effect to reduce guitar attack transients

[Fabs1]

Hi I play legato with high gain and even when I do not pick and play lightly, I still find the attack of notes too loud so I would like to reduce the volume of these attacks akthough this is intended for fast solo playing, not attack swells. I have experimented with short delays which seem to hide the attack. I have aso heard of a usingphaser with rate at zero....any idea what would be a good solution?
Thank you!

 

[delay dude]

Have you tried a compressor (with adjustable attack)?

 

[Coldacre]

compressor is the key. it evens out the attack

 

[Broomz]

I agree a compressor is what you want if If you'd like to subdue the general attack volume of all frequencies. Another option, if it's just the highest "ping" of treble frequencies that bothers you but you'd like to keep the rest of the dynamics as is, would be to try something mid-thickening like a Klone. I use it just to take the edge off the most strident treble.

 

[splatt]

imo: your technique is the most important thing, there; then, maybe a compressor, maybe just how you "dial" your sound (at very least, w/the guitar's volume- & tone-controls).
but: what are you playing, now?
specifically: instrument, pickups, pedals, amp, speaker etc.
can you show examples (recordings) of your playing, currently?

 

[Black_Label]

Something like a 4-knob Keeley comp would work for you. Set it to a fast attack/fast release time. The Keeley Comp Pro is even better, if you have the money. And if you don't care about money, get an Origin Effects Cali 76 - you'll never need another compressor again after that.

 

[elicious]

Something like a 4-knob Keeley comp would work for you. Set it to a fast attack/fast release time. The Keeley Comp Pro is even better, if you have the money. And if you don't care about money, get an Origin Effects Cali 76 - you'll never need another compressor again after that.

Well put! Totally agree.

 

[Jackie Treehorn]

I like fast percussive amps. But, what I've found useful to tame the attack into more of a bloom, is the compressor, not the vintage compressor, of the digitech iStomp. I use it for slide particularly, as an effect. Attack, sustain, level controls...boom!

I'm not 100% sure as it's been awhile since I messed around circuit wise with dynacomps/ross types, but I don't think the attack control on these is the same as the attack time control on a studio type compressor.

 

[Jet Bycraft]

I would like to reduce the volume of these attacks

You should try the Gravity Gold Series Guitar Picks! They are the best picks I have ever used in my 40 years of playing guitar. Not only do they decrease pick noise they improved my speed picking technique. I have been using one on a daily basis for the past month and a half and there is barely any sign of wear.

Here is the link to their website http://gravitypicks.com/products/gold-series?variant=1071110035

 

[Blix]

Study Allan Holdsworth closely. It's not the gear (mostly).

 

[splatt]

yeah.
playing dynamics & touch on the instrument really ought to be pursued & practised before applying a compressor, imo & ime.

 

[gearscrubs]

You could try one of the Boss Slow Gear clones, like the Mooer Slow Engine. It has an adjustable attack that works well for mimicking that legato style. The Malekko Sneak Attack is another option, but more complicated.

Otherwise, a compressor/limiter with a very fast attack time can squash transients.

Also, I agree about trying different picks - some of the thicker Dunlop Jazztone picks have a very soft attack, almost like playing with your fingers.

 

[VHS analog]

The tone knob on your guitar

 

[Killshakes]

Why add something? I'd try adjusting my treble and presence controls first.

 

[bluenova]

If what you want is an effect, you just described what a pog2 with the attack slider does. With mild settings you can sound like a violin or an ebow. There's a couple other ehx pedals that have the same thing but I'm only familiar with the pog2.

 

[stratowine]

Practice more and more in order to balance the volume of picked notes with the others you are not actually picking; smooth legato tone is all there! Study great legato players like Holdsworth, Garsed, Kotzen.
Stay away from compressors...why do u need to use a compressor when you are already playing a compressed hi gain amp?? Maybe a TS could help but, in your specific case, try to solve with practice

 

[sneaker-bud]

are you chasing a synthy sound? because i doubt you're getting a lot of transients from high gain legato. adding compression would lead to an almost synthy attack, if thats' what you're going after.

 

[kludge]

Lots are advising to check your technique and that's good advice. But assuming you're hearing it with picked notes, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, at varying dynamics... well, it's time to check your gear.

My first thought is a compressor, especially one capable of a very fast attack (not all are), and learn to dial it in. But high gain amps/pedals are already compressed. It may simply be you don't like the tone of your gain device, whether amp or pedal. Being compressors of a sort, they have widely varying attack behaviors. For example, I love the Rat just because it has a "chirp" of pick attack getting through before the note starts to bloom in earnest. You may be using something because you like the bloom and sustain tone, but the attack tone is driving you nuts. Try a different amp, or different pedal. Try using LESS gain, which can reduce the bloom compression some and balance the attack better. This is a good time to check out the gear used by players whose tone you admire, who can get the kind of sound you're seeking. It doesn't free you from technique, but it might point in the right direction.

Another thing to try - and it's free - is to roll off the tone control a bit. Attack information tends to be in the highs, so a tweak there could really reduce your frustration. Or try different guitars and pickups. Speakers, too - a lot of fast precise speakers can really sharpen that attack, something more slow can take the edge off.

It's all a complex system. If you really think you have your technique under control, you'll probably have to change multiple things in your signal chain to get what you want to hear.

 

[gearscrubs]

 

[Fabs1]

thanks for all the answers... I wanted to specify:
I find notes too percussive but it is not just my playing....this happens when using no pick at all, just soft hammer-ons...
....this is because I look for an almost synth-like attack but for fast playing so a slow gear is too slow to catch up.

The compressors I tried so far did not reduce the attack portion enough (but surely I need to try better quality compressors).
I managed with the Logic software to use an envelope shaper to ok results but I would like to use no computer at all. The best results I got so far is by using a reverb in Logic which has an attack portion that can be slightly delayed, change the reverb eq., use no feedback at all and then only keep the wet signal which does not sound like a reverb but affects the curve of the attack (but again, I would prefer a pedal and no computer to do that).