for those of you that use compressors...
- Thread starter castiron
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baritone
Well-known member
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
There have been a few threads on this recently, but it basically "smoothes-out" the playing dynamics. It senses fluctuations of volume coming in from the guitar, and depending on the knob settings, makes them all a more similar volume. Louder sounds, such as the sound of the pick clicking against the string can be quieted down, and quieter sounds, such as lighter attack or sustaining notes are made louder. I rarely use mine because I feel that compression should first be mastered with the fingers. If it is used to cover sloppy playing dynamics, it is noticeable, and it sounds bad.
There have been a few threads on this recently, but it basically "smoothes-out" the playing dynamics. It senses fluctuations of volume coming in from the guitar, and depending on the knob settings, makes them all a more similar volume. Louder sounds, such as the sound of the pick clicking against the string can be quieted down, and quieter sounds, such as lighter attack or sustaining notes are made louder. I rarely use mine because I feel that compression should first be mastered with the fingers. If it is used to cover sloppy playing dynamics, it is noticeable, and it sounds bad.
Texas Swamp
New member
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
^ Pretty much what he said, I use mine as a boost.
^ Pretty much what he said, I use mine as a boost.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
If you are playing a tube amp with the gain way up you'll already have plenty of natural compression so it isn't really too nessessary to add any more unless you like a really tight sound with little to no dynamics.
Where some compression comes in handy is when playing clean electric, acoustic and bass. When strumming an electric into a clean channel or amp you often have lots of headroom and it can be harder to control your levels. I use a bit of compression to level my clean playing so I don't clip my processors when playing clean. I dont need it when playing distorted because my Triaxis has enough natural compression that I can set my levels below clipping but the clean channels need a little trimmed off of the top to keep them manageable.
Nothing sounds worse than clipping the inputs of digital processors.
Most good sound guys keep their rigs compressed fairly hard to keep the wankers on stage from slamming their gear. If you are playing live on someone elses PA you are getting compresed whether you know it or not.
Lots of compression when recording both on the instruments and when mastering.Anyone that owns a stereo with an EQ/freq analyzer has probably noticed that all but the very lowest and highest freq bands are almost always slammed at 100%. Rock music is many things but one thing it isn't is dynamic.
Satriani is one example of someone that uses a lot of compression. His tone is always very tight and very even. When you are using multiple techniques like hammer ons and pull-off, sweeping, harmonics and ect., it helps to keep everything on the same level. At least thats what I hear when I listen to him.
If you are playing a tube amp with the gain way up you'll already have plenty of natural compression so it isn't really too nessessary to add any more unless you like a really tight sound with little to no dynamics.
Where some compression comes in handy is when playing clean electric, acoustic and bass. When strumming an electric into a clean channel or amp you often have lots of headroom and it can be harder to control your levels. I use a bit of compression to level my clean playing so I don't clip my processors when playing clean. I dont need it when playing distorted because my Triaxis has enough natural compression that I can set my levels below clipping but the clean channels need a little trimmed off of the top to keep them manageable.
Nothing sounds worse than clipping the inputs of digital processors.
Most good sound guys keep their rigs compressed fairly hard to keep the wankers on stage from slamming their gear. If you are playing live on someone elses PA you are getting compresed whether you know it or not.
Lots of compression when recording both on the instruments and when mastering.Anyone that owns a stereo with an EQ/freq analyzer has probably noticed that all but the very lowest and highest freq bands are almost always slammed at 100%. Rock music is many things but one thing it isn't is dynamic.
Satriani is one example of someone that uses a lot of compression. His tone is always very tight and very even. When you are using multiple techniques like hammer ons and pull-off, sweeping, harmonics and ect., it helps to keep everything on the same level. At least thats what I hear when I listen to him.
