That Pedal Show - Compressors 101
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- Опубліковано 25 вер 2024
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Everything you wanted to know about compressors but were afraid to ask?
Well, sort of. In this video Daniel and Mick use four different compressor pedals to help explain this most misunderstood of dynamic effects.
• Original 1974 MXR Dyna Comp
• Dinosaural Opticompressor
• Xotic SP Compressor
• Carl Martin Andy Timmons signature Compressor Limiter
Whether you want a funky rhythm tone, a hot-pickin' country squash or a dynamic boost, a compressor pedal can help you achieve the lot.
Daniel is playing is Fender Custom Shop 63 Telecaster. Mick is playing his Gibson Derek Trucks SG and Fender American Vintage 62 Strat.
The amps are a Mallard 18-watt Marshall clone and a Lazy J J20.
Enjoy this video as we talk through some of the compressor's many capabilities.
![Beyond The MXR Dyna Comp & Boss CS-3 Compressor [J Rockett Airchild, UA LA-2A, 1176 & Origin Cali76]](/img/n.gif)
Here in 2024! Look how young! Love it.
You guys are the myth-busters for guitars!
Eric sin sinner They believe in tone wood and the fretboard material making tonal differences so not really. still love them though.
Opinions are like assholes.....everyone has one
@@HunterJs2 wow, and you don't? wood most certainly makes a huge difference. even two different pieces of the same type of wood will have different timbre. q-tip and revisit.
@@zhou_sei How many times do physicists have to explain the mechanics of electronic pickups and the effect wood species has on them before people change their opinion to reflect the evidence?
@@HunterJs2 when the reality matches the theory, then people can change their opinion. when wood stops being a factor that actually changes tone, the scientists can have their field day. i cant speculate as to why the reality does not reflect the "evidence" (and please link me to it), but i know what my ears tell me is true.
Really Cool watching some of these older shows! Yall have come a long way. thanks again for all the help over the years
I can´t wait for the moment when Daniel channels the secret spheres again, which are unaccessable to us ordinary folks, just to leave us in awe for another qualified, yet carefully balanced reply to Mick.
I added the Xotic SP compressor to my pedal board not really fully understanding how a compressor would help shape my sound or whether it would add anything. Apart from my in-line tuner my SP compressor would now be the last pedal I would get rid of. Awesome pedal. Amazing build quality and the sounds I get are truly awesome. More colourful, greater sustain and character.
Good to know but were you able to try the SP against the Keeley Compressor Plus or the Pigtronix Philosopher Tone Micro?
Great video! Really clear!
How much of the compressor enigma do you guys think comes from the fact that the manufactureres reduced several functions in one button on the pedal and just called it "compression"? (and left out the explanation of what it was..)
Daniel: *Tapping and shredding shenanigans*
Mike: There's no money there
LOL
these are seriously my favorite videos on youtube right now! please keep making them!
Just got the Xotic SP Compressor today and I'm loving it!
I have an analogman compression sustain pedal and I love it. Permanently on my board and always on. Sustain set low and used as a volume boost primarily.
You both are awesome. I just bought a compressor on Reverb and now I feel confident in where to start in testing it out. Thank you 🙏
This was the most informative video I've ever watched. You guys earned a new viewer. I can't wait to go through more videos and learn even more!
+Peter Bys cheers Peter ;)
After watching this I bought a Xotic SP Compressor. Great show. Good reviews. Good advice.
I use an Origin Effects Cali76. To my taste it's the best, most transparent compressor I've ever played through.
I agree, but since I couldn't afford one, I got a 4 knob Keeley compressor. It is a very good substitute.
Y'all should definitely remake this one
I appreciate builders, tech guys, ... who can play! Great job, Dan. I learn something today :)
Just pulled the trigger on the Andy Timmons Compressor....thanks for the vids Daniel and Mick!
