how do you know if your compressor is compressing?

[David]

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

Nelson:

Hold on!  Your idea's great, and I don't think anyone has said anything negative about it.

[MartyMart]

Nelson, the three band idea is a good one, I'd be interested in that very much, I was just explaining to Paul
what a multiband device was, sorry - didn't mean to ignore what you'd posted !!

marty.

[Paul Marossy]

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

Does your amp not have a master volume control?

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

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. 

To be fair, the compressor doesn't ADD noise,it merely raises the noise floor of the distortion output & makes it more apparent. Distortions contain a high gain amplifier stage so, they are going to amplify up any noise in the original signal. It might be possible to get around this to some degree by using a SSM2166 based compressor, because this gives you an extra degree of freedom - the ability to compress the range of signal that you are interested in hearing, and at the same time "downward expand" the quietest section (including the noise).

[Paul Marossy]

To be fair, the compressor doesn't ADD noise,it merely raises the noise floor of the distortion output & makes it more apparent. Distortions contain a high gain amplifier stage so, they are going to amplify up any noise in the original signal.

Thanks for the clarification. 

[MartyMart]

Frostwave mentions the SSM2166 chip, as used in the Q&D comp, which is a superb and very flexible
circuit for such a simple one - should get more praise IMO, it's a great compressor circuit.
MM.

[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

Does your amp not have a master volume control?

Yes.  An executive decision was made by a group made up mostly of non-musicians (and all non-guitarists) that there were to be no amps on stage.  No technical considerations, just mindless reduction of stage SPL.

[Paul Marossy]

An executive decision was made by a group made up mostly of non-musicians (and all non-guitarists) that there were to be no amps on stage.  No technical considerations, just mindless reduction of stage SPL.

Oh, now I understand. Wow, that s-u-c-k-s. Not to mention is stupid (IMO).

[David]

An executive decision was made by a group made up mostly of non-musicians (and all non-guitarists) that there were to be no amps on stage.  No technical considerations, just mindless reduction of stage SPL.

Oh, now I understand. Wow, that s-u-c-k-s. Not to mention is stupid (IMO).

Yup.  No kidding, no joke and not funny!  And I'm the only guitarist playing by the rules...  However, the lack of technical expertise on the part of the administrative types (Don't get me wrong:  they're great people.  They just think a C chord is a piece of string formed in a semicircle) can work to my advantage.  I can always go the simulation route.  Or, I can use a tube preamp as my DI.  I'm considering trying this.  If I'm still playing when and if we have a new sanctuary, I'll be able to use an amp.  My goal is to step down as lead guitarist in five more years.

[Paul Marossy]

Yup.  No kidding, no joke and not funny!  And I'm the only guitarist playing by the rules...  However, the lack of technical expertise on the part of the administrative types (Don't get me wrong:  they're great people.  They just think a C chord is a piece of string formed in a semicircle) can work to my advantage.  I can always go the simulation route.  Or, I can use a tube preamp as my DI.  I'm considering trying this.  If I'm still playing when and if we have a new sanctuary, I'll be able to use an amp.  My goal is to step down as lead guitarist in five more years.

A church I used to attend about 4 years ago went to all headphones and no amps on stage, after I made my exit. We used to have probably a 110dB stage level at times. I can't imagine not having an amp anymore, so much in my bag of tricks relies on having an amp - stuff like controlled feedback, mixing amp distortion with dist. pedals, etc. 

[krister]

At church I used to use a digital amp mostly, used the built compressor most of the time. Now I use a modified Epiphone Valve Junior, running fairly clean, One of the mods reduces gain and adds tube compression, which is nice so I don't have to use my Orange Squeezer anymore with this amp. The Epiphone is great pedal amp.  I have another 5 watt amp based on a Trainwreck, I use this amp at church sometimes but have found it to be too dynamic at times and have employed the Orange Squeezer. This amp loves to be cranked and isn't as pedal friendly, you must choose wisely. You can't crank it at church, so I use it at home mostly.

[DougH]

At my church they like to keep the stage volume low for the vocalists. But they are relatively easy going and don't mind if I use an amp as long as I point the speaker towards the rear. That gets mic'd of course and the combination of what I get through the in-ear monitor and the cabinet sounds pretty good. I've also gone direct with my pedal board through a speaker simulator. That works fine although not ideal, and leaves me completely in the hands of my cheap headphones- which is why I prefer the amp/cab. I don't use compression with distortion, as the distortion pedals usually compress enough and with too much compression I get lost in the mix. I'm fortunate that we have a real producer and a couple real sound engineers (FOH & monitor) who understand sound. You can usually work things out to your satisfaction one way or another when you are dealing with knowledgeable people.

[Paul Marossy]

At church I used to use a digital amp mostly, used the built compressor most of the time.

That seems to work OK if it's going direct to a PA system. I used to play with a guy who plugged his POD into his Mesa Boogie .50 Caliber combo amp. It sounded terrible.  

I don't use compression with distortion, as the distortion pedals usually compress enough and with too much compression I get lost in the mix.

I agree. That's kind of where I am coming from.

I'm fortunate that we have a real producer and a couple real sound engineers (FOH & monitor) who understand sound. You can usually work things out to your satisfaction one way or another when you are dealing with knowledgeable people.

That makes all the difference!

[krister]

My digital amp is a Vox AD60VT it sounds good. It is also heavy. I got tired of lugging it around. I have a 2x12 I keep at church, so the small tube head is ideal.

Yes, distortion can take the place of compression too.

[DougH]

I don't use compression with distortion, as the distortion pedals usually compress enough and with too much compression I get lost in the mix.

I agree. That's kind of where I am coming from.

I primarly use compression for clean stuff. It helps with volume swells and it helps with syncopated Gilmourish delay patterns. With distortion it doesn't do anything but make it all mushy. I also use compression with my electro-acoustic (as others have mentioned). I switch back & forth between strumming and fingerpicking so it keeps that even and present in the mix. I also like the sustain when used with the acoustic.

I'm fortunate that we have a real producer and a couple real sound engineers (FOH & monitor) who understand sound. You can usually work things out to your satisfaction one way or another when you are dealing with knowledgeable people.

That makes all the difference!

Yeah, I've been in "amateur hour hell" in churches more times than I can count. This church has an active artistic ministry and they take sound reinforcement (as well as other production aspects) pretty seriously. I'm pretty spoiled right now...

[David]

Well, you guys have pretty much reinforced my opinions and principles of operation.  Maybe I'm not crazy after all...   
BTW, the tube preamp came last night.  So far, it seems to make a superb DI.  We'll see what happens tonight...   

[Paul Marossy]

Yeah, I've been in "amateur hour hell" in churches more times than I can count.

Say no more! 

This church has an active artistic ministry and they take sound reinforcement (as well as other production aspects) pretty seriously. I'm pretty spoiled right now...

It does make a world of difference when the sound guy isn't someone they scrounged around for because he was the only guy willing to do it, even though he has no idea what he is doing. It's good to serve, but it's better when you can serve and know what you are doing.