Things to look for when trying out compressors

[Aceman]

A level + Blend would probably, but not necessarily mean:

Level - the volume of the Output signal.

Blend - the amount of compressed vs dry signal
- which could be 100% dry to 100% compressed only with a 50/50 in the middle
- Or always a 100% dry, with a 50/50 mix at full right...or something else

Always check...

 

[Mincer]

The Blend works really well on things like clean jazzy guitar or acoustic. It is less important with a lot of gain which is compressed anyway.

 

[beaubrummels]

I found a manual that seems to agree with this, albeit for the CP9 instead of the CPL. It looks like turning Attack to the right and Threshold to the left is minimum compression. and Attack to the left and Threshold to the right is maximum squash.

I can't tell too much of a difference with the attack on either side, regardless of threshold level.

How do I dial it in? It seems like all the advice I can find says that if you can tell it's working you've set it to squashy. Well then how would I tell if it's set too subtle?

Reading that, it sounds like the "Threshold" is actually the Ratio of compression, e.g. 2:1 or 4:1 or 8:1, except it's infinitely variable with the knob.

If you're not hearing a difference, you might have something else in your chain compressing your signal already.

 

[beaubrummels]

is there a difference between level and blend
I assumed they were the same function

I think it depends on the manufacturer. I would expect Level might mean the same as Ratio in some cases, e.g. the amount of compression.

In 'standard' studio parlance, level is usually the make up gain, because compression perceptibly turns your signal down and the Level brings it back up to unity.

 

['59]

Reading that, it sounds like the "Threshold" is actually the Ratio of compression, e.g. 2:1 or 4:1 or 8:1, except it's infinitely variable with the knob.

If you're not hearing a difference, you might have something else in your chain compressing your signal already.

Interesting. The only compression I have in my signal chain right now is from the amplifier, which I run pretty clean. In general how long are the extreme ends of an attack knob in ms? I've been turning the threshold way up and playing around with the attack knob while running a loop through it as a way to test it out. Perhaps attack makes a bigger difference at lower thresholds if it really is a ratio knob?

 

[Aceman]

The Blend works really well on things like clean jazzy guitar or acoustic. It is less important with a lot of gain which is compressed anyway.

A lot of gain IS compression.

And why I only use compression on acoustic and clean electric.

 

[Aceman]

Interesting. The only compression I have in my signal chain right now is from the amplifier, which I run pretty clean. In general how long are the extreme ends of an attack knob in ms? I've been turning the threshold way up and playing around with the attack knob while running a loop through it as a way to test it out. Perhaps attack makes a bigger difference at lower thresholds if it really is a ratio knob?

Welcome to another aspect of compressors - everything interacts with each other.

 

[Ascension]

See now...when you say Bluegrass, Country, and Funk/Reggae...I'd say just get this. You want even sound with maybe a little pluck/cluck in what you are playing. Been done with one of these for decades on many many albums:




My current go-to for "Everything" compression is this. Now the Blend and tone and attack/sustain will let you dial in a lot more and go for more transparency etc. But that isn't really what your music is about. I have come to appreciate the blend knob, but if I have attack/sustain/tone, I don't need it.

Agree with you on the Ergo it's my favorite compressor. Have one on my main play out board with a Nobels OD 1 drive. I prefer a regular ol Boss CS 2 for Country pluck cluck though.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, most 'classic' pedal compressors like the Boss and MXR are super squish machines that are great for poppin' chicken pickin' but not subtle enough (even at their lowest settings) for things like acoustic.

 

[Aceman]

Yeah, most 'classic' pedal compressors like the Boss and MXR are super squish machines that are great for poppin' chicken pickin' but not subtle enough (even at their lowest settings) for things like acoustic.

I sort of group compressors into: Compressor as an Effect and Compressor as a Sound Tool

The Dana Comp is definitely an Effect

 

[beaubrummels]

Interesting. The only compression I have in my signal chain right now is from the amplifier, which I run pretty clean. In general how long are the extreme ends of an attack knob in ms? I've been turning the threshold way up and playing around with the attack knob while running a loop through it as a way to test it out. Perhaps attack makes a bigger difference at lower thresholds if it really is a ratio knob?

Don't know what amp you're using or the settings, but any distortion, or even tubes clean >> grit can compress a signal a little bit.

In that same manual you were referencing, it says
Attack Time: 6ms - 20ms
Compression Range: 35db

So threshold could actually be a decibel Threshold. Must have a fixed ratio then? (Which would be all the more reason to have a make-up gain Level control.)

 

[Mincer]

I sort of group compressors into: Compressor as an Effect and Compressor as a Sound Tool

The Dana Comp is definitely an Effect

Same here. They are really 2 different pedals, if you get what I mean).