9.50 to about 12 mins were so informative I learnt alot right there. Great video
Pricey but great compressor to check out is the Origin Effects Cali76. They essentially made an 1176 studio compressor in a pedal. So like a the carl martin, you can use it in a more specific and controlled way to get some of that level work and sustain without losing any of your top end or attack. As someone that generally stays relatively low gain, i've been able to use that first in line (before my boosts/overdrives, currently an archer and archer ikon while i wait on a king of tone) and that is my core tone. The archer choice really depends on amp. The ikon better in front of my princeton blackface, the silver in front of my Vox ac15 handwired.
outstanding video gentlemen - soooooo good to find some guys who are so informative and knowledgeable but also fun to watch
Great video as always, Daniel. Very instructive and fun. I have a MXR Super Comp that it's almost always on, but it does make the tone a little darker. I use it in a subtle setting, trying to adjust the output to have no difference when strumming chords. This makes the compressor to rise the volume of single notes, almost like a "intelligent" booster. It works great in single-guitar line ups.
Also, I think a good way to explain what ratio is: when it's 2:1, it takes a 2db raise in the input signal to generate a 1db raise in the output.
Hi Daniel you and Mick are doing the best gear demos on YT, really enjoying them thanks.
I come back and re-watch this episode every now and then and think, "Wow, I really need a compressor!" Have I bought one yet? No.
Cyrus Fontaine I love my Keeley 4 Knob, definitely worth checking out!
From a fellow guitarist and BJJ black belt, cheers ! I dig the shirt!!
OSS 👍
@@TheGigRigDaniel oss!!
Still a little confused, but did get some helpful tips from this. You guys are awesome! I am really enjoying watching this series.
Learned a lot from this (and your other videos), thanks a lot! Never understood compressors before. Now I know why a lot of players use them on their boards. It's good that you tried them on different styles,guitars,uses,etc.
Seriously great videos guys - keep em coming!
Happened to end up here, in the very old video. The show feels a lot different now yet the fundamentals are the same. Have you started writing script for the episode more or have you become more relaxed in "improvising", or is it just the production? At least the camera changes feel smoother these days, although I never noticed it back in the day. And what is lovely, I completely forgot this, that you don't have to adjust volume between schwanging and talk sections aynmore! They're so balanced! So amazing!
You should (some day when you're not really busy) do some kind of retrospect thoughts video about how the pedal show has changed over time with experience and production equipment, but also how it's changed things outside the videos we actually see. Things in life outside the pedal show or your character. Still love the so after many years :) Keep it up guys.
Sorry, did he say mix knob or Mick's knob? :-)
This is awesome maybe more shootouts against the most popular pedals and compare the differences but these mini lessons are awesome! Keep them comin! Blessings from Los Angeles!
Thx giluys !! Im running one but need to know more bout the tech side...sound clips are not good enough you guys nail it !!!!
I realise this video is a dinosaur, but I just want to reinforce what Dan said here, if you have a blend knob on your compressor it sounds best to my ears to have it before my overdrive pedals. Thanks for all you do, Mick and Dan!
I've learned so much from this.
GREAT Demonstration guys
Chaps, could you please do a video exploring different/best options for an always-on tone enhancer (taking the edge off a clean sound, or just livening up a flat-sounding rig) ? Compressor? Boost? Blues driver with gain rolled down?? That would be really helpful!
They have done this video on the new channel. Any/all 3 of your options will work. If you go for the always on pedal I recommend an EP booster. Cheers.
Best guitar related show on UA-cam!
tele > dyna comp reminds me of coming back from commercial break on a country station
Brilliant thoughts, I have been playing for 35 years plus and trying to figure out compressors. I have used them, but have I used them to their fullest? NO! Thanks for the clarification and I will know more the next time I plug one in. Hopefully the Andy Timmons Carl Martin model! Thanks again for the info, more valuable than you will ever know.
That Best Pedal Show on UA-cam!
What an amazing video. I just received my AT comp and love it to death, too.
I just subbed-great explanation and demo of the compressor-going to watch the rest of your vids now-thanks
I have Keeley two knob compressor and I love it!!
So appreciated fellas, I learned a ton from this one.
Hey guys, great informative video as usual!
