Bass Tip: Setting A Compressor For Live Performance

For bassists, there are several advantages to using a bass compressor pedal in a live setting. Low frequencies carry the most energy in music, and as a result, loud bass can easily overwhelm a mixer and reduce the available voltage required for other instruments. By using a bass compressor pedal with the proper settings, you are sending a more controlled and manageable signal, which any sound guy will appreciate. Bass guitars also have a tendency to produce uneven output voltages from string to string and fret to fret, which a bass compressor pedal that is properly set up for a live setting can help manage. A smoother sound is achieved thanks to this consistent output. Increased sustain is another benefit, achieved by raising the overall average levels when combined with a long release.

To get the most out of a bass compressor pedal, obviously it needs to be set properly. These parameters for live bass compressor pedal settings will give you a good starting point. On most bass compressor pedals you will have attack, release, threshold, and ratio controls. Some bass compressor pedals also have an adjustable knee, which is how steep the gain reduction curve is. For starters, try these basic settings: a relatively fast attack of approximately 25-50 milliseconds; a medium to slow release, somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 milliseconds to one second; and a ratio of 4:1. You should note that 4 volts of input will give you 1 volt of output on a bass compressor pedal. Set the threshold so you can see a fairly constant gain reduction of 2-3dB. This setting will tame attacks and provide a fairly good sustain. A rule of thumb for setting attack on your bass compressor pedal is as follows: to tame attacks, set a fast attack. To accentuate attacks for slap techniques and popping techniques, set a medium release at 100-500ms.  It’s best to use your ears and listen to the attack without changing any other setting until you hear the attack you want. For more sustain, use higher ratios and longer releases. Don’t set your ratio too high or you’ll lose your dynamics. Finally, use a hard knee to tame attacks on your bass compressor pedal.

Where you put the bass compressor pedal in the signal chain depends on your application. If you want to control input level to your bass rig, console or recorder, put the bass compressor pedal right after the bass and before the preamp. If you’re using it for speaker protection, connect your bass compressor pedal  between preamp and power amp. Avoid using it in the inserts of the console. If the FOH engineer reduces your fader level, you’ll still be hitting the bass compressor pedal just as hard, which means your signal will become even smaller.

The MXR Bass Compressor is a great option for live bass performances.