Recording bass is ostensibly a simple affair, but often what sounds great in isolation lacks any power to penetrate a mix. The solution to this problem usually lies in the careful use of EQ and compression, but, unless you have a lot of experience in this area, it's easier to make the sound worse than when you started. The Bass Compactor pedal is Tech 21's elegant and simple solution to this problem.
Built into a tough, die‑cast box, the unit can be powered by either a 9V battery or an external power adaptor. Inside is an analogue compressor plus a two‑band equaliser, both of which are optimised for bass guitar. The bypass switch is of the Stomp‑box type, ideal for live use, and a red LED shows when the unit is active. The amount of compression is controlled by a single Comp knob, while the EQ offers High and Low controls. A Level control makes it possible to match the treated and bypassed sound levels. That's all there is to it!
Setting the compressor depends on the power and setup of the guitar pickups. I tested it with a Washburn bass which seemed to have pretty powerful pickups, and I had to keep the compression control below the 12 'o' clock position to prevent pumping. It's important to set the compression control carefully, as there is often a fairly small range between nothing much happening and so much compression that the sound pumps. Naturally, if you want that pumping '60s sound, there's more than enough range to get it.
The circuitry has been well thought out so that the EQ effectively targets those parts of the bass guitar's spectrum associated with punch and presence. I found it extremely good for fine‑tuning the sound without ruining its inherent character. Though you don't get the flexibility of a parametric equaliser, the Bass Compactor's controls are very easy to use and generally get the job done.
The Bass Compactor doesn't have a speaker simulator, so it still sounds more DI'd than miked, but it does help the bass sound stand out in a mix, while the compressor evens out the level and adds punch. You could no doubt do much the same job given a good compressor, an outboard EQ and a nice DI box, but the Bass Compactor is worth a look as a good all‑in‑one box, since it can be used both live and in the studio. Paul White