how do you know if your compressor is compressing?

[ulysses]

Sorry but the downwards compression example is wrong, the high volume signals are reduced not the low level signals boosted. So in your example you'd go from A straight to C where the highs have been turned down to the same volume as the lows. Then you boost the whole thing to get to D.

would you be able to offer a source of your information please - im not saying you are wrong - i am interested in the theory and application in circuitry.

cheers
ulysses

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I have found a compressor after an Envelope filter is a good combo.

Yes! TRUE!

[rasco22862]

don´t you lose feeling in your play using a compressor?, because in some way you can´t put accent in certain notes.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

don´t you lose feeling in your play using a compressor?, because in some way you can´t put accent in certain notes.

Well, it depends on what you are playing. Certainly, there are times you don't want - or need - a compressor.

[Paul Marossy]

I see compressors more as limiters. I do not use them because, IMO,  they kill the dynamics in my playing too much. YMMV. 

[micro]

I see compressors more as limiters

Hmmm... you must mean they "limit" the satisfaction you get from playing.

a compressor is a compressor, a limiter is a limiter, an expander is an expander,
a gate is a gate, a ducker is a ducker....

This thread goes on like this is some kind of theory or philosophy or something. Its all in books people!!
There are established, clear definitions for what these tools are and their uses.

[Paul Marossy]

Hmmm... you must mean they "limit" the satisfaction you get from playing.

No, that's not what I meant.

RG's definition of a limiter: "Limiting - Like compression, but operates on signals over some threshold only."

I had a pedal once that was a compressor/limiter. I hated it. But, you could set it so that it limited and yet it acted very much like a compressor. I think it was a DOD pedal, but I don't remember for sure - it was fifteen years ago.

RG's definition of a compressor: "Compression - makes soft inputs louder, and loud ones softer, giving a one-level kind of sound with lessened dymanics. This is effectively volume control with the level determined by the negation of the averaged envelope of the input level. Early compressors were often called "Sustain" pedals."

As I originally said, it kills the dynamics in my playing too much. That's why I dislike them. The Orange Squeezer is subtle enough to be usable for me, but I prefer no compression at all. I have pretty good control over my average volume level just by virtue of my playing technique. I prefer the type of "compression" that you get from playing thru a tube amp. 

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Well it does come down to musical styles and tastes - the compressor is just one more tool to help realise the dream.

I'm a Ramones fan - I doubt a compressor would have done them any damage

[Paul Marossy]

Compressors have their place. I just can't use one, it muffles all the nuances in my playing too much.  The Orange Squeezer is the one I would use if I had to use one.

[nelson]

Compressors have their place. I just can't use one, it muffles all the nuances in my playing too much.  The Orange Squeezer is the one I would use if I had to use one.

What about a multi band comp/limiter? It could help you get the sound you want without ruining the dynamics of your playing style for certain frequencies. Say lower the volume of the sound of scraping the strings, even out the volume difference between high and low strings, even out the volume of your rhythm playing but still allow you dynamics in your solos. I am working on a  LM13700 based multi band comp/limiter that uses active 3 pole sallen key butterworth low pass filters to accomplish this. Not a simple pedal but it would get rid of the complaints about comps "They kill my dynamics and ruin my playing style."

[micro]

What about a multi band comp/limiter?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.....slow down there nelson!

[Paul Marossy]

What about a multi band comp/limiter?

Is there an example of this in the real world? That's the first time I have heard of such a thing...

My other complaint about compressors is they add a lot of noise when used with high gain distortions. That's less of an annoyance to me than lessened dynamics, though. 

[markm]

don´t you lose feeling in your play using a compressor?, because in some way you can´t put accent in certain notes.

As a Country Player, a compressor is a very usuable tool. For me, it is treated more like a part of the guitar or amp than
as an effect in itself and accents aren't really a problem if you're using a hybrid picking technique with the flat pick and
fingers combined. If you pluck certain notes, there's your accent.
Also, setting of the guitar and amp are important as well and over the years I have discovered that most who don't like
to use a stomper comp, usually run the guitar controls wide open which becomes an issue in itself.
Guitar volume and tone controls are there for a reason and alot of good guitar tone lives in those controls! 

