Boss ME-6B Compressor Problem

[Ryan Mohr]

I have been trying to tweak the compressor on my me-6b to a usable setting and I found that it is only usable with the attack at 0, otherwise, every note is followed by a smooth pop, it sounds like a pillow is hitting every note. Otherwise, the compression is nice with the sustain at about 10 out of 15, but it is way too noisy. I still get a little pop when I play hard with attack on 0. This has been the only negative of this pedal. Any explanation for this?

[bongomania]

One possible explanation is that "0" is not really "instantaneous", it's just the fastest setting they designed in. Which would mean that some peaks could still slip past the compression for a microsecond. Another possible explanation is that some compressors have an audible artifact when your signal crosses the threshold. Nothing can be done to fix that, unfortunately.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by bongomania

One possible explanation is that "0" is not really "instantaneous", it's just the fastest setting they designed in. Which would mean that some peaks could still slip past the compression for a microsecond. Another possible explanation is that some compressors have an audible artifact when your signal crosses the threshold. Nothing can be done to fix that, unfortunately.

How audible is this artifact usually and does it usually become more intense as the attack increases?

[bongomania]

It varies on both counts, depending on the specific circuit.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by bongomania

It varies on both counts, depending on the specific circuit.

Alright, thanks for the help.

[niftydog]

Seems to me like 10/15 sustain is a fairly strong setting. In my experience with a Boss CS-3 (perhaps somewhat similar to the ME-6B patch), the sustain knob seemed capable of extreme settings, and it would generate a very significant amount of noise and 'breathing' once past 12 o'clock.

I would reduce the sustain to below 7/15 and increase the attack to see if that helped.

[Snakeman1066]

I picked this unit up at a Pawn Shop Sale for $40.00 and I Couldn't find a usuable setting for mine either and traded it away...I couldn't get a decent setting (to my ears) out of the Overdive/Distortion either...I found myself just using the unit for its reverb...

[NahuelCC]

I gonna change my CS-3 and my NS-2 for the ME-6B.
Give me a reason to not do that.

[bongomania]

Well, if you do some mods to the CS-3 it will sound better than the ME-6B, and noise suppressors are terrible so just get rid of the NS-2 and don't replace it with anything.