[kenneybonz]

hi.. this might be somewhere else, but i searched and could not find a going discussion, a la the envelope filter..
what compressors do folks recommend? i have a vintage dod compressor but it gets screwy when i hit the string even more than a little hard.. there are lists about modding it but i am not so clever with a schematic and sodering gun..

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

Can't go wrong with an Analog Man pedal. Check out this link, has all of his comp. pedals and there are sound samples as well.

I have a Comprossor and absolutely love it. I know some guys one the forum here have mentioned having one as well or the Bi-Comp.

His pedals are unbelievable and he is a great guy to deal with as well.

http://www.analogman.com/rossmod.htm#comp

That is the compressor page.

[Dozin]

I just bought a Ibanez CP-9 compressor sustainer. Played it for the first time last night and I left the pedal on for the majority of the night. It magnified my tone really nice.

[Emoto]

I am ignorant on this subject.

Can you guys help me to understand why one wants or uses a compressor? Doesn't a compressor make the quiet notes louder and the loud notes quieter? Why is that better than using touch to control one's dynamics?

[kenneybonz]

Compression is a subtle effect primarily for electric guitar where the highest and lowest points of the sound wave are "limited". This boosts the volume of softer picked notes, while capping the louder ones, giving a more even level of volume. This is frequently used in country music, where fast clean passages can sound uneven unless artificially "squashed".


[edit] Explanation
Compression reduces the height of the signal to a preset level. This level can change over time. Known as 'attack', a greater attack level will give a more aggressive sound.


[edit] Audible effects
Another effect of compression is that it expands the length of a held note, or its sustain. The compressor tries to keep the output level approximately the same, even if the input level is decreasing. As a result, the sustain will seem to hold at its original level longer.

Compression has a side effect of raising the background noise of a signal. This can sometimes be circumvented with a properly-configured noise gate patched in before the compressor.


[edit] Makes of compressor
Some famous compressor pedals are the Keeley compressor, The Barber Tone Press, and the MXR Dynacomp...

[amyjared]

I like the compressor/sustainer effect, it's one of the few that I use. For those budget minded folks (oh there must be a few of you out there) I recommend the Behringer CS100. It's the exact same one as the Boss CS-2, but it's only about $20. The main difference is that it comes in a plastic encasement instead of the metal. I've had one for a couple of years and it's more than paid for itself. It can't compare to the top end stuff, but it's as good/better than Boss and anything in that range.

[High Peaks]

I had a Boss CS-2 and an analogman Comprosser( in the big grey box)

I was real happy with the Boss, then went away from it. it was pretty noisy.

The Analogman was great. it really crunched the sound. This also was quite noisy however.

I really have gone away from using the compressors because i definitely hear it removing some dynamics,as far as the level of attack and response from my playing.

[ELPManticore]

I'm trying to save up for an EH Blackfinger. Sounds really nice (and quiet). I can't remember offhand if it has a sustain function though. But I'd look into trying one out if yr local store carries them.

[Tennessee Jedi]

Yo
ELP
I got the EH WHITEfinger and to be honest its never made the pedalboard.
Love EH pedals though.
Sometimes when I mess around with recording I use it.

[Jon S.]

Can you tell me which of these two statements best describes you? Then I can perhaps offer advice.

(1) I basically like the tone I have already. I don't want something that's much of an "effect" nor do I want it mess in any significant way with my basic picking dynamics. Rather, I want something that I'll probably want to leave on all or most of the time that just fattens up my tone a bit and adds sustain in a transparent way.

(2) I'm not really all that satisfied with the tone I have now. I'm looking for a new "effect." I'm willing to sacrifice some on the picking dynamics side of things to make my tone and response significantly smoother with the capability for significantly added sustain. I probably wouldn't use the box all of the time and/or I especially want something for slide.

[kenneybonz]

Hi.. that is a decent question..
.(1) I basically like the tone I have already. I don't want something that's much of an "effect" nor do I want it mess in any significant way with my basic picking dynamics. Rather, I want something that I'll probably want to leave on all or most of the time that just fattens up my tone a bit and adds sustain in a transparent way.


i totally love my tone.. with the help of folks here it really came together with the help of the great folks here .. it is just awesome... BUT sometimes i loke to add that effect ,.especcially for bobby parts.. and i have a fun DOD like 240 or 280 but it messes up when i attack hard and am looking for one that doesn't do that.. thinking high end might beat lower end, but don't know.. tk

[Jon S.]

Fair enough. For your needs, I'd recommend

http://www.diamondpedals.com/products/compressor.html

or

http://www.barberelectronics.com/tonepress.htm

The Diamond Compressor is among the most "transparent" designs I've heard. The Barber Tone Press, among other things, has a blend control to allow you to blend back in as much of the original, unprocessed signal as you want (excellent for preserving picking dynamics if that's a priority).

Myself, FWIW, I use a real little cheap sleeper of a compressor that also allows you to blend back in the original signal, albeit in a single preset amount (the Tone Press is variable). But this pedal is not what I'd call truly "transparent" (something I like, as one of its primary uses for me is for slide):

http://www.guyatone.com/St2.php

[ELPManticore]

TJ -

any particular reason why you didn't like the WF? Listened to the sounds clips online a while back and from what I remember, it just sounded..lacking and a bit thin and flat overall.

From what I've heard, the BF sounded alot better to me. Maybe the tubes make the difference.

What other EH pedals do you use? Got the 'worm', which is a combo wah/trem/vib/phase and the ring modulator. Had/Have my eyes on a Q-tron/Q-tron+ for a while too.

To the OP - For the time being, I use an older (70's or 80's) DOD or Boss Compression/Sustainer. It does a really good job for what I paid, and isn't all that loud, considering what it is.

[Tennessee Jedi]

any particular reason why you didn't like the WF?

Well it probably was because I was looking to use it to fix the wrong problem.I wanted to tame me beastly pedalboard.I need to go "True bypass" I think ...
EH pedals
- 3 or 4 dead Big Muffs.Great sound.Cheap.
- English Muffin !!!! Love it.Never use it.But love it !I used it in a band that did originals with a more rock sound.Not a Dead pedal
- Guitar Synth ...GREAT SOUNDS.
- Got the micro or mini Q Tron.On a scale of 1 to 10 i give it a 7.Oh Emma ...
- Memory Man ...cool 70's vibe...I use a Boss DD-6 for the Dead though...
I go through periods where I use them for wacky originals and stuff but most of the time they sit on a shelf all dusty.I dont know if they are higher quality than other pedal makers but I find they inspire me to come up with new stuff.