Compressor confusion and woes

[pater familias]

I'm really having a hard time with compressors. I can't get my head around how a pedal can be great and transparent simultaneously.

I've had a Keeley 4-knob and now an AM Bi-Comp both of which I really loved what they did for my clean tone. They made my guitar just sound so much bigger and fuller and maybe even warmer just strumming chords. But if I run them before OD they give you the white noise problem.

I'd like to have a good on-all-the-time compressor and because of the white noise issue I've thought about trying a Diamond or JoeMeek. But I had a Barber Tone Press for about a week. I think it's supposed to be an optical comp like the Diamond, but I swear if I could even tell the dang thing was on or doing anything at all.

I undertand transparent regarding OD pedals, but if a comp makes absolutely no discernable, detectable change in your signal...what's the point?

I want something that gives me that bigger, fuller sound without white noise when I step on the dirt for solos or dynamic changes in a song.

I had a Pine Green Comp for awhile that sounded good clean, but never tried it with an OD pedal as I didn't own one at the time.

[SteveV60]

I use a diamond comp. I use single coils. The way I have it set its easiest to say that it's brightens my sound kind of as if i kicked on an eq, but if course it also evens out the volume of each string. For solos it makes them sing. Yes it's optical and when it's off, I know it's off and something's missing. It polishes my tone. I hear no noise. Some of the others you mentioned are meant to do that really squashy effect which brings the noise. Hope this helps.

[pater familias]

Originally Posted by SteveV60

I use a diamond comp. I use single coils. The way I have it set its easiest to say that it's brightens my sound kind of as if i kicked on an eq, but if course it also evens out the volume of each string. For solos it makes them sing. Yes it's optical and when it's off, I know it's off and something's missing. It polishes my tone. I hear no noise. Some of the others you mentioned are meant to do that really squashy effect which brings the noise. Hope this helps.

I play a tele also either through a DRRI or direct through a Tech 21 Blonde. So I really want to avoid anything that "brightens" my sound as it's plenty bright already.

Does the Diamond have an effective EQ?

[SteveV60]

Sure does. I play Tele through a blues deluxe. That brightness I'm speaking of is really not that descernable. I have my eq up at 50%, so you can surely dial it out.

[Randingo]

The Diamond has a nice "tilt eq" that is quite effective.

[schrom81]

Because your compressing your signal you low volume stuff is being brought up in volume. This includes your noise floor that is always present in your playing. So its unfair to blame your comp its just doing your job. If you want to eliminate the noise get a gate or find some comp that has one built in if they exist.

As for the subtle transparent effect. Try it in a live setting it will reveal its self more and help you set in the mix. That's why people love the Barber.

[BillyDW]

I had pretty much the exact same issues with compressors. Bought a Strymon OB.1 a couple of years ago and it's been on ever since, no noise, just a glorious fattening of my tone.

[SteveV60]

Ever been playing something really pretty and once the bass, drums, keys and singer come in, you get lost in the mix? Or it feels as if ur strumming rubber bands? That's what I use my compressor for. On the down side, lol, the first time I used my comp I played a wrong chord...dang it was out there for everyone to notice lol.

[dlguitar64]

Mirage RAF is dead quiet and fattens without coloration

[Toe]

That's why I place my compressor after my dirt. Solved the problem for me.

[Bitflogger]

I'm told the Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone is quiet compared to many and its grit grit and blend features somehow help with overdrive and lack of induced noise or unnatural effects in your playing. All of that was said by parties wanting to sell me a pedal so I don't know how true it may be. Can anybody with experience chime in on that? It sounds like a solution if the marketing is right.

I'll watch all of this with interest.

Thank you.

[pater familias]

Originally Posted by schrom81

Because your compressing your signal you low volume stuff is being brought up in volume. This includes your noise floor that is always present in your playing. So its unfair to blame your comp its just doing your job. If you want to eliminate the noise get a gate or find some comp that has one built in if they exist.

As for the subtle transparent effect. Try it in a live setting it will reveal its self more and help you set in the mix. That's why people love the Barber.

Wasn't "blaming" the compressor or anything else. They just are what they are, and the Ross types add or elevate noise, however you prefer to say it.

I've just been curious but shy of the optical compressors because of the "transparency" descriptions. If "transparent" meant I couldn't tell it was on then I might as well run my signal through an empty pedal box with $200 folded inside it.

Thanks for the suggestions to research everyone.

[geetarplayer]

Originally Posted by pater familias

Wasn't "blaming" the compressor or anything else. They just are what they are, and the Ross types add or elevate noise, however you prefer to say it.

I've just been curious but shy of the optical compressors because of the "transparency" descriptions. If "transparent" meant I couldn't tell it was on then I might as well run my signal through an empty pedal box with $200 folded inside it.

Thanks for the suggestions to research everyone.

Transparent means all it does is compress. You won't notice change in EQ or other tonal characteristics. It just compresses... raises the minimum volume and lowers the max volume.

[Fireball XL5]

Originally Posted by pater familias

I'm really having a hard time with compressors. I can't get my head around how a pedal can be great and transparent simultaneously.

I've had a Keeley 4-knob and now an AM Bi-Comp both of which I really loved what they did for my clean tone. They made my guitar just sound so much bigger and fuller and maybe even warmer just strumming chords. But if I run them before OD they give you the white noise problem.

I'd like to have a good on-all-the-time compressor and because of the white noise issue I've thought about trying a Diamond or JoeMeek. But I had a Barber Tone Press for about a week. I think it's supposed to be an optical comp like the Diamond, but I swear if I could even tell the dang thing was on or doing anything at all.

I undertand transparent regarding OD pedals, but if a comp makes absolutely no discernable, detectable change in your signal...what's the point?

I want something that gives me that bigger, fuller sound without white noise when I step on the dirt for solos or dynamic changes in a song.

I had a Pine Green Comp for awhile that sounded good clean, but never tried it with an OD pedal as I didn't own one at the time.

I use a compressor as an "always on box", and I'm not a fan of the optical style compressors and/or compressors with a blend knob for the same reasons as you. I find most are too subtle and/or clinical sounding to the point where I just as soon not use any compressor whatsoever.

For that reason I prefer more of the less subtle Ross style compressors, BUT the key to using them that has worked for me is to run them set with the Sustain control dialed WAY back and the Level or Volume control higher than unity.

This will vary from one compressor to the next, but what I find works for me is to first set the Level control of the compressor such that when you attack the strings hard with your picking hand, the level coming out of the amp is the same with the compressor on as when it's off. Because a compressor typically wants to clamp down your signal level when you attack the strings hard, this will result in the Level control of your compressor being set higher than unity.

Once that's set, I then bring up the Sustain control so that there is an increase in fullness and sustain, but not so much that the signal becomes too squashed or picking dynamics are lost, and the Sustain contol on my compressor rarely is set beyond 10:00 or 11:00 depending upon whether I'm playing single coils or humbuckers.

Keeping the Sustain control low will also keep the noise WAY down when using a compressor. I find that most guys who find compressors too noisey are running the Sustain control too high and/or typically keeping the Volume control at or below unity.

[Michael_V]

BJFE PGC.