Do I really need a noise suppression pedal

[korey L]

I am currently building my first pedal board and wondering if I need a noise suppresor pedal at the end of my board?

PS Also do I really need a compression pedal

[bongomania]

No. Noise suppressors are generally a bad idea. It's much better to select pedals that are not noisy in the first place, and learn how to adjust the gain staging so as to minimize noise in the chain.

[tekhedd]

Agree. The primary source of noise in my rig is usually the ground differential between the pedalboard and the amp, something you can't fix with a noise gate. (If you're running enough gain to need a gate, you'll know.)

[fleabee]

Originally Posted by bongomania

It's much better to select pedals that are not noisy in the first place, and learn how to adjust the gain staging so as to minimize noise in the chain.

very well said

[darkstorm]

If your doing high gain overdrive or distortion a noise gate is good idea. Otherwise not much need for one imo. Compressors are very useful. They allow for change in sustain and note attack. They are most often uswed though for volume levelling. This can be useful for driving pedals or amp harder without clipping cause it allows for taming of those short fast transient attacks which suck lotsa power and most contribute to amp clipping. Comp is best used sparingly and lightly/ Either to alter attack and sustain or for leveling. They are also useful to provide a bit more drive to overdrive/distortion effects.

[Nic.]

Actually, I really like using the gate on my Box Of Metal. Not all the time, but when I've got a really heavy fuzz thing going on with multiple pedals, it's really useful to cut out feedback and noise when I'm not playing. This might not be the use you have in mind though. What I'm cutting out is the noise that comes from very high gain amplifying string noise, feedbacking uncontrollably and not letting it shut up.