Compressor Usage - Seventhson - 18:29 29-11-05
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I'm just wondering the best way to use a compressor, all the time to even
things out or just for leads etc as a level boost?
I'm using a Boss CS-3.
Thanks
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Re: Compressor Usage - RichCI - 18:43 29-11-05
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Seventhson wrote:
> I'm just wondering the best way to use a compressor, all the time to even
> things out or just for leads etc as a level boost?
> I'm using a Boss CS-3.
> Thanks
Well, it really depends on the results you want and what sounds best to
your ear.
I rarely use compressors with my Les Paul unless I'm going for
something pretty extreme as an effect. The LP is a pretty smooth
sounding guitar and I find that compressors, even when set with a
pretty slow attack, tend to muddy it up a bit without at least adding
some high end back in somewhere.
I almost always use one or another with my Strat. It's a very bright
guitar and I use compressors to either tame back the attack a little
bit to round it out or my Orange Squeezer clone when I want something
pretty radical sounding. I'll sometimes use medium attack and heavy
compression to get sort of a country feel too.
Play around with it a bit using various settings and also try putting
it in different places in your effects chain. I tend to like them
after overdrive/distortion pedals but I also like to use them in front
(rather than in the effects loop) of a tube amp. Although, you'll
probably find that the more active effects you put before it, the
higher your noise level will be.
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Re: Compressor Usage - Fletch - 18:44 29-11-05
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Seventhson wrote On 11/29/05 15:29,:
> I'm just wondering the best way to use a compressor, all the time to even
> things out or just for leads etc as a level boost?
> I'm using a Boss CS-3.
> Thanks
>
>
It depends upon what you want to do. I used to use one for solos mostly. But I have been known to
use them for a smoother more even sound across the strings.
Just be sure you don't set the attack for less than 25ms because you want the inital attack of the
strings to sound. Then have it "soft knee" if possible into your sound. Don't overdrive the
compression, just use it to even things out all the way around.
--fletch
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Re: Compressor Usage - west - 18:49 29-11-05
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Seventhson wrote:
> I'm just wondering the best way to use a compressor, all the time to even
> things out or just for leads etc as a level boost?
> I'm using a Boss CS-3.
> Thanks
>
>
I use it when I play in the background, to keep a nice even volume.
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Re: Compressor Usage - thomas@yourhomestudio.com - 23:08 29-11-05
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I use a compressor as a limiter on one of my favorite rhythm guitar
patches on my GT-3. It really smooths things out without being terribly
noticable. The best thing I can tell you to do is to play around a bit
with it and see what you get. If you have an effects loop after your
pre-amp, you'll get a completely different sound that putting the
compressor before the pre-amp. In fact, when recording, I like to put
the compressor after the mic preamp. That way, I can compress the whole
thing and it really gives you a lot of control.
Thomas
www.yourhomestudio.com
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Re: Compressor Usage - Scott McKnight - 06:55 01-12-05
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On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 23:29:22 -0000, "Seventhson"
<powerslave@pieceofmind.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>I'm just wondering the best way to use a compressor, all the time to even
>things out or just for leads etc as a level boost?
>I'm using a Boss CS-3.
>Thanks
>
I've used one as a boost/sustainer for solos. I've also used it to
keep rhythm stuff compressed and at a lower volume and snapped it off
to boost for solos - sort of like a governor on a go-cart. I wouldn't
be inclined to leave a CS-3 on all the time, since it colors the sound
so much. Having said that, I have done shows with a compressor on all
the time, including an old CS-2. I found it useful at weddings where
I was playing a Twin Reverb in a small live room full of 80-something
grandparents. It was helpful in making the amp sound loud without
knocking people off their walkers during dynamic peaks.
These days I would use an overdrive *or* a compressor, but not both at
once, since the OD tends to compress enough on its own. When I - or
others I've known - do use a compressor as a solo boost with an
overdrive, the compressor (or any booster for that matter) goes after
the OD. Otherwise you just end up pushing the OD harder, not
increasing volume that much. OTOH, I've heard from people who like to
do just that - use a booster to increase the drive along with the
volume.
So - bottom line - no right answer. Experiment and see what you
like.
Good luck,
-Scott McKnight
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Re: Compressor Usage - Mike - 11:20 02-12-05
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> I wouldn't be inclined to leave a CS-3 on all the time, since it colors the sound so much
I play bass and I have one of these in my set-up. I leave it on all
the time. I love the loooong sustain it gives me, and if I need a
quick volume boost I can nudge it a bit (I start the level out at
12-noon). It can be a bit noisy if you the sustain is set too high. I
like it at 1 o'clock or so.
I don't really consider this pedal a compressor, though, as it lacks
most of the settings you find on a real, honest to goodness compressor.
It's pretty cool, though.
Mike
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