One thing that I think would help in a video like this comparing multiple diff. styles of the same effect would be a looper. I don't care if you are Carl Verheyen or pick your favorite consistant guitarist, you won't play the riff the same twice let alone 3 or 4 times. Especially when one pedal has a lot of "mojo" or fits your style vs. one you don't really like or "feel".
Also that way you can just pre record a sweet loop and give it as many takes as it requires to get exactly what you want. You could still play live if needed but it would give a more accurate A/B experience when that is your goal.
Don't feel bad , I literally see almost no one do this and I can't figure out why when loop pedals are now $99.
This is a good idea Jonathan, the only problem I have with the looper thing is that depending on the sound of the pedal I might not necessarily want to play the same thing. I like being led by the tone, letting that sound and the way it feels inform me as to what I want to play.
Can you guys talk about the TC Hypergravity multiband compressor? I think it's feature packed but lacks that sweet sounding sound that you get from a xotic sp or the like... And sounds digital with overdrives
Will be doing another show on compressors soon :)
This was a very informative video! My VFE White Horse had a "Response" knob who's function eluded me (even after researching the website). That makes more sense to me now. Thanks!
Also, I have a Visual Sounds (V2) Route 66 Compressor that really makes some magic for me! I don't know if it's video worthy or not, but maybe look into it just for the tone control option it offers. You might be surprised. I almost hate not having it on my board... but, you know, it's good to have adventures and all... :)
Really love these videos! So informative and helpful.. Thanks guys.
I'm a singer and guitarist. The singer part of me envies the amount of choice guitarists have to experiment with/get their sound via pedals.
A good example of this is analogue compressors. There seems to be so little in the way of (relatively) affordable yet good compressors for vocal use. It seems to go from total crap to "I can't afford it" with almost nothing in between.
Ignoring the lowest end stuff (like gimmicky vocal preamps with tubes that cost say £60 and just muddy up the sound), when it comes to mid-tier equipment there is very little choice aside from preamps. If you want any kind of effects or dynamics control, you basically have to go with low end (and it seems most of the affordable rack gear is more than a decade old, which isn't great when you consider how quickly technology moves, especially if it's digital) or the equivalent of a multi-effects pedal (jack of all trades, master of none) that I'm pretty sure requires you to use its own preamp anyway, thereby making whatever choice of preamps you had moot.
The market goes straight from your multi-effects equivalent and aging rack gear straight to prohibitively expensive stuff basically intended for pro studios. It would be nice if there was more mid-tier equipment that would allow people to take a more modular approach.
are you wanting something for stage? not happy with the sound guy sorting out compression for you? They should have good ones. There's on I really like in guitar pedal format that very studio like from Maxon. or look at a"really nice compressor", their small and are excellent.
Thanks for the advice. On stage, half the time I'm my own sound man and using my own PA equipment.
Due to not being able to stand at various points in the venue to see how it sounds and tweak accordingly, and being that when I'm singing and playing I'm hearing my voice in my own head as well as from a monitor, it is difficult to know exactly how it is coming across to the audience. In these situations I tend to leave the EQ flat and use no compression (though my Yamaha mixer does have a one knob compressor). I'm a bit old school in that I will vary the distance I am singing into the mic depending on how loud I am singing. I'll also ask the audience for feedback on whether it sounds Ok. To be fair, this has worked OK as I've never had any complaints about my sound and have received compliments/repeat bookings.
My interest in this equipment is for recording and getting a more professional sound. I'm aware of the RNC and it is probably the one I'm most likely to buy. Another one I'm aware of (if I'm remembering correctly) is a rack unit from DBX. Those are literally the two relatively affordable ones I've been able to find that have positive comments about them on forums/reviews. I wasn't aware of the Maxon though. I will have to check it out :)
love the lazy j hanging in the background...
That 'Lazy J' is beautiful sitting back there. Rare amp and sounds amazing. You guys put out alot of good useful videos. Love the show. Keep them coming!
I get what they do, BUT....I think you'd want that dynamic level control that your hands can give you in response to your pick attack. I've always thought compressor/limiters were a waste of money but that's just my opinion.
