I've been using the Cali76 for a while now and it's the best stomp compressor on the market, IMO. It's like they took a expensive studio rack unit and squashed it into a pedal.
1- Empress and Calli76 = transparent compression - (best for me). 2- Mxr = overall Good ( I miss the "blend" control) 3- Keeley GC-2 Limiting Amplifier = really effective and easy good compression. 4- Diamond = good tone/compression
i was subconsciously waiting for the Diamond Comp to come up. i wasn’t looking at the screen at all during the video until the BEST sounding compressor came on. and to my surprise it was the diamond
No blend, no release, no attack no treshold...that means it depens on the bass and the amp a lot. Could sound good in this context to you then with your bass and your amp sounding totally different and you having no control on the compression. No go.
We all know that the Cali76 just blows all these pedals here but the tube simulator on the EBS comp pedal just made my day. It has the Cali76 character to it with added warmth. Diamond and MXR pedals were also on top of my list here but I’m getting the EBS pedal after this video. Thanks for the great demo!
For me it was a toss up between the EBS & the MXR. I bought the MXR & I love it, but that EBS just has something about it. Talked a mate into giving it a go, it wasn't even on his radar & he bought it. Great review!
Great sounding bass ,this VF 5...like it...good playing as well....when it comes to compression..my all time fav .is my EBs , Markbass Compressore as well , and here , I like the darkglass and the Cali for its clarity and functionality .
Yep! Got one of those, it's amazing! I tested a bunch of them at the store, like the Aguilar TLC, the MXR one, the TC Electronics one, but the Seymour Duncan was the one that was able to better respect the fatness of my bass :-)
Thanks, that's a lot of info .compressed. into a small video!!! Sorry, I had to. Anyway, I couldn't hear squat for differences just listening to the crappy 3/4 inch laptop speakers, but things became a lot more obvious with a set of headphones on. Anyone trying to get the compressor quagmire figured out, please do yourself a favor on videos like this and use some good phones, ear buds or at least go through some decent desktop speakers, better with a sub. I understand the theory and practice of classic/ideal compression pretty well, and in a good studio rack version there are individual controls for the Attack, Threshold, Decay and Release (as well as soft/hard knee, limiter, center frequency and stuff like that.) Those make sense to me. None of these appear to have all those specific controls, but several are close and combine them, say the Decay with Release. And some of the controls shown make no sense at all with regard to compression. Of all of these, which would you say >functionally< is closest to the controls of a full rack version, but for live performance control? Oh, and the idea of a High Pass Filter (HPF) is strongly advocated by some folks to keep stray low frequencies from getting to your amp, which robs use-able power trying to amplify them, and maybe prevents damage. I guess if you're going to have that added feature on one of your pedals, the compressor was their Cali76 choice.
Actually, the hpf on the Cali 76 is the hpf for the sidechain, e.g. A higher hpf setting means only higher frequencies are getting compressed,while lower are passing through uncompressed. Very desirable for bass so it doesn't thin out the tone.
Diamond makes some great products. MXR was also nice, with the meter. Did not show the Keeley Compressor Pro? or Bondi 2026? ( made down under ) Jackson Audio Bloom Compressor? Wampler EGO? - All are Fantastic Units. The DOD (was extremely disappointing) made a nasty Pop when clicked on?
Sick prices on some of these. My mint MXR bass comp is for sale on reverb for only $150. It’s literally an 1176 in a pedal. $500 for the Cali76 is insanity.
Good video mate! The Cali, Empress and GC-2 Sound great. Punch Factory, DOD, Philosopher sound kinda cheap and noisy, you do get what you pay for! MXR holds it own tho. I tried a bunch in store a few years ago and walked out with the Keeley GC-2, which interestingly won out over the Keeley Bassist.
Great video Craig. I'm sure quite a lot of time went into putting it all togethter. I have to admit though, compressors have always been a bit of a mystery to me. But I think where you really can tell the difference is in the mix. Having said that, I've just ordered a Warm Audio WA2A optiocal tube compressor which will cost me over $1K. I plan to use it on recordings for vocals and bass.
no Aguilar TLC? you really need to show a volume peak meter as well to see what these guys are doing because most of them are so transparent there's hardly any trace of traditional pumping and squish to be heard
neilmacmusic Aguilar TLC at 13 minute mark. I’ll keep the peak meter in mind for next time, but ultimately the bet way to just a pedal is with your ears and by feeling it as you play
All of these guys is too expensive(exept one) for me. My bass coast around 900$, i cant buy 300-400$ pedal. Mb we have some around 100$... thanks for rewiew!
