Compression and Dynamics

[EngelFaeuste]

Compression is something I never really understood and I actually need some help on this. People are consistently telling me that compression makes things sound better and more even. Honestly, I think compression screws your dynamics over and I don't ever want to touch it again.

Compression users here, mind giving me your point of view?

 

[theblueark]

If you want all your notes to sound the same volume but you can't control them well. -> Compressor.

If you want to have a certain country twang for chicken picking. -> Compressor.

If you want to play a note and instead of letting it die off normally, you want some effect to seemingly increase the volume as the note dies off (in a sense increasing sustain). -> Compressor.

If you want to smooth out any sudden problematic loud sounds. -> Compressor.

If you want to control the volume of your playing precisely. -> No compressor.

Depends on how you set the controls on the compressor too.

 

[EngelFaeuste]

Ah there, thanks alot mate, you kinda answered all the questions buzzing round my head, points to you!

I think I'll stick with no compressor!

 

[ShredCow]

Man, don't shut off to compressors like that! There's a use for them and I think that in every genre of music, compression plays a part - look, it doesn't need to be a pedal. It doesn't need to be some software thing. You play with certain pickups - there's compression. Use different string guage - there's different levels of compression. Etc etc. Its there, so might as well understand it and make full use of it!

Like, how compression can make a clean guitar sound more prominent. Make your strummed passages sound less peaky (volume-wise). Make your distorted chugga chugga sound a little more uniform. Etc etc

 

[traqstyle]

purist

may be he's a purist, audiophile.

 

[keithC]

i used to think like that too, because compression does take away some highs. but it depends on ur compressor too. a good and subtle one wont entirely remove the dynamics and all.
when i play funky "indyish" stuff on my guitar i turn it off for the bright and trebly zhaaang sound but when it gets to the cleans, my compressor makes me really happy with my guitar

using a tonepress btw, the internal trimpot is rather tricky. i tried the vintage comp setting but that srsly removed lotsa highs. the other end is snappish, more funky sounding but still with the sustain yumm.

 

[Whitestrat]

If you want all your notes to sound the same volume but you can't control them well. -> Compressor.

If you want to have a certain country twang for chicken picking. -> Compressor.

If you want to play a note and instead of letting it die off normally, you want some effect to seemingly increase the volume as the note dies off (in a sense increasing sustain). -> Compressor.

If you want to smooth out any sudden problematic loud sounds. -> Compressor.

If you want to control the volume of your playing precisely. -> No compressor.

Probably the best answer to defining a compressor I've ever read. Thanks!:mrgreen:

So what would be a GOOD compressor?