Hi chaps. Love your videos. Only, did you consider the fact that the video adds its compression to your sound ? It does not change anything to the point you are making though. Thanks a lot.
The MXR is perfect for those almost pedal steel type of riffs on a Tele. But hey all bring something to the table.
The SP by Xotic is the best compressor for my ears... makes any amp sound very high end... and the sustain, attack and conoression are very natural... don't get me wrong plebty of squash... but it's the most natural sounding to me, brilliant piece of gear!
I tried the SP out at Guitar Center and really liked it. Great clear sound!
Great video guys I've never really understood how to use compressors before now ! Also you are both great players :)
Excellent video
Thank you for doing the MXR first 😂
I'll be receiving a VFE White Horse optical compressor pedal in a few days. Have you ever tried one of those? I *LOVE* my VFE Bumblee, which is a "swell" pedal (think Boss SG-2, Guyatone SV2) that includes an optical compressor circuit to improve on sustain after the swell, reducing the chance of unwanted chopping-off the envelope-tail of notes before you want them to end. ANYWAY, the Bumblebee impressed me so much that I decided I'd buy the White Horse six-knob optical compressor. If you like, I'll chime in here after I get it in my eager mitts...
A question asked in a few places - given your advice on compression after gain stages would you consider having one as first pedal in effects loop rather than in front of amp?
+Bernard Mills it depends on the compressor, if it works with line level, certainly worth a try
another revelation...oh dear me ... I really know nothing :))
Hey guys - love your videos, but they are so long - it would be quite helpful if you could list off start times for each pedal - we don't always have time for a half hour video even though you guys are great trainers. I looked for several minutes to find your comments on the SP and gave up. :/ It felt like a Carl Martin sales video when I jumped around. ;)
I see ya rockin' the Gracie gear Daniel! Are you at Gracie Barra or Gracie Swindon? I've been training six years, I love it almost as much as guitar!
the Walrus compressor also has a blend knob ... I think I like that feature. MXR Studio compressor pedal has the 5 controls ... no blend knob
Informative and entertaining in equal measure. Thanks for making these Gents, im really learning quite a bit in a massively practical sense too that means I know Ill use these tips. Im away to dust off that Konji Comp that i only bought 'cause its a cool colour......
Ps the Suhr Konji compressor has a mix knob too!! An alternative to the SP featured in the vid
Ive come to the same point mate! I also find the little toggle switch excellent when using differnent guitars. I have a quite dark sounding 335 and i find if i move the toggle switch to to the right it just brightens it up without me having to touch the amp or, like i used to do, put another pedal in my chain. The comp has let me use much less gain which i never really like the sound of before to get some sustain and aggression. And its all thanks to this channel!!
Question for Dan... I have struggled with using my Keeley 4 Knob Compressor, and the fact that it brings the level of noise up so much when used in conjunction with my KOT pedal, I actually avoid using it. I have always tried to keep my compressor first in my signal path to try and eliminate the issue. Compressing the signal before any gain is introduced seems logical to me. I don't overuse gain, and primarily use compression only for spanky clean funky stuff, but sometimes I find that it amplifies the signal noise just from the other pedals that are in the circuit. I'm using a cheap (supposedly isolated) pedal power supply but it doesn't seem to help enough. I just purchased the new Strymon Zuma power supply online, and eagerly await getting it to see if a quality power supply will improve the situation. Any other observations, or suggestions? Cheers! (Love That Pedal Show!!!)
That's the catch with compression. When you squeeze the dynamic range down to get the levelling effect the next thing we do is turn the level back up. This brings the Noise Floor up with the newly squashed/levelled signal.
But it should only raise the noise of units that are before it in the chain. If it's increasing the noise of later units then something is wrong with the signal chain, power supply or switching unit if you're using one.
Best show on youtube!
I have the "SP' and love it..but I don't understand why they don't show what the toggle switch can do on it! It really can cover alot ways to use the comp
Dude I love these videos.
