Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Where is a good place to put a compressor in the chain...and why?
Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
- Thread starter Young Angus
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wickenspoet
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
The compressor is usually second in the guitar pedal chain after wah pedals. Compressors are amplifiers; that means they can increase the content of whatever is before them in the signal path. If they are placed after noisy things like overdrives, they will add even more noise. Plus, a compressor placed before an overdrive can fatten up the distortion by increasing the signal going into the overdrive pedal. Many players use compressors just to compensate for the low output of single coil pickups.
Taken from:
http://www.bossus.com/bugonline/how_to.asp?art=order
The compressor is usually second in the guitar pedal chain after wah pedals. Compressors are amplifiers; that means they can increase the content of whatever is before them in the signal path. If they are placed after noisy things like overdrives, they will add even more noise. Plus, a compressor placed before an overdrive can fatten up the distortion by increasing the signal going into the overdrive pedal. Many players use compressors just to compensate for the low output of single coil pickups.
Taken from:
http://www.bossus.com/bugonline/how_to.asp?art=order
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
And some are more slow and saggy than others...put it first or after a wahbah as said above!
And some are more slow and saggy than others...put it first or after a wahbah as said above!
More-Gear-Than-Skill
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
or experiment, and settle where you like it most....Music is ART after all!
or experiment, and settle where you like it most....Music is ART after all!
scottish
WeirdScienceologist
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
i have a ross clone that i built and its actually the last thing in my chain, mostly because i like the way it sounds there and it really isnt too noisy at all and partly because i havent replaced the volume pedal that i broke ages ago, lol
i have a ross clone that i built and its actually the last thing in my chain, mostly because i like the way it sounds there and it really isnt too noisy at all and partly because i havent replaced the volume pedal that i broke ages ago, lol
drpietrzak
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
It varies on use. If you want a "steady" signal hitting the disotortion pedal use it before. If you want dynamics when you hit the distortion pedal use it afterwards. Keeley has a nice discussion of it.
http://www.robertkeeley.com/faq.php#Effect Order
It varies on use. If you want a "steady" signal hitting the disotortion pedal use it before. If you want dynamics when you hit the distortion pedal use it afterwards. Keeley has a nice discussion of it.
http://www.robertkeeley.com/faq.php#Effect Order
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Gamera
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
Whenever I have similar ?s I look at multi-effects units. Do a Google search for a Boss ME-50 or similar. The way it's laid out you can see the logical order of effects. In the case of the ME-50 it's EQ --> Compression --> Noise Gate --> Reverb --> Overdrive/Distortion --> Modulation effects --> Delay.
Whenever I have similar ?s I look at multi-effects units. Do a Google search for a Boss ME-50 or similar. The way it's laid out you can see the logical order of effects. In the case of the ME-50 it's EQ --> Compression --> Noise Gate --> Reverb --> Overdrive/Distortion --> Modulation effects --> Delay.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
What if you are like me, and put you OD before whah? and what do you do to get the increased sustain from a compressor with out it giving that "choke the tone" that is often associated with a comp.
What if you are like me, and put you OD before whah? and what do you do to get the increased sustain from a compressor with out it giving that "choke the tone" that is often associated with a comp.
Philcguitars
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
I got into effects as a result of listening to Gilmour's stuff, and always put them first in my chain.
I got into effects as a result of listening to Gilmour's stuff, and always put them first in my chain.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
Mine is first in the chain, and always on
And is a rehoused one as well.
Mine is first in the chain, and always on
And is a rehoused one as well.
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Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
Thanks guys, great stuff as always!
Thanks guys, great stuff as always!
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
A compressor usually compresses the strong signals and amplifies the weak signals. If you have some subtle unwanted sound in the signal chain, the compressor may make it so loud that it becomes annoying. That's the reason I always put it ahead of everything.
A compressor usually compresses the strong signals and amplifies the weak signals. If you have some subtle unwanted sound in the signal chain, the compressor may make it so loud that it becomes annoying. That's the reason I always put it ahead of everything.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
I like a compressor after my wah and distortion. When you have a compressor before distortion you get (almost) exactly the same amount of gain every time you hit the strings. When you put the compressor after your distortion you get different amounts of gain (depending on your pick attack) but you also can get a similar volume between chords and notes.
I like a compressor after my wah and distortion. When you have a compressor before distortion you get (almost) exactly the same amount of gain every time you hit the strings. When you put the compressor after your distortion you get different amounts of gain (depending on your pick attack) but you also can get a similar volume between chords and notes.
baritone
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
I've heard of people doing this. It allows you to use your own picking dynamics to control the level of fuzziness, and the compressor gives a consistent volume.
I've heard of people doing this. It allows you to use your own picking dynamics to control the level of fuzziness, and the compressor gives a consistent volume.
lex666
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
Ok that makes sense why I like mine before dist. I play alot of metal, so the compressor evens out the sound of my fast riff'ing and power chords...
For blues or cleans, what you said would probably work best as you'd want to retain those picking dynamics...
Ok that makes sense why I like mine before dist. I play alot of metal, so the compressor evens out the sound of my fast riff'ing and power chords...
For blues or cleans, what you said would probably work best as you'd want to retain those picking dynamics...
More-Gear-Than-Skill
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
I wonder if Rid has to hide his Boss Pedals when the boss is around? Kinda like the Microsoft guys gotta disguise their Apple Laptops?
Man those carl martin things look properly made, if only i had the coin....
Mine is first in the chain, and always on
And is a rehoused one as well.
I wonder if Rid has to hide his Boss Pedals when the boss is around? Kinda like the Microsoft guys gotta disguise their Apple Laptops?
Man those carl martin things look properly made, if only i had the coin....
kjrocks
New member
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
I'm wondering whats in that box too
I'm wondering whats in that box too
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Compressor...before or after a distortion pedal?
Why should I hide them???
Not that they are standart either
As the post said!!
It is a compressor guys....and it compresses and limits, and all that without ever annoying me
Why should I hide them???
Not that they are standart either
As the post said!!
It is a compressor guys....and it compresses and limits, and all that without ever annoying me
