If you have a playing style that produces lots of variations in volume, attack, and tone, you definitely need a compressor pedal of some kind. Bass players who play primarily reggae, dub, R&B, low-fi hip hop, and similar genres won’t need compression nearly as much as someone who plays primarily slap bass guitar.
What is the best compressor pedal for you and why?
The 7 Best Compressor & Sustain Pedals
- Walrus Audio Deep Six (Our Pick)
- MXR Dyna Comp (Best Value)
- Origin Effects Cali76 (Best Premium)
- Keeley Compressor Plus
- Xotic SP
- Wampler Ego (Mini)
- MXR M76 Studio Compressor
How important is a compressor pedal?
What Does A Compressor Pedal Do For Your Guitar?
- Understanding Compression. A more balanced sound, a beefy tone, and more sustain are what makes compressor pedals appealing to guitarists.
- Compression and Guitar Tone. Compressor pedals are typically used to enhance the sound of a clean guitar for a couple of reasons.
- Using a Compressor Pedal. ...
- Bass Guitars and Compressor Pedals. ...
Do I really need a chorus pedal?
Nope - no one needs chorus on an amp or a pedal imo. Nice to have if you like that old 80's thing but chorus is used less and less last 10 yrs. I've got 2 chorus pedals and only use 1 very rarely - my Analogman Mini chorus. Definitely don't want chorus or tremolo on an amp and am considering ditching the AM mini chorus pedal from my board.
Do I need a noise gate pedal?
This is a common issue when using high gain which is why a lot of heavy rock and metal players need noise gate pedals. If your guitar has single coil pickups which are particularly noisy, then using a noise gate pedal will be very useful.
How important is a compressor pedal?
When you pick up the guitar and play a note with a clean guitar tone there is generally a lack of sustain and decay begins to happen rather quickly. However, with a compressor pedal, it simply extends the life of the note by raising the volume as it decays.
Are guitar compressor pedals worth it?
A compressor pedal can be one of the most valuable tools you can have in your setup. A compressor pedal is a useful device for taming dynamics. And as many musicians and audio engineers know, it's a versatile effect that can alter an instrument's tone and transients.
Is compressor pedal essential?
Using a compressor pedal can be important for both live performances and recording in a studio. Using a compressor pedal during a live performance will give you a more balanced tone throughout your set. This is important because without one the dynamics of your output signal can vary massively in volume.
Do I need a compressor pedal electric guitar?
If you want a clean guitar sound but are getting buried in your band's mix, a compressor can amplify your original signal and make you more audible. Of course, you can also adjust your overall volume on your amplifier, but many players appreciate the subtle effects that pedal compressors bring to their guitar tone.
Does John Mayer use a compressor?
Another compressor that has recently surfaced on Mayer's pedalboard is the Strymon OB. 1, which I've already mentioned above in the “Boost” category. This pedal can be found on the pedalboard that Mayer uses for his Dead & Company shows.
What 5 pedals should every guitarist have?
Five Pedals Every Guitarist Should OwnTUNER. It doesn't matter how good your tone is; if you're not IN TUNE you're going to sound BAD! ... FULL RANGE OVERDRIVE. You may notice we specified “full range” on this option (think Fulltone OCD or similar). ... 3. “ AMP LIKE” DISTORTION. ... CHORUS. ... DELAY.
Do most guitarists use a compressor?
It's very common for guitarists to use compression with super-clean acoustic and electric guitars. Compression on a clean guitar sits better in the mix. You don't get those notes or chords popping out. This doesn't mean I run to a compressor for every clean sound.
Should I put a compressor on everything?
You should not compress every track in your song automatically. Compression should be applied to tracks that have a large difference in volume between the loudest and quietest parts. It can also be used to add energy to a track. It is perfectly acceptable to have a track with no compression on it.
What are basic pedals everyone should have?
If you're looking to start a standard rock-style pedalboard, you can't go wrong with an overdrive unit, your choice of distortion (for metal) or fuzz (grunge or classic rock), and your choice of reverb (more natural) or delay (more spacey and ambient). Tuners and volume pedals should be the last units you purchase.
Do I need an EQ and compressor?
If you don't take care of problems like these before applying a compressor, those unwanted signal energies will influence your compression results excessively. So, whenever you work with audio material that contains disturbing signal energies, it's wise to first apply an EQ and then a compressor.
Should I use a compressor with a overdrive pedal?
If this is how you like to use your compressor, it will work best first in the chain. This is partly because the next pedal is likely to be an overdrive. Overdrive will also dramatically affect the dynamics of your signal, clipping the peaks and eliminating any difference between loud and quiet notes.
Are compressor pedals good for tapping?
Compressor pedals are a great tool to make your tapping and legato lines more consistent. They will normalize the loudness of all the notes you play making them more consonant. However, you will still need to work on your technique to achieve the best tone possible.
Do most guitarists use a compressor?
It's very common for guitarists to use compression with super-clean acoustic and electric guitars. Compression on a clean guitar sits better in the mix. You don't get those notes or chords popping out. This doesn't mean I run to a compressor for every clean sound.
Should I use a compressor with a overdrive pedal?
