I use it for just about all my compression needs these days. For electric bass I usually use Classic mode, but Opto and Clean modes do the job in the right situation as well.
+1 to Pro-C, though I also agree with Bitflipper.
On a side note, how are ya doing Cryo? Long time no see!
Hope everything is well with you :-)
Yeah, I also agree with you and Bitflipper. That's why I pretty much stick to one compressor that pretty much does it all. I'm doing pretty well - thanks for asking! I know I don't post here much these days, but I actually do lurk quite a bit. Hope all is well with you too!
|
DaneStewart
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
- Total Posts : 717
- Joined: 2008/02/18 13:48:58
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/11 00:29:34
(permalink)
HA!
Cryophonic is in Elk Grove Illinois...
For those who don't know - it's a town named after this big grove...that often has elk in it.
I saw it once, complete with elk - cracked me up.
They don't name towns like they used to.
|
eikelbijter
Max Output Level: -70 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1002
- Joined: 2003/11/13 22:23:52
- Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/11 01:09:06
(permalink)
Once you learn the Sonitus, no other plug is necessary. Sometimes I fire up the VC64 cuz it looks cool and inspires me!
R
Xeon E3-1231V3, 16GB RAM, 480GB 840EVO SSD, MOTU 2480MK3, 424PCI w/ Sonar PlatinumDell XPS 18, i5, 12GB RAM, 500GB SSD+128GB SSD, Roland VS-100 w/ Sonar Platinum
Dell XPS 13, i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB 840EVO SSD, Zoom UAC-2, Sonar Platinum
http://www.RicoBelled.com/
|
wintaper
Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
- Total Posts : 464
- Joined: 2007/12/11 22:52:07
- Location: New Jersey
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/11 11:15:32
(permalink)
One of the nice things about the vintage emulations is that they also emulate the simplicity of the original gear. The Sonitus compressor is quite capable, but it has a lot more settings (knobs) than a classic 1176 or 670 emulation - knobs that all need to be in the right place for "that sound". The classic gear just seems to get musical results more easily than having to tweak all the settings of a "modern" plugin. At a price, of course.
Intel i7 @ 3.60GHz, 12GB DDR3 1600MHz, Win7 / OSX 10.6.6, Sonar 8.53 / Pro Tools 9.0.1, RME RayDAT, UAD2-Quad, Focusrite OctoPre (x4), Euphonix MC Mix, Tascam US2400, Monette Ajna (x2), 15' Macbook Pro
|
uncleswede
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 638
- Joined: 2005/06/06 12:53:08
- Location: Essex, UK
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/12 07:19:47
(permalink)
Diverging slightly, but assuming you posted because you're trying to get your bass gtr to sit in the mix better, as well as compression (Sonitus) and the usual complementary EQ of other tracks (to give the bass some frequency room) I often add just a little distortion (usually the free CamelPhat plugin).
--------------------------------------------------------- How to fly - throw yourself at the ground and miss S8.5PE, i7-920 (XP), 6Gb RAM, Phonic Helix 12, Axiom 61 controller, JM VC3Q and mic, plus more...
|
Danny Danzi
Moderator
- Total Posts : 5810
- Joined: 2006/10/05 13:42:39
- Location: DanziLand, NJ
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/12 08:19:31
(permalink)
I'm with JV on this one. To me, nothing beats a DBX compressor on bass. It just seems to fit like a glove. Then again, I'm with Yorolpal and Bit because I also use the Fairchild and the Sonitus quite a bit. It depends on the player and the instrument really. When you have a bassist that knows how to make love to a bass, it doesn't matter what compressor you use...as long as you know how to use one. When you get a guitarist trying to play bass and he plays it like a guitar or uses a pick, or one of these new kids that likes distortion or percussive type bass tones, you have to treat it differently and may need to use a compressor that allows you to deal with that sort of thing better.
I'm old school when it comes to bass. I like when it almost sounds like a low piano...new string sound...mmmm...pure bliss.
My Site Fractal Audio Endorsed Artist & Beta Tester
|
Jose7822
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10031
- Joined: 2005/11/07 18:59:54
- Location: United States
- Status: offline
Re:Best VST Compressor for Electric Bass Guitar .... what do you use ?
2010/10/12 08:59:18
(permalink)
uncleswede
Diverging slightly, but assuming you posted because you're trying to get your bass gtr to sit in the mix better, as well as compression (Sonitus) and the usual complementary EQ of other tracks (to give the bass some frequency room) I often add just a little distortion (usually the free CamelPhat plugin).
You mean Camel Crusher, right? I love that on Bass and Vocals (though it can be used on anything). It's one of the few, nice sounding, free plugins available.
Intel Q9400 2.66 GHz 8 GB of RAM @ 800 Mhz ATI Radeon HD 3650 Windows 7 Professional (SP1) x64 Cubase 6.03 x64 Sonar PE 8.5.3 x64 RME FireFace 400 Frontier Design Alpha Track Studio Logic VMK-188 Plus http://www.youtube.com/user/SonarHD
|