As important as compression is it's virtually impossible to compare on video.That said I own three greats: Super Symmetry,Cali Compact Bass and Empress bass.Lucky me.
I've never really understood what a compressor does. I can't really tell much difference in these videos. Isn't it just something that is used in a studio?
I agree that the differences between these pedals is fairly subtle and to be honest you don't get the full picture unless you're actually playing through the pedal and and feel what it is doing to your dynamics. The pedals are all designed primarily for live use so I think it's fair to say that compression is as applicable on the stage as it is in the studio. Thanks for watching!
@@Basslessonsmelbourne thanks for the explanation, much appreciated. I wasn't being critical, just genuinely clueless regarding compression. You have some great content, my favourite being that brilliant interview with Francis Hilton, a bassist I really aspire to be like. BTW saw you play a few years ago at a Penny Black jam, I was well impressed.
@@LostInFunk no worries! That's so cool to hear you dig the Francis interview, he's an amazing musician and great guy! The Penny Black Jam was indeed a few years ago, if you get a chance check out my own funky jazz band 'Pickpocket', you might dig it. Thanks!
LostInFunk it just evens out your peaks. Imagine that you play one note louder than the other. The compressor reduces the level of your notes above the set treshold to make the sound more even, and subjectively, more pleasing. Imagine watching a movie where you have to turn the volume down every time someone screams louder than a certain level. This device does that for you.
Great job, Craig. I like that Empress pedal. Couple questions: Why did you rapidly turn on and off the Opto Stomp, and is the Pigtronix supposed to sound so overdriven?
Yeah the Empress is one of the top pedals for sure! The PIgtronix is meant to overdrive yes. Not sure why I was so enthusiastic with the Opto stomp, maybe to help hear what it was trying to do when on..?? Thanks for watching Josh!
Nice review. For me they all did a good job in controlling the dynamic range of the bass but the diamond one added something extra to the tone i like this one the most.
An interesting and extensive collection of compressors. The sample is not optimal because it has not enough level peaks and no brilliant highs. And i am bored with the riff after 10 minutes. Most of the time the turning of knobs seems helpless. Some settings don’t make sense. Attack will not change when the threshold/input is low MXR for example.
“The turning of knobs seems helpless” What do you mean by that? Are you saying that turning the knobs had a “negative” effect, or are you saying that it had “no” effect? Every time a knob was turned it effected the signal, though sometimes subtly. If you’re listening to this video without headphones/earbuds, you probably aren’t going to hear the effect of the “effect”. If you are using them, and you still can’t “hear” the differences, then you do not know what you’re supposed to be “hearing/feeling”, so a compression pedal probably won’t be of much use to you.
I always wear headphones when I listen to bass reviews. Frankly I have the expression that you do not understand the compressor function and just turn the potis without knowing how the work and what the influence is.
I think this isn't a good comparison video. The changes on the pedals is too fast. I realize they're trying to show a lot of pedals in a short time, but that's the issue.
People still understand a "personal touch", relating to the buyer as a person, and attention to the customer. Information on settings, and information about the company, and thanking them for their purchase. Guitars are still probably sold because of: shiny paint, chrome, and someone famous plays this type of guitar. I accept that the guitar designs from the 1950's and the electronics still sound great today. I do not understand much about this industry, I am just a consumer of merchandise. You cannot look at a guitar and tell me it sounds good, If sound could be a big part of the choice in a guitar purchase. I would think the information one will want is about sound. The company has to have choices that are profitable for the company, but the customer may want something different, or new offered by the company 1 .Alnico pick-ups, Ceramic pick-ups, Ferrous Pick-ups, Lithium pick-ups, 2. Neck width, radii, 3. a tone switch, to different types of wiring. Finally It is not all black and white thinking, and decisions. I could say whatever choices in additional tones, or wiring that is about the sound of the guitar, that is not too much of a cost in fabricating, but offers the customer just some new sounds, that is a great choice.The customer will be happy making the purchase and being able to have a few new tones on the guitar!!
One could say they all sound the same, and to a point, they do. The one that was fuzzy sounding, throw it under a cement mixer. There is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between the MXR and the Cali76, and if someone says there is they are on disassociates, like Ketamine. I am glad you had those 2 side by side for the comparison. Anything 'Aguilar" is just total overpriced boutique garbage, like their 'Tonehammer" amplifier head. Complete crap. Good video, thank you. I will gladly spend the $129.00 for a used MXR than completely waste $329.00 for the Cali COPY pedal.
