Explain compressors
- Thread starter Coma
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Explain compressors
The bypass...it lies through its teeth!
That is why they invented compressed bypasses!
True compressed pass!
The bypass...it lies through its teeth!
That is why they invented compressed bypasses!
True compressed pass!
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Explain compressors
Compression is kinda like reverb. If you can hear it, you're using too much. Subtlety is your friend.
Compression is kinda like reverb. If you can hear it, you're using too much. Subtlety is your friend.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
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.
^^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.
Re: Explain compressors
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
PenultimateTone Member
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.
Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk
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.
Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
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.
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
Well-known member
Re: Explain compressors
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.
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
New member
Re: Explain compressors
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.
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.
Coma
Well-known member
Re: Explain compressors
Yeah, I'm a plate guy myself. But it doesn't give that massive, desolate soundscape you get with a cranked hall setting. Only works on cleaner stuff, though.
Yeah, I'm a plate guy myself. But it doesn't give that massive, desolate soundscape you get with a cranked hall setting. Only works on cleaner stuff, though.
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Explain compressors
I recently bought a Duncan Silver Lake reverb. One of the great features is has is the ability to set it to “duck out of the way” depending on your pick attack. I have it set so the harder I pick the less reverb comes through, then when you pick lighter or stop picking the reverb blooms and becomes more audible.
I’m still learning how to best get the sounds I’m looking for.
I’ve got it setup with my switcher to be midi controllable. As of right now I only have 2 sounds I need.
One for gain and a bigger Hall verbfor cleans.
Also, I’ve got the Duncan Andromeda delay....both are great pedals.
I recently bought a Duncan Silver Lake reverb. One of the great features is has is the ability to set it to “duck out of the way” depending on your pick attack. I have it set so the harder I pick the less reverb comes through, then when you pick lighter or stop picking the reverb blooms and becomes more audible.
I’m still learning how to best get the sounds I’m looking for.
I’ve got it setup with my switcher to be midi controllable. As of right now I only have 2 sounds I need.
One for gain and a bigger Hall verbfor cleans.
Also, I’ve got the Duncan Andromeda delay....both are great pedals.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
LLL
New member
Re: Explain compressors
Yeah some comps are specifically used for their coloring... 1176 etc
Yeah some comps are specifically used for their coloring... 1176 etc
LLL
New member
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Explain compressors
Hey man - I played in a band in the 80's doing 80's tunes. Don't get me wrong. I Hit the Dyna Comp hard and often!
*Love the Lebowski!
Hey man - I played in a band in the 80's doing 80's tunes. Don't get me wrong. I Hit the Dyna Comp hard and often!
*Love the Lebowski!
Re: Explain compressors
Many people say that a compressor boosts the quiet part of playing and many have also said that a compressor really does not boost the quiet part of playing. Here is my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong. I want to understand if a compressor is going to increase the sustain before I drop $99 on a Boss CS-3. I dont care about the tone. I am a beginner and to my ears good tone or bad tone does not make a difference. I just want longer sustain as the kind of music I play needs a longer sustain. I have to play a lot of successive notes with a single strike and hence I need a longer sustain.
A compressor reduces the louder part of playing by reducing the level higher than the threshold. The quieter parts are untouched if the compressor gain is untouched. Now that the louder parts have been reduced, obviously the sound level is going to be lower than that without the compressor. Now if you did not change the make up gain on the compressor, the quieter part will not change. Right so far?
If you increase the make up gain on the compressor, then everything gets louder which is perceived as longer sustain. There is still a relative difference between the quieter and louder parts, of course.You adjust the attack, gain etc such that everything seems to be playing at the same level and this again gives the perception of longer sustain. In other words, the relative difference in loudness between the quieter and louder parts has reduced and the overall gain has increased. Right?
The gain on the amp will also increase the quieter part but it also increases the louder part and so the relative difference between the quieter and louder parts gives a perception of low sustain.
I dont understand how a compressor can give that long sustain people are talking about. If the string has died , there is nothing much anything can do to incease the gain unless you put somethng like a Sustaniac to prevent the string from dying. A guitar with a Sustanic is like $800 (Schecter Sun Valley). I doubt a $99 Boss CS-3 can beat a Sustaniac. No?
Many people say that a compressor boosts the quiet part of playing and many have also said that a compressor really does not boost the quiet part of playing. Here is my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong. I want to understand if a compressor is going to increase the sustain before I drop $99 on a Boss CS-3. I dont care about the tone. I am a beginner and to my ears good tone or bad tone does not make a difference. I just want longer sustain as the kind of music I play needs a longer sustain. I have to play a lot of successive notes with a single strike and hence I need a longer sustain.
A compressor reduces the louder part of playing by reducing the level higher than the threshold. The quieter parts are untouched if the compressor gain is untouched. Now that the louder parts have been reduced, obviously the sound level is going to be lower than that without the compressor. Now if you did not change the make up gain on the compressor, the quieter part will not change. Right so far?
If you increase the make up gain on the compressor, then everything gets louder which is perceived as longer sustain. There is still a relative difference between the quieter and louder parts, of course.You adjust the attack, gain etc such that everything seems to be playing at the same level and this again gives the perception of longer sustain. In other words, the relative difference in loudness between the quieter and louder parts has reduced and the overall gain has increased. Right?
The gain on the amp will also increase the quieter part but it also increases the louder part and so the relative difference between the quieter and louder parts gives a perception of low sustain.
I dont understand how a compressor can give that long sustain people are talking about. If the string has died , there is nothing much anything can do to incease the gain unless you put somethng like a Sustaniac to prevent the string from dying. A guitar with a Sustanic is like $800 (Schecter Sun Valley). I doubt a $99 Boss CS-3 can beat a Sustaniac. No?
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