[Ed G.]

What about a multi band comp/limiter?

Is there an example of this in the real world? That's the first time I have heard of such a thing...

My other complaint about compressors is they add a lot of noise when used with high gain distortions. That's less of an annoyance to me than lessened dynamics, though. 

There was a dual-band compressor in the early 90s from Trace Elliot. It was intended for bass but I understand it worked well with guitar also.

[MartyMart]

What about a multi band comp/limiter?

Is there an example of this in the real world? That's the first time I have heard of such a thing...

Paul, these are 99% of the time a studio outboard/mastering device, used so as to be able to compress
several bands of freq's separately - VERY useful on an overall stereo mix to avoid bass end "pumping" for example.
I use a "plug-in" version more often these days, a guitar fx version would be something quite useful and would
mean possibly one product for use with both gtr & bass.
A three band device would be quite cool, bass/mids/highs ...... hmmm ......
MM

[nelson]

What about a multi band comp/limiter?

Is there an example of this in the real world? That's the first time I have heard of such a thing...

Paul, these are 99% of the time a studio outboard/mastering device, used so as to be able to compress
several bands of freq's separately - VERY useful on an overall stereo mix to avoid bass end "pumping" for example.
I use a "plug-in" version more often these days, a guitar fx version would be something quite useful and would
mean possibly one product for use with both gtr & bass.
A three band device would be quite cool, bass/mids/highs ...... hmmm ......
MM

I am doing seperate Bass and Guitar versions. Because of the differing dominant frequency ranges of the instruments. Just 6 resistor changes between both versions. Eventually I want to do an SMT version with 9mm alpha pots in a 1590b.

[Paul Marossy]

As a Country Player, a compressor is a very usuable tool. For me, it is treated more like a part of the guitar or amp than as an effect in itself and accents aren't really a problem if you're using a hybrid picking technique with the flat pick and fingers combined. If you pluck certain notes, there's your accent.
Also, setting of the guitar and amp are important as well and over the years I have discovered that most who don't like
to use a stomper comp, usually run the guitar controls wide open which becomes an issue in itself.
Guitar volume and tone controls are there for a reason and alot of good guitar tone lives in those controls! 

My style is more like Holdsworth/Satriani/Vai, and I leave the guitar controls "wide open". If I want soft, I play soft. If I want loud, I pick the strings hard. I can even control the tone by where and how I pick the strings. I also use a wah pedal pretty much all the time. I like getting compression and sustain from the amp, not a pedal. My technique has some nuances in it that usuallu gets really muffled whenever I use a compressor (at least the ones I have tried). I especially hate a compressor when playing clean.

Paul, these are 99% of the time a studio outboard/mastering device, used so as to be able to compress
several bands of freq's separately - VERY useful on an overall stereo mix to avoid bass end "pumping" for example.
I use a "plug-in" version more often these days, a guitar fx version would be something quite useful and would
mean possibly one product for use with both gtr & bass.
A three band device would be quite cool, bass/mids/highs ...... hmmm ......

I would like something that you can use live. The three band device is a cool idea.

There was a dual-band compressor in the early 90s from Trace Elliot. It was intended for bass but I understand it worked well with guitar also.

Huh, interesting.

[nelson]

Jesus, I might aswell not have posted. FTFAC (F*ck this for a carry on).

[Paul Marossy]

Hey, I'm open to trying a 3-band compressor. It might just work for me. 

[David]

Since I seem to get a lot of grief when I use an amp during a service, I don't have the luxury of tube amp compression, so I do use a compressor pedal -- but only for 3 very specific situations:

    1)  To sustain a note or chord long enough to get a decent volume swell out of it.  I'd hate for the envelope to already be decaying before I get it loud enough to be heard.

    2)  To get long, sustained, legato passages.  I usually do this only with distortion kicked in, so it's already too late to worry about noise.  I just set the compressor a little above unity.

    3)  To either even out the response of my 12-string acoustic or to make an electric sound "jangly" a la The Byrds.  I kill the sustain and set it for fast attack.  If I did chicken pickin', I'd guess this is how you do it.  This is one of the compression "litmus tests" I would use.  My acoustic sounds like mud in our PA unless I compress it.