I've been using the Cali76 for a while now and it's the best stomp compressor on the market, IMO. It's like they took a expensive studio rack unit and squashed it into a pedal.
1- Empress and Calli76 = transparent compression - (best for me).
2- Mxr = overall Good ( I miss the "blend" control)
3- Keeley GC-2 Limiting Amplifier = really effective and easy good compression.
4- Diamond = good tone/compression
i was subconsciously waiting for the Diamond Comp to come up. i wasn’t looking at the screen at all during the video until the BEST sounding compressor came on. and to my surprise it was the diamond
No blend, no release, no attack no treshold...that means it depens on the bass and the amp a lot. Could sound good in this context to you then with your bass and your amp sounding totally different and you having no control on the compression. No go.
Am I the only one falling in love with the Aphex 1404?!?!? Useful nice sound although it doesn't offer any tweaks.
me too , in this video I like the sound of Aphex , but for the other I thing so pity that they don't tweak properly to test the compressor
Very underrated pedal
It bothers me that the Compressore was in the intro but not the video...
I've got the newer version of EBS MultiComp with a "SENS." knob and I like it very much. Especially the TubeSim mode.
Yes! Me too. A big improvement imo
Wow first of all, whatever bass and amp you’re using to begin with are just killer, makes such a difference in these videos. Thank you
Sounds like a Jazzbass
Great video. The Diamond compressor wins by a mile IMO
We all know that the Cali76 just blows all these pedals here but the tube simulator on the EBS comp pedal just made my day. It has the Cali76 character to it with added warmth. Diamond and MXR pedals were also on top of my list here but I’m getting the EBS pedal after this video. Thanks for the great demo!
I very much agree with you! Glad you found it a useful video
For me it was a toss up between the EBS & the MXR. I bought the MXR & I love it, but that EBS just has something about it. Talked a mate into giving it a go, it wasn't even on his radar & he bought it. Great review!
@@Cobanaut04 Love the EBS Unit. I'm leaning that way. (might purchase?) also the little Becos compressor is impressive.
Great sounding bass ,this VF 5...like it...good playing as well....when it comes to compression..my all time fav .is my EBs , Markbass Compressore as well , and here , I like the darkglass and the Cali for its clarity and functionality .
No one ever remembers Seymour Duncan Studio Bass. Its a fantastic pedal.
Would have loved to included it but I couldn't get my hands on one at the time of filming :)
Yep! Got one of those, it's amazing! I tested a bunch of them at the store, like the Aguilar TLC, the MXR one, the TC Electronics one, but the Seymour Duncan was the one that was able to better respect the fatness of my bass :-)
Thanks, that's a lot of info .compressed. into a small video!!! Sorry, I had to. Anyway, I couldn't hear squat for differences just listening to the crappy 3/4 inch laptop speakers, but things became a lot more obvious with a set of headphones on. Anyone trying to get the compressor quagmire figured out, please do yourself a favor on videos like this and use some good phones, ear buds or at least go through some decent desktop speakers, better with a sub.
I understand the theory and practice of classic/ideal compression pretty well, and in a good studio rack version there are individual controls for the Attack, Threshold, Decay and Release (as well as soft/hard knee, limiter, center frequency and stuff like that.) Those make sense to me. None of these appear to have all those specific controls, but several are close and combine them, say the Decay with Release. And some of the controls shown make no sense at all with regard to compression. Of all of these, which would you say >functionally< is closest to the controls of a full rack version, but for live performance control?
Oh, and the idea of a High Pass Filter (HPF) is strongly advocated by some folks to keep stray low frequencies from getting to your amp, which robs use-able power trying to amplify them, and maybe prevents damage. I guess if you're going to have that added feature on one of your pedals, the compressor was their Cali76 choice.
Nathan Wahl I couldn’t hear any difference either.
Actually, the hpf on the Cali 76 is the hpf for the sidechain, e.g. A higher hpf setting means only higher frequencies are getting compressed,while lower are passing through uncompressed. Very desirable for bass so it doesn't thin out the tone.
I like my shit pretty simple. The Diamond and Aguilar are my favs on this demo. I currently use an Ampeg SGT-DI and a tighty whitey JHS comp.
Diamond makes some great products. MXR was also nice, with the meter. Did not show the Keeley Compressor Pro? or Bondi 2026? ( made down under ) Jackson Audio Bloom Compressor? Wampler EGO? - All are Fantastic Units. The DOD (was extremely disappointing) made a nasty Pop when clicked on?
