two compressors

bluesfloyd

bluesfloyd

New member
hi guys,
I would like to know do you guys use more then one compressor together, I see a guy on youtube using three in a row, adding more and more compression with each compressor, do you guys use compressors like this???????
all the best, bluesfloyd,
 
Re: two compressors

I can definitely see having multiple compressors if its really an integral part of your sound, but I would expect them to be used individually to provide multiple settings. Maybe setup a subtle one, then another with a lot of squash for a specific song. Gilmour's live board had two CS-2s on it, I think they were either/or, not combined.
 
Re: two compressors

hi guys,
thanks for your replies, very interesting what you say about Dave Gilmour's board,

all the best, bluesfloyd
 
Re: two compressors

Yeah….

Three DIFFERENT comps.

One for Ultra quiet mega sustain
A Dyna comp for clucky pumping
And maybe a general one for basic "sit--unruly-guitar-in-the-mix"

But three on at once????

Link please….
 
Re: two compressors

When tracking DI for later reamping I ALWAYS cascade 2 compressors. The first one is set for a slow attack, mild (3:1) ratio, and about 3dB of GR. The 2nd comp is more aggressive (6:1) and more GR, about 6-7dB.

There are a couple of problems to be on the watch for:
Pumping from too much compression
Noise floor

Otherwise, you can get fantastic results.

I can guarantee that your favorite guitar tones post 1950 have more than 2 compressors between performance and your ears!

Best to try it yourself. Don't take what you read online too seriously ... Including this post!
 
Last edited:
Re: two compressors

Lot of uninformed nay-saying 'expertise' here already.

This thread will self destruct soon.
 
Re: two compressors

I'm not going to disagree with you. I don't record. But grew up playing in the 80's. I know my compression.

I also have a deep philosophical issue with the use of multiple attack settings simultaneously. Duncan Double Back as an example.

I just don't see the point. If you let the attack through, you let the attack through. Having a faster onset is wasted at that point. If you let the unaffected sound through, it is uncompressed.
 
Re: two compressors

^ This proves that you know very little about compression, how it works, and how transient shaping/design works.
 
Re: two compressors

I have run two compressors for quite some time. First is a modded and much warmer sounding boss with a fair amount of choke set.
Second is a regular Boss CS3 with the settings being higher gain, less compression and brighter in tone.
Sometimes there just is a place where it works well together with a telecaster.
The first comp on its own is mostly used with a tele or strat, the second on its own is sometimes used with a Les Paul w/P90 pickups.
In clean settings if I don't have time to switch between my pedal steel and gtr I will use my volume pedal and both comps to simulate my steel or to add singing tones with a tele during a ballad.
Overdriven with a P90 Les Paul two comps can make her sing and hang notes in the air.
 
Re: two compressors

hi guys,
I read the above posts with interest, I am new to this guitar world thing, no right or wrong way with pedals etc. thanks for your help so far,

all the best, bluesfloyd.
 
Re: two compressors

I could see using two compressors with one at the beginning of the chain and one at the end. Would it be my tonal choice, no. However I could see how it someone would be inclined to do so. It would probably give an incredibly tight focused sound.
 
Re: two compressors

Securb said:
I could see using two compressors with one at the beginning of the chain and one at the end. Would it be my tonal choice, no. However I could see how it someone would be inclined to do so. It would probably give an incredibly tight focused sound.
Click to expand...

See - I get this….

Guitar/technicque out of sack, Comp 1 fixes

One of the fx goofs sound again, differently, comp2 at end fixes.

But i put a comp in line that lets the attack through, and one that slams it down, then it is put down.
If I run a parallel signal, the attack gets through period. Doesn't matter what the other comp does.
Slam the attack on the first comp, there is no attack to be effected by the second one.

Two comps in parallel or back to back = FAIL logically to me. Or at least it isn't any more win than just one or none.

Maybe two different comps, one that is good at attack and one for sustain, ok.
 
Re: two compressors

If you look at what Twilight was saying about the settings of the first one, it's not very harsh. The second one is doing most of the work. Doing it this way means one unit isn't working so hard, which results in a very noticeable effect, to where it's an "effect" and not an "end-result".

Looking at it in terms of an OD into a Distortion (OD first, set low, into a Distortion set high), and it's easy to see why it's confusing, but think of it as the pre-wash before the scrubbers instead.
 
Re: two compressors

Two comps at once is completely understandable, providing you know what you're doing.

Example: the first comp has a slow attack and long release, just for adding sustain. Second comp is a peak limiter. Or vise versa.

Forcing one comp to do both jobs isn't always the best idea, since they all have different strengths and weaknesses. A Dyna Comp would make a terrible limiter, for example, but it's perfect for that super-obvious chicken pickin' thing.

Another possibility: one comp is set very light and is always left on for subtle levelling/sustaining/signal fattening. The other does a big obvious squash as needed. I could see someone using a Barber Tone Press or Xotic SP Compressor as their always-on, and a Dyna or CS-3 as their mega-squasher.

If a compressor is killing your dynamics, either you're using the wrong comp, or you don't know how to dial it in. Same goes for two comps.

Three at once ... I'm having trouble picturing that, but I'm sure someone could make a good case for it.
 
Re: two compressors

I had a compressor pedal once. I had no idea how to make it work right. I still don't know how they work. I can't imagine what I would do with two!
 
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