Compressors

[fallen]

I have wanting to add a compressor to my board but haven't been able to figure out how to choose from all the options out there.

What I want to accomplish mostly is to bring up the volume of the higher notes in chords through fuzz. Like in a repeating riff that starts as straight power chords I like to add in higher texture notes but they can get overpowered.

I've watched a bunch of demos but for the most part they are all clean sound stuff or just show the sustain. Hard to know which compressor will get along with fuzz pedals the best.









So many choices. I'm tempted to just buy the one that has no internal trim pots, jacks on the top + 9v operation so I don't have to deal with adding an 18v power supply.

Or there's always the EHX nano option. Cheap and probably good enough.

[fallen]

And this one is coming out soon...

[everdrone]

I would just get an EQ then

a compressor just means you are LOOSING DYNAMICS...  Compression is good for cleans, but not for dirty tones which are already compressed.

[VOLVO)))]

Yeah, im hunting for a pedal parametric eq to unscoop my tone.

[dunwichamps]

engineers thumb. Nothing wrong with a compressor, ever hear Mike in YOB play, compressor has been part of his tone for a long time.

[fallen]

engineers thumb. Nothing wrong with a compressor, ever hear Mike in YOB play, compressor has been part of his tone for a long time.

Looking closely at that one. There's a mod that allows some high end to bypass the compression which is interesting. Thanks for the tip.

[dunwichamps]

Yup, a builder can make u 1.

[Corey Y]

I use compression into a dirt pedal for extra sustain with a really heavy tone, while maintaining good articulation for barre chords. I've been using the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone and it works great. I was also looking at the VFE when shopping around. I'd recommend a model that has a blend, so you can fine tune and not get saddled with some of the attack issues that come with a typical compression pedal.

[AgentofOblivion]

Can someone explain the theory a bit more on how a compressor pre-fuzz will increase the clarity/signal of the high end?  Unless you have different compressors/gains for separate frequency bands (and these won't) then it should just squash the overall signal.  So you'll get a signal with smaller amplitude swings, but your ratio of bass/treble shouldn't be different.  I imagine the only real effect you would have is that you'll get about the same amount of fuzz whether you play soft or hard because the compressor will send about the same amplitude signal regardless.  Basically you'll lessen the ability to "clean up" the sound by rolling off the volume or playing softer while the pedal is engaged.  What am I missing?

[Jake]

My understanding of the way most compressor pedals are used is to sort of give notes a more equal sonic impact or footing. Especially wih the higher register notes, which are not typically as booming as the larger and bassier strings/notes typically can be.

[Corey Y]

My understanding of the way most compressor pedals are used is to sort of give notes a more equal sonic impact or footing. Especially wih the higher register notes, which are not typically as booming as the larger and bassier strings/notes typically can be.

^ Pretty much this. It doesn't make anything pop out more, it just makes the loudest, most unruly signals quieter and you raise the overall signal to unity gain. Lots of people complain about how it makes no sense to them, because it squashes all the dynamics. That's where a blend function comes in handy, not to mention of course it's a fine balancing act anyway. I don't like two knob compressors, unless you're just trying to ape a sound they're known for, like that Nashville Tele sound, with that quacky attack the Dynacomps have. For clean to light/mid overdriven tones, I prefer much less compression and even more clean signal. Although there are some fun tones to be had just squashing the hell out of a signal, if it sounds good for what you want.

It doesn't really provide clarity, but it can help even out a very heavy tone, so that notes don't get lost in a wash of distortion. It's not just click a pedal on and BAM, super heavy with clarity though. It definitely requires some thought, experimentation and crafting your tone around that effect, if it's going to be an always on or mostly on pedal in your sound. Personally I don't like it with just fuzz, unless you're counting a Big Muff as fuzz. If I put a compressor in front of a Fuzz Face, it goes apeshit and just sounds like crap (to me).

[Blueberry Lazer]

mike from yob uses a whirlwind compressor he says he had to search far and wide to find a compressor without a tone knob. he runs it through his fuzz pedal, sounds massive.

[JemDooM]

Mike yobs tone is incredible, his high end really sparkles through all that heavy....

I reckon a compression could be useful for me too, I'm really down tuned, through bass cabs/head, high gain, I have problems with occasional lack of sustain, and feedback while playing leads on the full stack but not at all through my 100w combo so maybe i should give compression a go, although I still have a load of experimenting to do with my gain and pedal settings anyway it's probably just the ridiculous amount of gain....

Iv been messing around with compression loads while mixing, it really enhances the sound but iv found I can't push it far, it can get the sound completely out of control, I'm still trying to understand exactly how it works what with the threshold, knee, attack etc, its interesting stuff indeed....

[Chovie D]

I dont put ANYTHING before a fuzz.

I'll use a compressor when i want that sticky country chicken pickin sound. i use the boss 3 knob jap-made one.
fuzz>cocked wah>compressor is a good solo sound.

Ive got an old dynacomp too, good pedal.

if you wanna fuck around with one for cheap, the dano is modeled after the dynacomp.

they are ALL noisey to me.