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
best use of Compression pedals i've seen are 2 guys.... Pete Townshend and a Canadian artist named Kim Mitchell..... In both cases they have amps set crunchy... add Boss OD's for even more dirt for solos and kick in a Boss or Dynacomp for singing sustain.... In Kim mitchells case he said he even uses his Boss Comp for cleaning up his JCM 800 for cleaner type sounds when playing softer passages...
myself, i have never given Comps much thought..... i have a 70's Dynacomp and a 90's Boss.... Anytime i have tried to use them the bass notes squash drives me nuts.... so instead of playing with it i just unplug it and move on... i should try the Boss one out some more
best use of Compression pedals i've seen are 2 guys.... Pete Townshend and a Canadian artist named Kim Mitchell..... In both cases they have amps set crunchy... add Boss OD's for even more dirt for solos and kick in a Boss or Dynacomp for singing sustain.... In Kim mitchells case he said he even uses his Boss Comp for cleaning up his JCM 800 for cleaner type sounds when playing softer passages...
myself, i have never given Comps much thought..... i have a 70's Dynacomp and a 90's Boss.... Anytime i have tried to use them the bass notes squash drives me nuts.... so instead of playing with it i just unplug it and move on... i should try the Boss one out some more
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
Compression = :earl:
Compression = :earl:
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
I leave mine on all the time...but then again mine is no cheap only squash machine.
It gives me a consistant sound when I record, my dynamics do not suffer, it does not colour my sound in any way I hate, it is quiet, and it works
I leave mine on all the time...but then again mine is no cheap only squash machine.
It gives me a consistant sound when I record, my dynamics do not suffer, it does not colour my sound in any way I hate, it is quiet, and it works
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
Good point... a nice Comp i tried was by a company called Diamond... it was one smooth sounding COMP....
I leave mine on all the time...but then again mine is no cheap only squash machine.
It gives me a consistant sound when I record, my dynamics do not suffer, it does not colour my sound in any way I hate, it is quiet, and it works
Good point... a nice Comp i tried was by a company called Diamond... it was one smooth sounding COMP....
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
I use two comps actually, one optical and the other is a very fast chip based one!
The opticalprototype is more of an oldstyle typical guitareffect compressor, but it can be set pretty unintrusive as well.
I use two comps actually, one optical and the other is a very fast chip based one!
The opticalprototype is more of an oldstyle typical guitareffect compressor, but it can be set pretty unintrusive as well.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
Agreed on all counts.
BTW, with compressors, the name of the game is subtlety, kids.
I leave mine on all the time...but then again mine is no cheap only squash machine.
It gives me a consistant sound when I record, my dynamics do not suffer, it does not colour my sound in any way I hate, it is quiet, and it works
Agreed on all counts.
BTW, with compressors, the name of the game is subtlety, kids.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
If you try to play some clean, fast funk chords and then switch to single note riffs in the same song, you'll notice that your single note riffs are a lot quieter that your chords. I use a compressor to even this out a bit, so I can do stumming/lead break/strumming and still hear what I'm playing all the time. Compressors work well after wah pedals to even out the volume drop that you can get in the heel down position too . . . again, I think that they're best when playing clean
If you try to play some clean, fast funk chords and then switch to single note riffs in the same song, you'll notice that your single note riffs are a lot quieter that your chords. I use a compressor to even this out a bit, so I can do stumming/lead break/strumming and still hear what I'm playing all the time. Compressors work well after wah pedals to even out the volume drop that you can get in the heel down position too . . . again, I think that they're best when playing clean
baritone
Well-known member
Re: for those of you that use compressors...
For varying levels of compression for different frequency ranges, the DigiTech Bass Squeeze works pretty well. It lets you focus compression on certain tones.
Compression mixed with too much distortion starts to magnify background noise, especially with sustaining notes. Sometimes I run my compressor with a dramatic sustain setting into my Metal Zone, and each note I sustain fades into static. It's a cool techno-like effect I like to play around with.
For varying levels of compression for different frequency ranges, the DigiTech Bass Squeeze works pretty well. It lets you focus compression on certain tones.
Compression mixed with too much distortion starts to magnify background noise, especially with sustaining notes. Sometimes I run my compressor with a dramatic sustain setting into my Metal Zone, and each note I sustain fades into static. It's a cool techno-like effect I like to play around with.
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