If this is how you like to use your compressor, it will work best first in the chain. This is partly because the next pedal is likely to be an overdrive. Overdrive will also dramatically affect the dynamics of your signal, clipping the peaks and eliminating any difference between loud and quiet notes.
Do I need an EQ and compressor?
If you don't take care of problems like these before applying a compressor, those unwanted signal energies will influence your compression results excessively. So, whenever you work with audio material that contains disturbing signal energies, it's wise to first apply an EQ and then a compressor.
Are compressor pedals good for tapping?
Compressor pedals are a great tool to make your tapping and legato lines more consistent. They will normalize the loudness of all the notes you play making them more consonant. However, you will still need to work on your technique to achieve the best tone possible.
Why Would I Want a Compression Pedal?
Compression is especially useful for helping a quiet, finger-picked part be heard in a mix, or making sure two-handed tapping, legato-style hammer-ons and pull-offs, and artificial or harp harmonics don’t disappear in between hard strumming, on both electric and acoustic guitar.
Common Terminology
Ratio: The ratio controls the amount of dynamic range reduction the compressor is initiating. For example, a ratio of 4:1 means that it takes an increase of 4dB to the input signal in order to raise the output of the compressor by 1dB.
Common Misconceptions and Extra Notes
While compressors are commonly used in the guitar world to increase sustain, that coveted sonic quality is not usually the primary intended purpose of a compressor pedal. The job of a compressor is to keep the output level more-or-less the same even while the input level is decreasing. This is what causes the compressor to increase sustain.
Do I Really Need a Compression Pedal?
So, do you need a compressor? If you’ve never tried one, a compressor may be just the thing you need to take your guitar rig to the next level. But keep this in mind: Compression can be subtle and transparent, like a clean boost, or it can be conspicuous if used as an effect.
Why do you turn on compressor pedals?
For solos: compressor pedals are great at increasing sustain, as well as reducing the impact of inconsistent picking. Hence, they can be turned on for solos or lead sections of a song to give you a thicker and more professional sounding tone.
Why are compression pedals used?
Compression pedals are best known for their ability to create a smoother and more even sound. So they are able to prevent notes that are plucked lightly from getting lost, and also notes that are played to heavily from sounding harsh.
Where does a Compressor go in the Chain?
If you’re using a compression pedal in addition to other pedals, then you need to think about the best placement to get the most out of it. The general rule of pedal placement applies with compression pedals, like it does with most other pedal types: the later it is in the chain (closer to the amp), the bigger the effect will be.
Is Too Much Compression Bad?
So you’ve probably guessed it by now, I am a pretty big fan of compression pedals. But are there any downsides to them? I’ll put my love of compression pedals aside for a moment, and discuss this topic.
How do compressors work?
Compressors work by reducing the volume of notes played louder than the threshold. Hence, the idea that they both increase the volume of quiet notes, and the decrease the volume of loud notes isn’t really true. Compressor pedals only decrease the volume of loud notes.
What is the threshold of a compressor?
Threshold: this is the point a which the compressor will affect the signal. If the signal is louder than the threshold, it will be reduced. But if it is quieter, then it won’t be affected.
Where to put compression pedal on guitar?
If you place your compression pedal at the very start of your chain, then only the sound of your guitar will be affected, and not the rest of your pedals. So if you’re just using it to even out accidental heavy picking, then it’s a great place to put it.
How does a compressor help a bass?
To the extent that a bass sound that emphasizes transients from hitting the string at the expense the sustained part of the note lacks "heft", a compressor can help, by reducing the extent to which the high harmonics in the transient are louder than the rest of the note.
Do compressors have sound?
Some compressors have a "sound" to them and you might like it. There are surely some effect pedals and rack gear that will add "heft". But technically speaking the job of a compressor is to lessen the difference between the loudest and softest notes. I use an MXR bass comp set to gently compress if I dig in too hard or hit a big fat note on the B string it's not too loud compared to the others. It doesn't change the sound of the bass, just keeps the loudest notes from being overpowering. Do I need it? No. Does it help me? Yes. Does it change the tone of my bass? Not much at all. Could you use a different compressor more aggressively and maybe achieve what you're looking for? Probably yes. Do you NEED one? Nope.
Why Would I Want A Compression Pedal?
Common Terminology
- Ratio:The ratio controls the amount of dynamic range reduction the compressor is initiating. For example, a ratio of 4:1 means that it takes an increase of 4dB to the input signal in order to raise the output of the compressor by 1dB. 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, and 20:1 are common preset ratios, with anything over 8:1 widely considered to be the line at which a compressor becomes a limiter. Thr…
Common Misconceptions and Extra Notes
- While compressors are commonly used in the guitar world to increase sustain, that coveted sonic quality is not usually the primary intended purpose of a compressor pedal. The job of a compressor is to keep the output level more-or-less the same even while the input level is decreasing. This is what causes the compressor to increase sustain. A compressor reduces the …
Do I Really Need A Compression Pedal?
- So, do you need a compressor? If you’ve never tried one, a compressor may be just the thing you need to take your guitar rig to the next level. But keep this in mind: Compression can be subtle and transparent, like a clean boost, or it can be conspicuous if used as an effect. Because compression affects your guitar’s dynamics, too much can feel unn...