Sick prices on some of these. My mint MXR bass comp is for sale on reverb for only $150. It’s literally an 1176 in a pedal. $500 for the Cali76 is insanity.
Good video mate! The Cali, Empress and GC-2 Sound great. Punch Factory, DOD, Philosopher sound kinda cheap and noisy, you do get what you pay for! MXR holds it own tho. I tried a bunch in store a few years ago and walked out with the Keeley GC-2, which interestingly won out over the Keeley Bassist.
Agreed, The Cali, Empress and GC-2 are the best for me.
Great review Craig!! Really shows the different flavours...
You're welcome, glad you find it useful!
Great video Craig. I'm sure quite a lot of time went into putting it all togethter. I have to admit though, compressors have always been a bit of a mystery to me. But I think where you really can tell the difference is in the mix. Having said that, I've just ordered a Warm Audio WA2A optiocal tube compressor which will cost me over $1K. I plan to use it on recordings for vocals and bass.
It did take a while but hopefully it's worth it!
Can’t believe I’ve only come across your channel today!
Welcome!
I will keep my diamond. Simple a sounds killer.
this video is pure gold! Maybe I won't sell my TLC compressor :D
I wish Ampeg would make a tube opto compressor pedal based on their svt7pro
Now that's a pretty cool idea!!
Ampeg Bass Opto Comp is a great compressor and it's only $139.00 usd
no Aguilar TLC? you really need to show a volume peak meter as well to see what these guys are doing because most of them are so transparent there's hardly any trace of traditional pumping and squish to be heard
neilmacmusic Aguilar TLC at 13 minute mark. I’ll keep the peak meter in mind for next time, but ultimately the bet way to just a pedal is with your ears and by feeling it as you play
The MXR is my favorite but I did like Aguilar and Origin too
A little disappointed in the Aguilar showcase. Im unsure whether it really got the love it needed or if the MXR is my new favorite.
All of these guys is too expensive(exept one) for me. My bass coast around 900$, i cant buy 300-400$ pedal. Mb we have some around 100$... thanks for rewiew!
I use a MXR Dyna-Comp, i think the circuit is fairly similar to the DOD :)
They are surprisingly different, The DOD is an optical compressor, while the Dyna Comp is an OTA.
As important as compression is it's virtually impossible to compare on video.That said I own three greats: Super Symmetry,Cali Compact Bass and Empress bass.Lucky me.
Good bass. Good amp. A good skils and thats it
I've never really understood what a compressor does. I can't really tell much difference in these videos. Isn't it just something that is used in a studio?
I agree that the differences between these pedals is fairly subtle and to be honest you don't get the full picture unless you're actually playing through the pedal and and feel what it is doing to your dynamics. The pedals are all designed primarily for live use so I think it's fair to say that compression is as applicable on the stage as it is in the studio. Thanks for watching!
@@Basslessonsmelbourne thanks for the explanation, much appreciated. I wasn't being critical, just genuinely clueless regarding compression. You have some great content, my favourite being that brilliant interview with Francis Hilton, a bassist I really aspire to be like. BTW saw you play a few years ago at a Penny Black jam, I was well impressed.
@@LostInFunk no worries! That's so cool to hear you dig the Francis interview, he's an amazing musician and great guy! The Penny Black Jam was indeed a few years ago, if you get a chance check out my own funky jazz band 'Pickpocket', you might dig it. Thanks!
LostInFunk it just evens out your peaks. Imagine that you play one note louder than the other. The compressor reduces the level of your notes above the set treshold to make the sound more even, and subjectively, more pleasing.
Imagine watching a movie where you have to turn the volume down every time someone screams louder than a certain level. This device does that for you.
Your thoughts on the Compressor 280? I know there are better pedals, but it's $45 right now!
I thought it sounded great. I’m going to get one.
Great comparison. What´s your choice? Often it´s more a thing of feel while playing. Thx
6:04. 8:22. 9:34. 10:41. 11:57. 13:02
Diamond is the best
I haven't watched the video yet but the Cali76 won..
Great job, Craig. I like that Empress pedal. Couple questions: Why did you rapidly turn on and off the Opto Stomp, and is the Pigtronix supposed to sound so overdriven?
Yeah the Empress is one of the top pedals for sure! The PIgtronix is meant to overdrive yes. Not sure why I was so enthusiastic with the Opto stomp, maybe to help hear what it was trying to do when on..?? Thanks for watching Josh!