It's probably nerdy but I'm totally into all the tone talk
a semi methinks
That sonic blue is gorgeous
One question...why is it that a compressor is sometimes used as an 'always on' pedal to get more juice out of the amp, instead of just turning up the volume on the amp? What is the difference? I know you said it can be used that way to get juice at more acceptable level...but what's the magic then? So it's not the amp being pushed harder but rather the pedal compressor mimicking the compressive qualities of the speaker when it would be pushed harder or? ....I hope I'm making myself clear.
Love these videos btw...thanks!
Always on pedals whatever your taste in a small amount. I use the Xotic SP to blend in the dry.
Hey Dan and Mick, it tends to make totally sense to me what you explained about putting the compressor after overdrive in your effects chain. But I have last doubts. Why do have all pictures which you can google about guitar effect chains the compressor in front of the OD?
Cheers
Benny
Hi guys, have you tried the very accessible Palmer Root Effect Compressor? Any thoughts on that unit? Does this pedal honors Palmer tradition (eg. Speaker Simulator PDI 03)? All the best, a great 2016 and thank you so much for such a GREAT channel - pure public service for musicians.
Wow, a real brainiac that can actually play. How refreshing. Thanks, a great lesson.
Any thoughts on the TC electronic hypergravity compressor?
If it's based on the Nova Dynamics (which I think it is) then it must be very transparent and very good.
Also, I love that Carl Martin Compressor Limiter to death until I found out it was around $270 in the US.
The MXR would have sounded better if both pots were set at around 12 o'clock.
If you're practising at home, place it after your distortion pedal, so you can whack the guitar as hard as you like and the compressor will keep the noise down.
I brought mine in 1980 and it's still going strong!
Hi guys, my name is Andrew and I live in Brazil. I do not know if it's my English is not very good, haha, but I understand that you said that the compressor should be after the overdrive. I know players who use the compressor before the drives and they taught me what was right because of the signal chain. Well, in short, must be after the drives or I got it wrong? Thank you for your attention and for the help, I have learned a lot from the videos of you. A hug from Brazil!
+andreftrindade I think with any effect/signal processing, go with what sounds best to you, :) ! Although I just watched a rig rundown video and they had compression after drives
+Ainsley Walker Thank you for your help! Actually i found a video were Dan explain about it, and really makes more sense put the compressor after drives, because the compressor will have more signal to work on. Thanks again!
Perdón por mi ignorancia.. hay posibilidad de ver estos videos subtitulados? (en castellano..)
this goes to show, that I DON'T need a compressor. Thank you very much!
This was very informative. I noticed there is no mention of tube compressors. Thinking of the Effectrode. What is the difference, or advantage disadvantage? Is there a reason you did not throw one into the mix here?
Tough subject, but well done, thanks.
I really enjoy your videos, they're very informative. I do have a question about your signal chain you're using. You mentioned the SP compressor had a blend feature, is it in line before or after the overdrive pedal? Also, what is you're blend setting on the compressor? I have a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone, and it also has the blend/mix feature, just trying to get idea of where in the signal chain to put it.
Love the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu shirt! I’m a black belt.
Hi there great info. I have a question I have a pedalboard and the first pedal that goes my guitar goes into the compressor pedal. On a clean sound it amplies my tone greatly, I love it! It has a nice thick fat beefy tone. The next pedal that signal goes into is my Ibanez Tube Screamer. My Compressor pedal is always on, then when I turn on the tubescreamer, the volme of my sound decreases significantly. I hear the compressor and the tubescreamer, but there is quite a decrease in sound. Can someone tell me why is this? Thank you.
Hi Daniel...I also own a Dinosaural OTC-201 and it's incredible! I am wondering if you prefer using it in standard mode or in the blend wet/dry mode, and still prefer running it after drives? I'd like to use mine as a tool to keep the guitar's level a bit more consistent in the mix while using various levels of boost, overdrive and fuzz for color. I constantly ride my volume knob for gradients of dirt, which can lead to the guitar sometimes getting a bit buried in the mix (light OD, guitar volume knob rolled down) or standing out too loud (stacked Fuzz/OD or Boost, volume knob rolled up). How would you suggest setting the OTC for this purpose? Thanks!
