does anyone else dislike compressors?
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aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
That's a multiband compressor. Significantly different beast in terms of application and settings.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
Eh, compressors are compressors, just some have more tweakability than others. You don't need a multiband compressor to have different frequencies automatically altered. That's what a compressor effectively does. I wasn't referring to a multiband compressor, but multiband compressors are good if you just want to effect a focused range of frequencies (perfect for mastering engineers).
The fact remains that compressors effect the gain of frequencies. Period. If you have highs that stand out and you set the threshold to where you can hear the difference, you'll have the highs suppressed and the whatever low level signal you have in the background is going to be brought up in gain. That's why when you're mixing you have to be careful about background noise because when you start using compression that stuff will rear it's ugly head. Granted the levels of compression in a studio and what you use live is (or "should") be radically different, but the concept still applies.
Eh, compressors are compressors, just some have more tweakability than others. You don't need a multiband compressor to have different frequencies automatically altered. That's what a compressor effectively does. I wasn't referring to a multiband compressor, but multiband compressors are good if you just want to effect a focused range of frequencies (perfect for mastering engineers).
The fact remains that compressors effect the gain of frequencies. Period. If you have highs that stand out and you set the threshold to where you can hear the difference, you'll have the highs suppressed and the whatever low level signal you have in the background is going to be brought up in gain. That's why when you're mixing you have to be careful about background noise because when you start using compression that stuff will rear it's ugly head. Granted the levels of compression in a studio and what you use live is (or "should") be radically different, but the concept still applies.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression#Multiband_compression
Only if your compressor is a low fi unit. Non-MB compressors act on dynamics across the entire frequency range of the signal. That's why you don't hear much of change until you get to more extreme settings. If the compressor is only acting on certain freqs, it's a MBC.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compression#Multiband_compression
\m/(00)\m/
HeadBanginologist
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
I most definitely use compression, but in the past I went back and forth with whether or not I liked them. When I was using humbuckers a lot I didn't like them, now that I'm using strats, teles, p90's more, I appreciate what they offer in my tone.
Example: strat bridge pickups...we all know they can be unbearably bright at times, so we might add a comp to kinda soften that sharp peak (or like I did, connect the tone control to it). I feel like my compressor (maxon cp9 pro+) fills out what had been previously missing sound wise. I wanted dynamics, but my sound guy wanted consistency of tone an volume.
Not to mention I've been getting more and more into country music, where it's a staple
I most definitely use compression, but in the past I went back and forth with whether or not I liked them. When I was using humbuckers a lot I didn't like them, now that I'm using strats, teles, p90's more, I appreciate what they offer in my tone.
Example: strat bridge pickups...we all know they can be unbearably bright at times, so we might add a comp to kinda soften that sharp peak (or like I did, connect the tone control to it). I feel like my compressor (maxon cp9 pro+) fills out what had been previously missing sound wise. I wanted dynamics, but my sound guy wanted consistency of tone an volume.
Not to mention I've been getting more and more into country music, where it's a staple
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
Compressors are for vocals, not guitars. I had a 'Optical' 70's muff one time..creamy dreamer..sounded Santana like with the compressor built in. Beyond that I have no use for the squashed guitar sound.You hear Santana, and you arent sure how much is the Boogie, or whether he uses compression.
I saw Santana on Haight street once ( I lived for a year close to haight /Ashbury) in a new Mercedes, and tried to hurry up down the street to say hello to him, but he saw me coming and dashed. Same thing with Kantner.I saw him in a new 911 he saw me, and split ..he was about to park.. I mean, noone even recognized them besides me, and they couldn't even stand to be bothered by one person .Effs! I was just a Harmless 23 year old kid that had a lot of respect and admiration and wanted to say hello.. I learned to hate the Sh*ts after that,same way they hated me..tit for tat.
I also saw Jerry Garcia on Haight in a new white beamer, but didnt try and talk to him, casue he didnt stop.
Compressors are for vocals, not guitars. I had a 'Optical' 70's muff one time..creamy dreamer..sounded Santana like with the compressor built in. Beyond that I have no use for the squashed guitar sound.You hear Santana, and you arent sure how much is the Boogie, or whether he uses compression.