The Pigtronix has a toggle switch for clean or overdrive, which sounds amazing to me.
Great one!!!
Nice review. For me they all did a good job in controlling the dynamic range of the bass but the diamond one added something extra to the tone i like this one the most.
Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed it, Diamond make great pedals!
It's good except for that popping aound when you engage it
Is there much difference between the GC-2 and bassist?
thank you for the video!
Can use any of these through your DJ mixer to make Hip Hop beats sound more compressed?
You could but none of these are stereo
An interesting and extensive collection of compressors. The sample is not optimal because it has not enough level peaks and no brilliant highs. And i am bored with the riff after 10 minutes. Most of the time the turning of knobs seems helpless. Some settings don’t make sense. Attack will not change when the threshold/input is low MXR for example.
“The turning of knobs seems helpless”
What do you mean by that? Are you saying that turning the knobs had a “negative” effect, or are you saying that it had “no” effect? Every time a knob was turned it effected the signal, though sometimes subtly. If you’re listening to this video without headphones/earbuds, you probably aren’t going to hear the effect of the “effect”. If you are using them, and you still can’t “hear” the differences, then you do not know what you’re supposed to be “hearing/feeling”, so a compression pedal probably won’t be of much use to you.
I always wear headphones when I listen to bass reviews. Frankly I have the expression that you do not understand the compressor function and just turn the potis without knowing how the work and what the influence is.
Empress
Great comparison VDO
But ...
What's about Cali 76 vs UAFX MAX ?
Hi! Thanks for watching, the UAFX Max had not been invented when I made this video so unfortunately I could not include it
what can you say on Aguilar TLC?
jgil castro it’s a solid versatile compressor that won’t colour your sound too much.
MXR and origin for me
Thanks. Great video
GREAT DEMO
wow these pedals are wayyyy more cheaper right now that mxr sounded cool to me so I searched for it and now its 100$ less...
The prices on the video are likely in AUD not USD
I think this isn't a good comparison video. The changes on the pedals is too fast. I realize they're trying to show a lot of pedals in a short time, but that's the issue.
I'm sorry you feel that way, I tried to keep it short so people wouldn't get too bored. Feel free to use the time stamps in the description
This is a straight tp the point keep it up loved the video for people who are already researching for a bass compressor
Thanks
You're welcome!
Vc vende ?
Why pay hundreds of dollars to get the same exact sound? Thanks for the review.
Michael Sanchez I’m sorry I don’t have any experience with this pedal! For the money it could be worth trying out tho
Pigtronix 18v¡ ..not 9v
how do you get that punchy skatepunk bass sound?
Could you give me an example?
Fender P-bass or equivalent for a start. Compressor would also help tighten it up and even out dynamics. Especially with a pick.
@@Basslessonsmelbourne
Like greenday or nofx uses.
Not Epic without including a BC-1X
People still understand a "personal touch", relating to the buyer as a person, and attention to the customer. Information on settings, and information about the company, and thanking them for their purchase. Guitars are still probably sold because of: shiny paint, chrome, and someone famous plays this type of guitar. I accept that the guitar designs from the 1950's and the electronics still sound great today. I do not understand much about this industry, I am just a consumer of merchandise. You cannot look at a guitar and tell me it sounds good, If sound could be a big part of the choice in a guitar purchase. I would think the information one will want is about sound. The company has to have choices that are profitable for the company, but the customer may want something different, or new offered by the company 1 .Alnico pick-ups, Ceramic pick-ups, Ferrous Pick-ups, Lithium pick-ups, 2. Neck width, radii, 3. a tone switch, to different types of wiring. Finally It is not all black and white thinking, and decisions. I could say whatever choices in additional tones, or wiring that is about the sound of the guitar, that is not too much of a cost in fabricating, but offers the customer just some new sounds, that is a great choice.The customer will be happy making the purchase and being able to have a few new tones on the guitar!!
I could barely hear any difference...
Wow that Philosopher is awful
Aguilar sounds best
One could say they all sound the same, and to a point, they do. The one that was fuzzy sounding, throw it under a cement mixer. There is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between the MXR and the Cali76, and if someone says there is they are on disassociates, like Ketamine. I am glad you had those 2 side by side for the comparison. Anything 'Aguilar" is just total overpriced boutique garbage, like their 'Tonehammer" amplifier head. Complete crap. Good video, thank you. I will gladly spend the $129.00 for a used MXR than completely waste $329.00 for the Cali COPY pedal.
Nothing Special. Áll off them is same. I dont give éven 5 cent for them.