anyone use Compression?

[DRJUSTIN]

Anyone try out a compressor on their Rhodes? I would think if you could get one that could be tweaked not to kill the attack but increase the sustain it might be pretty sweet.

[Ben Bove]

I think Rob A's post might talk in depth about this:

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=3925&highlight=compression

[pianotuner steveo]

The only time I ever tried it was when I didnt own a bass and used the low notes for bass tracks on home recordings. It worked great.

[daniel_muschinsky]

I use one for mega hard comp at one point... Wicked for plying hard bass notes and hard stabs!

[Spaceduck]

Per Rob A's suggestion, I tried some compression on my direct recording, and I was blown away at the results. I used a free VST plugin called JB Ferox ("Analog circuitry") you can download here

http://www.jeroenbreebaart.com/audio_vst.htm

Recently I had the chance to record through a UA 6176 (610 preamp + 1176LN compressor), and the results were just amazing. I dialed in a moderate attack and a lightning fast release/recovery which worked great for percussive playing. I give compression two big thumbs up.

[michaeltristan]

Is this a piece of hardware or software?  Stomp-box or rack unit?  Does anyone have any sound samples?

-michael

[sean]

I took my 1980s MXR DynaComp out of the drawer, and put a battery in it, and plugged in the Rhodes, and ...

I was blown away at how great it sounded.  This was a few months ago, so I don't remember my knob settings, but I do remember that I had very little trouble setting it to something useful and helpful.

It also works great on my Rhodes that has the split harp:  put the bass notes through the compressor, put the right hand through the small stone or a chorus.


I think the compressors help out for two reasons:
  1.  The Traditional Reason for Using a Compressor:  the dynamics compression effect evens out my anemic playing and gives me more consistent attack and volume; and it changes the post-attack sustained volume (like a more consistent "ADSR envelope").  
  2.  The "volume" knob or "make-up-gain" knob on the compressor give you a nice little bit of gain.  A little bit of gain always seems to help drive our downstream amp sections into a more-comfortable range for their natural voice.  It is irresistable... you gotta crank it up.  

So I guess some of the perceived improvement in sound is from the compression, and some is from the overall boost in gain.

Sean

[Spookyman]

I'm using the same little red brick from MXR...  

Really good.

I have quite a lot of MXR pedals, from the stereo Tremolo, the Phase 100, the 10 band EQ, the Booster/Overdrive (Custom Audio Electronic), the Dyna Comp.

Only one Maxon (Phase/Tone from the 70's) and a Memory Man from Electro Harmonix.

[Kbjazzman]

I've try some compressor such as... Urei 1178, LA4, Drawmer 251, Boss CS3, Guyatone vintage stombox. I don't like them all. I think it's change the attack & character of the Rhodes. At this moment I prefer patch to Mic pre DI or mic them up with good condenser mic.

[Spookyman]

Of course...it's not easy to set-it-up correctly.

And it's also a different kind of playing when the compressor is engaged.

[Rhodes player]

well i love compression very much,
but rhodes is the only instrument that when compressed makes me hear compression instead of the rhodes sound... i am speaking about impression
when i just play, not record

but i seem to love compressed Rhodes on records.

for example it seems to me that jamiroquai SPACE COWBOY song
has compressor on rhodes. but i am not sure.
btw interesting to know do you also hear compressor there?
is it there or it just only seems to me..

so if it has compressor on it , it is very delicate warm and gently working one.

anyway with Rhodes i am more concentrated on buying some HI END PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER, like API or something similar to it.
and also cool valve preamp , cool tube stereo amp, different mics and
hi end analog/digital converter like Apogee Rosetta 200.
thats what i really need

[Data516]

Sometimes I use it, it's o.k.

[hmazura]

I use EBS Bass Compressor effect. Bit expensive, but works great. Very low noise, solid construction.

I can actually play a solo in a higher register so that people can hear it. It helps you to hear yourself in a band, the sound is much stronger. Plus sound engineers would love you. (Rhodes usually has a very low output and this would change it.) With compressor I also feel like producing a tone is even an easier thing to do.