I saw Santana on Haight street once ( I lived for a year close to haight /Ashbury) in a new Mercedes, and tried to hurry up down the street to say hello to him, but he saw me coming and dashed. Same thing with Kantner.I saw him in a new 911 he saw me, and split ..he was about to park.. I mean, noone even recognized them besides me, and they couldn't even stand to be bothered by one person .Effs! I was just a Harmless 23 year old kid that had a lot of respect and admiration and wanted to say hello.. I learned to hate the Sh*ts after that,same way they hated me..tit for tat.
I also saw Jerry Garcia on Haight in a new white beamer, but didnt try and talk to him, casue he didnt stop.
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
Yet somehow, I still don't sound as good as you...
what brand of strings do you use?
Yet somehow, I still don't sound as good as you...
what brand of strings do you use?
SlyFoxx
Glossless
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
It's funny to see all the comp hate...just a few years ago they were on EVERY pedal board I saw and I was amazed by how many people had them ON all the time!!!
Comps are great tools but I see them as the most misused and misunderstood effects ever...
It's funny to see all the comp hate...just a few years ago they were on EVERY pedal board I saw and I was amazed by how many people had them ON all the time!!!
Comps are great tools but I see them as the most misused and misunderstood effects ever...
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
No argument there.
There are a ton of guys who are gear sheep the ways chics are about the latest style. Some alpha-b!tch or fashion rag says it's awesome and hot, and they are all over it.
I will say Christian, I'll never accuse you of being a trend follower.
Everyone is poo-pooing my DS-1 suggesiton over in the "Find me a distortion" box. But seriously - half the crap recorded in the 80's was from that little orange box. The other half was a Rat.
No doubt though - as you said...Comps are a challenging effect for many. I had a Boss comp and a Dyna comp back in the 80's. Those were the boxes to get "that" sound. But they were clearly being used as "effect" mostly back then.
No argument there.
There are a ton of guys who are gear sheep the ways chics are about the latest style. Some alpha-b!tch or fashion rag says it's awesome and hot, and they are all over it.
I will say Christian, I'll never accuse you of being a trend follower.
Everyone is poo-pooing my DS-1 suggesiton over in the "Find me a distortion" box. But seriously - half the crap recorded in the 80's was from that little orange box. The other half was a Rat.
No doubt though - as you said...Comps are a challenging effect for many. I had a Boss comp and a Dyna comp back in the 80's. Those were the boxes to get "that" sound. But they were clearly being used as "effect" mostly back then.
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
It turns tragic when I finally run out of gear excuses....
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
DS-1's are funny...I see them much like TS-808s and TS-9s...they were fine for years and years then modded versions started popping up and now both the DS-1 and TS-9 suck...
Come on...lots and lots of GREAT tones were made using those boxes!
Comps are no different than anything else in the effects world...great tools but you have to give a little to get a little. Do they kill off dynamics? Yes! do they alter the overall high end of the guitar? Yes! Do they have a terrible sag at the attack when run up? Yes! Do cheep ones sound like poop? Yes!
However...for some things in this world a comp is a MUST!
Finger style players use them and often need them.
Slide players have used them to GREAT effect.
They add sustain to amps that are either too clean or not loud enough to get any sustain on its own...
Just a tool...if you need that tool then by all means use one, if you don't then steer clear of them!
I have 2 comps, almost never use them but I'll tell ya...when those rare times happen that I need one I'm sure as hell glad I have one!
DS-1's are funny...I see them much like TS-808s and TS-9s...they were fine for years and years then modded versions started popping up and now both the DS-1 and TS-9 suck...
Come on...lots and lots of GREAT tones were made using those boxes!
Comps are no different than anything else in the effects world...great tools but you have to give a little to get a little. Do they kill off dynamics? Yes! do they alter the overall high end of the guitar? Yes! Do they have a terrible sag at the attack when run up? Yes! Do cheep ones sound like poop? Yes!
However...for some things in this world a comp is a MUST!
Finger style players use them and often need them.
Slide players have used them to GREAT effect.
They add sustain to amps that are either too clean or not loud enough to get any sustain on its own...
Just a tool...if you need that tool then by all means use one, if you don't then steer clear of them!
