The TC Electronic SpectraComp Bass Compressor is an ultra-compact multiband compressor pedal for bass with integrated TonePrint technology1. It was announced at NAMM 2016 with a list price of $99.9923. The pedal takes the multiband compression TC first built into its RH-series bass amps and shrinks it into a stompbox, keeping the one-knob approach from the amps while improving the compression algorithm1.
What it does to your sound
A multiband compressor splits the bass signal into frequency bands and compresses each band separately, which is why TC describes the SpectraComp as a "studio-quality multiband compressor - perfectly tuned for bass"2. The circuit is based on the MD3 dynamics engine from TC's System 6000 studio processor, which the maker says the pedal contains in the same high-quality form1.
TC's own description of the pedal's aim:
"bring out all of the glorious low-end punch and presence of your beloved bass in the most transparent and musical way you've ever heard"
Controls and connections
The SpectraComp keeps things deliberately simple: one knob for compression. TC says it "kept the simplistic one-knob approach from the amps"1, a carry-over from the RH-series bass amps where the multiband compression first appeared1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Compression knob | Sets the amount of multiband compression, the pedal's only control1 |
The pedal's sockets are laid out as follows4:
- Input: your bass or the output of the pedal before it
- Output: to the rest of your board or the amp
- 9V Power: for a standard 9V supply
- USB mini: the computer connection used for TonePrint loading
The pedal is TonePrint enabled, meaning it can take alternate TonePrint settings beyond its factory sound1.
The SpectraComp has no battery option in its socket layout: power comes from a 9V supply through the 9V Power socket4.
Where it came from
TC Electronic introduced multiband bass compression in its RH-series bass amps, and the SpectraComp brings that same approach to a pedal, with the one-knob control kept and the compression algorithm improved1. The pedal was announced at NAMM 2016, with Guitar Interactive Magazine's press release describing it as a studio-quality multiband compressor in an ultra-compact enclosure with true bypass2. MusicRadar reported it as available at launch, priced £75 / $99.99 / €993.
What reviewers said
In Guitar World's buying guide, reviewers Connor Godfrey and Richard Blenkinsop listed the SpectraComp's size and price as its strengths4:
"Tiny, ideal for cramped boards"
Their spec rundown confirms the four sockets: Input, Output, 9V Power and USB mini4.
Related pages
For more on this effect type, see Compressor Pedals and Bass Pedals. TC's related compact bass pedals include the TC Electronic Spectradrive and the TC Electronic Spectra Comp.
Videos
Sweetwater
TC Electronic
TC Electronic
Questions
Is the TC Electronic SpectraComp true bypass?
Yes. When TC Electronic announced the SpectraComp Bass Compressor at NAMM 2016, the press release listed true bypass among its features, so the pedal passes your bass's signal straight through when it is switched off.
What does TonePrint enabled mean on the SpectraComp?
TonePrint enabled means the pedal can be loaded with alternate settings, called TonePrints, rather than running only its factory sound. TC Electronic lists TonePrint support as a built-in feature of the SpectraComp, and the pedal's USB mini socket is the connection used for that kind of computer link.
What is a multiband compressor for bass?
A multiband compressor splits the signal into separate frequency bands and compresses each one on its own terms, rather than applying one compressor to the whole signal. TC Electronic first introduced its multiband bass compression in the RH-series bass amps, and the SpectraComp carries that approach into a stompbox, with the compression algorithm improved along the way.
How much does the SpectraComp Bass Compressor cost?
When MusicRadar covered the pedal's launch in January 2016, the SpectraComp Bass Compressor was listed at $99.99 in the United States, alongside a UK price of £75 and a European price of €99.
Sources (4)
- SPECTRACOMP BASS COMPRESSOR, TC Electronic
- NAMM 2016: TC Electronic Introduce SpectraComp Bass Compressor, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-01-22
- NAMM 2016: TC Electronic unveils SpectraComp Bass Compressor, MusicRadar, 2016-01-27
- Best bass effects pedals: best pedals for every style, Guitar World, 2021-12-20
