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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2675.0. "where to compress ???" by CSC32::B_KNOX (Rock'n'Roll Refugee) Fri Jan 29 1993 15:27

    To all you FX guru's ...
    
    My current Bass rig looks like this:
                                                            +---> 4/10's
    Bass --> Boss tuner --> dbx160 compr --> GK 800RB amp-->|bi-amp
    				             |      |       +---> 2/15's
    					     |      |
    				       FX/IN |      | FX/OUT
                                             |      |
    					     BOSS BASS
    					      CHORUS
    
    
    My question is... Should the compressor go into the fx-loop ???
    This would compress the output of the pre-amp as opposed to the raw
    signal from my bass. The dbx has a line level input, so putting it in
    the fx-loop should not be a problem. I'm uncertain whether it's best
    to compress the bass signal or the pre-amp signal??? Any ideas???
    
    /Billy_K
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
2675.1Go for the loop.....TRUCKS::LITTENMon Feb 01 1993 05:5134
>                                                            +---> 4/10's
>    Bass --> Boss tuner --> dbx160 compr --> GK 800RB amp-->|bi-amp
>                                             |      |       +---> 2/15's
>                                             |      |
>                                       FX/IN |      | FX/OUT
>                                             |      |
>                                             BOSS BASS
>                                              CHORUS

Billy,

	The compress function will change very little, but some of
the trade-offs may be:

1. Putting the compressor in the effects will reduce the compresor inherent
   noise level by a small (or maybe significant) amount. Try it and see with
   the amp set to normal playing levels.

2. Putting the compressor in the effects loop will reduce the high frequency
   (wooshing) noise that the boss makes and will also tend to reduce the
   boss noise level when being driven, however this may also increase
   slightly the "breathing" sound you get from compressors.

3. From a purist standpoint, I would prefer to use the compressor in the
   effects loop because that would ensure *all* the signal is under compressor
   control, and would also enable you to have nothing between the guitar and the
   amp input.....always a recipe for a "cleaner" more quality sound.
 
So in summary IMHO, try both and listen for "breathing" and noise level, then
make your choice based on those parameters.

Dave
2675.2TECRUS::ROSTGive me Beefheart or give me deathMon Feb 01 1993 07:0512
    Re: .0
    
    If the loop is *before* the tone controls, you should get a similar
    sound to what you get now.  If it is *after* the tone controls you
    *may* find the EQ sounds weird...i.e. if you boost the bass a lot, the
    compressor will bring down the overall level, so you may find the tone
    controls seem to be less responsive or even cause weird gain shifts
    depending on where you play on the neck. 
    
    But the *real* answer is to try it and see what happens.
    
    							Brian