Bass compression question

Same drop outs on headphones? Sometimes it’s the bass, sometimes it’s the monitoring environment. But then, I expect you already know all this.

I really only like gentle opto on bass, mostly, and the pros I track don’t really need it.

FWIW, the low stuff seems quite a bit more pronounced on p-basses with modern/badass bridges than my James Jamerson custom shop job.

I have found it to be caused by the set up and fingerboard/fret wear. I personally do not love most P basses because of how the low end blooms so much.

I seem to remember a similar thread here where someone mentioned that the player is often responsible for the problem.  I'm not a bass player per se but I play most of my bass tracks using a DI and I have the same problem with a few of my basses, including a fretless. So there's a part of me that's tempted to agree with that notion.  On the other hand, it's often note specific.  I.e, when I play a scale one note just jumps out, and it's not necessarily an open string. It really jumps out on the waveform.  Come to think of it, there are usually a couple of notes that are perenially too soft.

Anyway, I end up using a combination of automation and bass rider to deal with it. Funny, I have vocal rider and never use it.  I probably don't compress enough or appropriately.  Usually I use a DI and a WA-76 before I get ITB.  For those of you DI types, how do you do it? Do you compress before going ITB?  The more I think about it, that seems backwards. Maybe I should be going ITB and using a amp sim before any compression??  ..though sometimes I don't even use any amp sims.  I have to admit I like things clean.

I shouldn't say "dropout"...just like resonance differences where like a low G sounds like the house falling on the witch and 7th fret on the A string sounds...well, less like that. Just the nature of the beast? I'm also using a cheap Classic Vibe Bass - but they're not awful...I bet a real player could make it sound great. I need to borrow a real bass and see if it makes a diff.

Duh...yeah...that worked. Still a bit of resonance on the low E string...but much freaking better.

Glad you found a solution! This effected me for years, all the riding the fader, breaking out onto different tracks etc. The thing that I've found I like the best is using my console: setup a subgroup to be my summing bus. Then I have the bass on a channel and gain stage so that the channel has a strong level but clean. Then I push the channel fader above unity until the group bus is being hit nice and hard, blinking into the red each note. When I record it back, levels are way more consistent and it's visible in the waveform, but sounds pretty much like the original.. If I want extra waveform control, I push it harder, the wave gets more and more flat exactly like going through a limiter, but also starts gets some audible distortion that can be cool if I want it. And then there's additive EQ options I can use on the channel, and then subtract on the group. That can be cool sometimes.

e: I went and tried this last night, man things weren't working the way I remember. I realized that I always prefer to use heavy handed EQ into the summing to get the effect I want, usually low shelf up 3-4dB and the result is steady deep and even. I also boost up mids and highs.  Then I may or may not subtract on the group, or if I want compression I'll add some. Moves are so quick on a console its hard to realize just wtf I'm doing.  

From what you say, It's the bass.

Is the neck straight?  Have the frets have been leveled?  Are the pickup are adjusted? Has the intonation been setup? Proper playing technique?
Even the wood the bass is made of has an effect on sound and tuning. All contribute to the sound and playability of a bass.
Start with the basics of the instrument. Audio tricks are just a band aid.

Maybe I should have spent more than $500 for it.

Had something similar in a mix last week, happens with some basses

Ended up using essence (DMG Audio) to compress just the bloom region

I track using using my REDDI with my LA-2A. When needed, I also use my UAD Ampeg B-15 plugin if the bass player doesn't bring, or prefer, his bass amp. That being said, I also ride faders to automate the bass. In John's case, when there are resonances I would fade down and when there was a weaker signal I would fade up. I  enjoy riding faders  to make the music more dynamic and think it is a lost art as everybody now seems to be relying on compression alone for dynamics. 

I don't compress bass. Just EQ and dynamic EQ to tame resonances so I can raise gain without compression artifacts.

Sample applies for piano, guitar, drums...