Compressor in or out of effects loop?
- Thread starter chcjunior
- Start date
Bob Zombie
New member
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
I've never heard of it being used in the loop. I thought its supposed to go right after the guitar before anything else in you rig. I dont know though I dont use one.
I've never heard of it being used in the loop. I thought its supposed to go right after the guitar before anything else in you rig. I dont know though I dont use one.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
Your compressor should be one of the very first pedals in the chain between your guitar and amp.
Bill
Your compressor should be one of the very first pedals in the chain between your guitar and amp.
Bill
chcjunior
New member
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
I just started using one but have been dropping it in after the Wah (which gets first dibs). I'm putting velco on the PedalTrain and pedals and got curious. I'll still take it for a test drive just cause I gots to know.Boogie Bill said:
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
I don't know about your pedal or amp, but in my rack I use mild compression AFTER the preamp section but before any subsequent EQing or processing. I don't compress the guitar before overdrive ever. I've been doing it that way for over a decade. But your pedal/amp mileage may vary. I think the whole compression feeding distortion thing comes from the Boston years, and creates a syrupy tone, whereas a little 2:1 after the overdrive makes the whole rig feel like the power section is louder than it really is. But some compressor pedals in the loops might squash all the dynamics out of your tone, so have fun experimenting.
I don't know about your pedal or amp, but in my rack I use mild compression AFTER the preamp section but before any subsequent EQing or processing. I don't compress the guitar before overdrive ever. I've been doing it that way for over a decade. But your pedal/amp mileage may vary. I think the whole compression feeding distortion thing comes from the Boston years, and creates a syrupy tone, whereas a little 2:1 after the overdrive makes the whole rig feel like the power section is louder than it really is. But some compressor pedals in the loops might squash all the dynamics out of your tone, so have fun experimenting.
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
traditionally it is right after the guitar, first in the chain. this is how most of the classic guitar sounds (that use compression) were done, or else it is compressed during mixdown in the studio. personally, i don't think i would like the way a compressor would 'feel' after a preamp. It would almost be that the preamp (especially with distortion) compresses the sound to hell anyway.
traditionally it is right after the guitar, first in the chain. this is how most of the classic guitar sounds (that use compression) were done, or else it is compressed during mixdown in the studio. personally, i don't think i would like the way a compressor would 'feel' after a preamp. It would almost be that the preamp (especially with distortion) compresses the sound to hell anyway.
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
I think if you play with a lot of preamp gain? A compressor will squash your tone into pancakes in the loop. My Compressor comes right after my Wah in the chain,And is primarily used for clean boost. It will work for dirty boost if you tweak it just right? But It can get a Lil' hairy sounding if you over do it.
I think if you play with a lot of preamp gain? A compressor will squash your tone into pancakes in the loop. My Compressor comes right after my Wah in the chain,And is primarily used for clean boost. It will work for dirty boost if you tweak it just right? But It can get a Lil' hairy sounding if you over do it.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
I never put a compressor in the loop of any amp. Most amp loops operate on unity gain. Compressors can limit or expand gain and that can cause squeal and other unwanted things to happen.
For pedals, keep them early in the loop. I always place Wa pedals first, compression and distortion next.
In my rack I place my G Major right after my Triaxis and I normally only use the compression in the G Major for my clean signals to keep the dynamics down and to keep the clean signal from clipping the other effects. The gained channels have enough natural compression to keep them from peaking out the inputs of the other devices.
I never put a compressor in the loop of any amp. Most amp loops operate on unity gain. Compressors can limit or expand gain and that can cause squeal and other unwanted things to happen.
For pedals, keep them early in the loop. I always place Wa pedals first, compression and distortion next.
In my rack I place my G Major right after my Triaxis and I normally only use the compression in the G Major for my clean signals to keep the dynamics down and to keep the clean signal from clipping the other effects. The gained channels have enough natural compression to keep them from peaking out the inputs of the other devices.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Compressor in or out of effects loop?
Anyone cranking an amp is using compression. Anyone using distortion is also using compression x1000. A speaker pushed is compressing, and so is an SM57 right in front of it. Finally, your eardrums are compressors, at approximately a 4:1 ratio, but on a sliding scale, and they're frequency sensitive. So that's the way I use compression, to produce a "louder than it really is" sound. Personally (besides clean sounds) I don't see why you'd use it live/cranked anyway, and I'm only using 1.5:1 unless it's a funky clean sound, then maybe 2:1. (probably like Robert is doing) I don't use it on high gain at all. But for laying tracks with a tweedy half grit sound, the rig plays more like it's louder. I never needed more sustain to my played notes, so that's probably why I never put it before the distortion. But I use TS/SD's in front, so I guess they're my "pre overdrive" compressors in a way. And most classic guitar recordings, in addition to blasting everything I mentioned above, are saturating 2" tape, too, which is (you guessed it) more compression.
Anyone cranking an amp is using compression. Anyone using distortion is also using compression x1000. A speaker pushed is compressing, and so is an SM57 right in front of it. Finally, your eardrums are compressors, at approximately a 4:1 ratio, but on a sliding scale, and they're frequency sensitive. So that's the way I use compression, to produce a "louder than it really is" sound. Personally (besides clean sounds) I don't see why you'd use it live/cranked anyway, and I'm only using 1.5:1 unless it's a funky clean sound, then maybe 2:1. (probably like Robert is doing) I don't use it on high gain at all. But for laying tracks with a tweedy half grit sound, the rig plays more like it's louder. I never needed more sustain to my played notes, so that's probably why I never put it before the distortion. But I use TS/SD's in front, so I guess they're my "pre overdrive" compressors in a way. And most classic guitar recordings, in addition to blasting everything I mentioned above, are saturating 2" tape, too, which is (you guessed it) more compression.
