I am looking for (one or more) compressors that can provide that rounded sound for my bass lines, which are usually aggresive and rythmic played on Rickenbacker 4003
bass, that you can hear in many productions. Until now I am using the bulit in daw compressor however I am not getting what I would like
so I am open to suggestions. Thank you

 

Last edited: Dec 20, 2020

3 letters ott every dubsteppers favorite tool.

 

thank you for your suggestion

 

Have you tried Audio Damage RoughRider followed by Klanghelm IVGI2 for saturation and level? Turn on the LP filter on the RoughRider. Use IVGI as a drive/saturation and EQ. If further correction is needed, just use an EQ of your choice, although it usually sits perfectly well in the mix for me this way. It is also quite simple and both plugs are free. For more versatile drive options use Klanghelm SDDR instead.

Explanation: RoughRider is a rather rough compressor with HP and LP filters, perfect for bass, however it produces no saturation and bringing higher harmonics in the bass up makes it sound more clear, so the combination of these works as well as say LA-3A which had been used on droves of records for bass... and loads of other things. ;)

Just my 2p.

Cheers!

 

https://www.nembriniaudio.com/collections/tone-character/products/the-boss-rack-led-diode-distortion

 

Thank you , really appereciate all the suggestion. next step trial and error

 

About any plug in for bass should help you with this. Or for a more retro thing, try any pultec plug in, which is EQ, not compression. Puigtec in the JJP suite in Waves is what I use some times. LowAir is cool. For "rounding out" try the Pultec, then compress. I am a fan of dbx.

 

Last edited: Dec 21, 2020

I also play a 4003, my favorite is the UAD LA 3a.

 

Hello, do you have the Waves Plugins? If yes, you could try several compressors for Bass.
(One Thing before i start, a 'compressed Bass' means not only that it is reduced in its dynamics,
it is also has more Overtones after it, which means it sounds better and is more present on smaller Consumer Speaker Stations.)

1.) The LA-2A, aka CLA-2A, its a relative slow comp. which is often used by Pros for Bass.
It has the characteristics to round the bass up, and give it a healthy bass lift. Also it smears it a little.

2.) The Kramer PIE, based on a rare '60s vintage Pye compressor. Its a vintage compressor with a unique Sound.
I tried it once in a Rock Project and it sounded very good. Worth a try.

3.) The Standard, the Blackface 1176, aka CLA-76, it is a very fast FET Compressor and a Gold Standard in the Studio World.
You could try to set the Attack to the slowest/medium setting, and the release to the fastest setting. Now try to dial in about
5-6 db of Gain Reduction. That moves your Bass to sit even in the mix and is hearable at all times.

4.) You could also try the LA-3A aka CLA-3A, which is more often used for snappy Electric Guitars
but it is worth a try!

5.) Distressor Hardware, or UAD Plugin. This thing is built for Bass! It has a built in Tube Saturation which comes handy.
Can't go wrong with this one. I do not own one, unfortunately.

6.) Maserati B72, cool Gadget which is worth a try on Synth Basses. Has a unique Sound.

7.) H-Comp, is is a very versatile Comp for almost everything. It has a Punch Button, and a shapeable EQ + Analog Settings.

7.) Also you could try all the Signature All in One Bass Plugins from CLA, Jack Joseph Puig, Eddie Krammer etc.
But its easy to overdo in these Plugins, just think logical what you need, and turn off the rest.

8.) Psychoacoustic Plugins for Bass/Basssynth: R-Bass is one of them, you bring in a preset and just tuck it under the track,
it produces overtones, and your bass becomes more powerful. But be careful with the Settings. Along with R-Bass, there is
MaxxBass, and LoAir etc.

10.) Another Trick for mixing Bass in the box, is to create two Bass Tracks. One is your original processed Bass Track,
the other one is a duplicate from the Original. In the duplicated Track you set a High-pass Filter or Low-cut Filter to
about 220 Hertz. So this Track has almost no Bass Frequencies. Now this Track can be shaped more along with Distortion or
Overdrive, or Tape Saturation, or with Stomp-box Plugins. Your Creativity is your Limit! It can sound on solo horrible.
But who hears our Tracks in Solo :DD. So now try to blend the second Track, with your original Track while hearing the
complete Arrangement. The Bass is now more powerful, has more Overtones and it is guaranteed that your Bass will
compete even on Smartphone Speakers.

11.) Not a Compressor Trick but something which could improve your Kick/Bass Fundament:
Insert a Compressor on the Bass Track, and trigger it via Sidechain with your Kickdrum. So every time your Kickdrum
plays, the Bass is ducked 2-3 db.Thats why its called Ducking! This makes the Drums/Bass Fraktion a little tighter.
This method works in all Genres!
(For Electronic Producers, there is a little help Plugin from Waves: LittlePumper, this Thing does this automatically. Worth a try!)

I hope you learned something!
Greetings easy_kid
(p.s. Low-cut also your Basses, makes them even more powerful!!!)

 

I’m kind of surprised to see you recommending this

I always regarded you as a guy who really knows his stuff and now it’s making me question my own judgment (of plugins - not of you). I really didn’t care for the audiodamage amp plugins. And I really hate saying that about such a consumer friendly dev.

I got a couple audiodamage plugins for basically nothing and now I’m wondering if I should reinstall and give it another chance

 

I'm a Bassist as well. And I am so demanding on my bottom end being tight! My 3 letters are DBX 160! You can find it in Waves Plug-Ins.
I never loose any bass frequencies.... I'm a Funk Bassist of 43 years. The compression is transparent!

 

Thank for your suggestions and lets hope for a healthy and creative 2021

 

As to my personal experience Arturia VCA-65 sounds better for bass than Waves dbx or CLA.
Better than the VCA-65 sounds Arturia Tube-STA in double mode and PA NEOLD is on par with STA.

 

@No Avenger

great will try the arturia via-65, i have the waves one, but i think the arturia will sound more unique!

greets

 

Just to avoid a misunderstanding, IMHO tube-STA and Neold sound better on bass than the VCA-65.

 

I'll have to try the tube-STA. Recently I've been into a combo of tube saturation (like fuse Vpre-2c) with a bass rider / leveler.

 

Same here! I also use a Darkglass Super Symmetry compressor pedal before going into my interface just to catch the loudest transients, but otherwise I always use a DBX160. My go to 160 emulation has been the Native Instruments one that are made by Softube, but lately I've been enjoying Arturias emulation as well, when set correctly at least.

 

Try PSP FETpressor

 

Used the Neold on one of my latest mixes on bass and I really liked it! For some reason though, whenever I open the project Neold mutes the bass until I open the UI and change a parameter. No big problem though, just a bit weird.

 

Mh, didn't happen here. But I'm using the most reliable and stable combination I've ever used, Win7 and Reaper.