I have 2 comps, almost never use them but I'll tell ya...when those rare times happen that I need one I'm sure as hell glad I have one!
Inkstained
New member
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
Absolutely no argument. I pulled my mid-90s TS-9 RI out of its box this morning, let its "1981" instruction sheet fall to the floor, and plugged it in to my Princeton just for a trip down memory lane, and was positively shocked at how good it sounded. Just a plain jane TS-9.
And it worked better than fine. After months of playing mxr fuzzes, vox satchurators, boss blues drivers and whatnot, that Tube Screamer was incredibly smooth.
Absolutely no argument. I pulled my mid-90s TS-9 RI out of its box this morning, let its "1981" instruction sheet fall to the floor, and plugged it in to my Princeton just for a trip down memory lane, and was positively shocked at how good it sounded. Just a plain jane TS-9.
And it worked better than fine. After months of playing mxr fuzzes, vox satchurators, boss blues drivers and whatnot, that Tube Screamer was incredibly smooth.
James Rock
Active member
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
On electric unless going for a super jangly byrds style tone never really liked compressors while playing (although I still think for some parts they could be cool ... as an effect). On acoustic lead lines can pop out way more with some compression but wouldn't probably use it live at least not in the chain. Recording a totally different thing. Unless doing acoustic singer songwriter stuff you need things to sit well in the mix and be able to be heard without compression acoustic single note stuff gets lost so does bass and drums just sound cool with some on it. All for compression but as far as an on all the time before my amp it isn't personally what I like (I like the super dynamics I can get with A5 single coils in my tele).
On electric unless going for a super jangly byrds style tone never really liked compressors while playing (although I still think for some parts they could be cool ... as an effect). On acoustic lead lines can pop out way more with some compression but wouldn't probably use it live at least not in the chain. Recording a totally different thing. Unless doing acoustic singer songwriter stuff you need things to sit well in the mix and be able to be heard without compression acoustic single note stuff gets lost so does bass and drums just sound cool with some on it. All for compression but as far as an on all the time before my amp it isn't personally what I like (I like the super dynamics I can get with A5 single coils in my tele).
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: does anyone else dislike compressors?
I realize this. You're misinterpreting what I'm saying. Standard, non-multiband compressors still have settings like "ratio" and "threshold" to tweak the signal and what I was getting at is that some frequencies are effected more depending on how you set a respective compressor.
Let's say you have a guitar tone... let's say you have a midrange frequency at 1k that is relatively neutral and you have the lows 350 hz turned down to not interfere with the bassist and there's some extra treble for cut around the 4k mark... if you use compression as an effect, you can adjust the compressor to really effect the treble (since the extra db will be just caught from the threshold on more mild settings) and the bass frequencies (bringing it up in gain depending on how strong the ratio is set) without it changing the dynamics of the midrange near as drastically. You won't hear as noticeable of an impact on the midrange unless you drop the threshold far down enough to include that db level out from that 1k frequency, so in a way you can adjust what frequencies are most impacted by the device... without using a multiband compressor. I realize the only way to isolate frequencies is with a multiband compressor, but a standard compressor doesn't have to have a drastic effect on all frequencies either.
I realize this. You're misinterpreting what I'm saying. Standard, non-multiband compressors still have settings like "ratio" and "threshold" to tweak the signal and what I was getting at is that some frequencies are effected more depending on how you set a respective compressor.
Let's say you have a guitar tone... let's say you have a midrange frequency at 1k that is relatively neutral and you have the lows 350 hz turned down to not interfere with the bassist and there's some extra treble for cut around the 4k mark... if you use compression as an effect, you can adjust the compressor to really effect the treble (since the extra db will be just caught from the threshold on more mild settings) and the bass frequencies (bringing it up in gain depending on how strong the ratio is set) without it changing the dynamics of the midrange near as drastically. You won't hear as noticeable of an impact on the midrange unless you drop the threshold far down enough to include that db level out from that 1k frequency, so in a way you can adjust what frequencies are most impacted by the device... without using a multiband compressor. I realize the only way to isolate frequencies is with a multiband compressor, but a standard compressor doesn't have to have a drastic effect on all frequencies either.
