Explain compressors

[67Mopar]

Re: Explain compressors

A Compressor kills tone. A Limiter can be handy, especially when playing slide.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Explain compressors

Since when is tone something set in stone?
Rubbish talk!

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Explain compressors

A Compressor kills tone. A Limiter can be handy, especially when playing slide.

I disagree. My compression settings absolutely enhance mine.

[Aceman]

Re: Explain compressors

A Compressor kills tone. A Limiter can be handy, especially when playing slide.

There is no doubt that some absolutely do. And there even more that do because of user errors.

But they can also vastly improve sound when used in the right situations in the right way. Sometimes the answer is a limiter, sometimes a comp, sometimes a sustainer, or a combination.

And sometimes the overly-quashed tone is a cool sound unto itself. (ask Andy Summers....)

I like them sometimes, usually live, and often for acoustics. But it's cool if you don't dig them.

[Coma]

Re: Explain compressors

I like them sometimes, usually live, and often for acoustics. But it's cool if you don't dig them.

... Somebody dissented... respectfully?! On the interwebz? IN 20-FRICKIN-18?!

I think hell just froze over. You, sir, can marry my daughter any day!*








* Please note, I don't have any daughters. If I did, you'd probably have to ask for their consent first. But feel free to noodle my guitars.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Explain compressors

[Chistopher]

Re: Explain compressors

A Compressor kills tone

What part of the tonez does it kill?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Explain compressors

The bypass...it lies through its teeth!
That is why they invented compressed bypasses!
True compressed pass!

[ArtieToo]

Re: Explain compressors

A Compressor kills tone.

Compression is kinda like reverb. If you can hear it, you're using too much. Subtlety is your friend.

[Chistopher]

Re: Explain compressors

^^True dat. The only time I notice a compressor is when I accidentally turn it off and I notice their is something weird with my sound.

[67Mopar]

Re: Explain compressors

There is no doubt that some absolutely do. And there even more that do because of user errors.

But they can also vastly improve sound when used in the right situations in the right way. Sometimes the answer is a limiter, sometimes a comp, sometimes a sustainer, or a combination.

And sometimes the overly-quashed tone is a cool sound unto itself. (ask Andy Summers....)

I like them sometimes, usually live, and often for acoustics. But it's cool if you don't dig them.

Come to think of it, I still have an old MXR DynaComp that I used for coloring and sustain. Haven't used it in decades. From what I recall, I was using it with a Boogie Mark I. I'll have to dig it out and do some experimenting. I stopped using it when I switched to a Marshall 1987 50 watt.

[Demanic]

Re: Explain compressors

I've got a couple of old Keeley compressors and an old boss CS-3.
They work great, but you have to learn how to set them. And as it's been said, you're more likely to hear a difference when you turn it off, if it's set right.

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[Aceman]

Re: Explain compressors

I did a great experiment for a guy last weekend on my acoustic

Straight guitar (Ovation Celebrity)
Added Comp
Added HD28 modeling
Added Apex Exciter

Then, turned all off

Then turned on/off individually, no Exciter, No Model, No Comp

With comp on it is even and punchy with arpeggios and chords! Without....well, the performance and sound varies.

[Coma]

Re: Explain compressors

Compression is kinda like reverb. If you can hear it, you're using too much. Subtlety is your friend.

Heh, I just bought my first reverb for one specific song in our live set. Set it for a big, mountain top-esque sound for a clean part. Then tried to use it during my guitar solo. Pure a**! Will have to rely on delay for distorted bits, I guess.

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Explain compressors

Compression is kinda like reverb. If you can hear it, you're using too much. Subtlety is your friend.

Heh, I just bought my first reverb for one specific song in our live set. Set it for a big, mountain top-esque sound for a clean part. Then tried to use it during my guitar solo. Pure a**! Will have to rely on delay for distorted bits, I guess.

I find that a short reverb works well for gain settings for the most part. You can even use longer reverb trails as long as you keep the mix low otherwise it overwhelms the primary tone.
On clean it works a bit different. You can use larger, bigger reverb sounds for more ambiance and space.
For solos, I like a small splash of reverb with some delay for ambiance.
I typically like a plate style reverb over a Hall or spring for gain sounds, but Hall on clean is great.