Hey guys,love your videos,cant stop watching them,have a question are you 2 in bands?would love to hear more of your playing you guys are awsome players
awesome. I never understood how pedals got away with using only two knobs with attack/release and ratio to factor in
So im doing heavy compressor research. Watched these eps a few times. Settled on the Dyna Comp Mini. Question: i also run a 6 band eq. How would and engaged eq and comp work together? Universe fold on itself? I feel like they are 2 different ways to accomplish 2 different things within the same thing. If that makes ANY sense. Like, would the frequencies just say "eff it" and quit? Ha! Cheers!
I get a substantial amount of noise from my SP. What do you suggest? I have gone through and changed the internal switches. knobs are usually at 12 and the switch on mid, default switch positions & playing a strat
Comps are great but I wouldn't use them for dirt sounds. I used to leave one on all the time and it affected the way I developed as a guitarist because I didn't try to sustain notes expressively.
What settings does Andy Timmons use with his signature Carl Martin compressor? And how were the threshold and response knobs set in your demo? Those knobs are too small to read in the video. PS. I can't wait for my G2 to arrive!!!
Hey guys! How about using compressor with dynamic playing? I mean if you want to have some phrases in your solo quieter and some louder, what compressor does is - it makes all dynamics even? Hope you know what I mean :)
Great video as always! Keep it up!
You guys are great. Speaking of compression though, the guitar and speaking levels are quite different, especially noticeable on small speakers. Can you try to match them up a bit better?
I noticed the carl martin gentle dynamics of playing weren't lifted as much and helped with retaining the natural feel to them. a bit like a limiter only effect. Very transparent too.
i finally decided on the xotic. i really like the idea of blending in dry signal. like you might use compression on a desk as an aux effect to add to a vocal channel of the desk.
Hi guys. I want to know your opinion on the use of compressors in a bedroom setup. I am using 2 compressors in my setup: one in front of anything else, as a classic guitar compressor, and another after the overdrives, trying to emulate the compression of the valves and speakers in a loud amp being pushed). Using carefully, this really made a huge difference in my tone, in a way that only one compressor can not. The point is: I got it using a software. Would that be a good option for an analog setup in bedroom volume? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I have the TC electronic hypergravity compressor. It has made my clean sound so sweet and fat - however it has also added a lot of background hum (even with humbuckers) which is not so good! Is that just due to compression and will happen with any pedal or do certain compressors improve your sound without adding background noise wen you're not playing?
I've heard nice things about the Rothwell "Love Squeeze" (UK) -- it's said to be extremely transparent and virtually noise-free; although it has simple controls. Another is the Empress (Canada), which has many controls and also is said to be quite transparent. Have you tried either of these compressors and, if so, any thoughts? Thanks.
Hi guys, have just discovered your channel, think you're both awesome.
I wondered if you could do a very basic - intermediate guide on recording with pedals on the new cubase? I've got cubase 8, pro tools lite and Ableton live and I've no idea where or how to start. Got tons of pedals, decent amps and a modelling amp (amplifi 150) but I'm really struggling to get my stuff down.
The vids for cubase aren't for newbies.
The first compressor you mention. The red one. Amitube has an identical looking compressor. So, the compression knob on the left if I turn it up. Say 15% up from zero. Is that only compressing up the quieter sounds in the 15% range? So. Ilafly if I dial in 50%. Is it only compressing up the sou D from 50% and below? Or does that dial determine attack speed?
Hey so I`ve got a rather involved question about compression. I only have an AM Beano boost to drive my modern ac30 which is running into the front end rightfully. I just got a dyna comp and I`ve had to put it into the effects loop to have it after the Beano. Reason being that the Beano picks up the local radio station (literally less than a mile from my house) soooo terribly much that the radio gets compressed too with the dyna comp on and it can be borderline unusable because of this with my single coil guitars. Bur now...is the dyna comp after the beano but before the preamp gain of my ac30??? or am I confusing that? Any solutions to the Beano with a germanium transister and the effing radio??