Do you "hear" compression like you hear any other effect?

[FreaqyFrequency]

All in the title. I can't always tell, I don't seem to have an ear for it except when the signal is obnoxiously squeezed.

[kevteop]

I have to confess I'm the same. That's why I don't use compression, I only ever switch a limiter on if I'm about to do something that I think might kill some gear.

[René_Julien]

I use light compression.

When A/B-ing I hear the difference a compressor make.

So it's nice to know it's there doing it's job unnoticably.

Plus IMO, I play a passive P-bass so a compressor helps to even things out a bit.

On my active 6-string I don't need a compression.

Unless you are going for a squeezed sound it's okay not to "hear" your compressor.

[AndyLES]

Depends what you're looking to do.

[bongomania]

+1 to "depends". Read my FAQ for more on the subject, but the short version is that unless you are consciously trying to use it as an effect, the intent of compression is only to alter the level of your signal peaks- not to be "heard" at all.

[katri]

I can't hear compression, but I can see dead people

[grygrx]

I weep for poor bongo and his compression lust.

[Largedon]

I use a little compression and limiter and you can "hear" it a little, but if you didn't know it was there you probably wouldn't pick it out immediately. I use it more just to even my signal up, especially during slap.

Also, sound guys like you more

[ga_edwards]

I can't hear the compression artifacts but I can hear it working. Pluck strings lightly and increase plucking intensity. Repeat with compression on. You should notice a difference in dynamic range when it's on, but not any artifacts (unless you want them).

I set mine so my softer notes are still quieter, but medium and heavier attacked notes are more even.

[fretlessman71]

I notice my compressor when I've forgotten to turn it on - things don't sound right. Other than that I don't notice it at all, hardly.

[sonic assassin]

if you've got it set to pump, then you ought to hear it. or if you've got it set to destroy and you are raising the dead with the noise floor, then yes, you will hear it.

but most good compression isnt heard. bad limiting will be heard. we really ought to all run compressors. its going to be compressed when its recorded anyway. so why not beat them to it.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

All in the title. I can't always tell, I don't seem to have an ear for it except when the signal is obnoxiously squeezed.

Ditto. The only place I hear it in a musical context is with country guitar.

[JustDavid]

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

if you've got it set to pump, then you ought to hear it. or if you've got it set to destroy and you are raising the dead with the noise floor, then yes, you will hear it.

but most good compression isnt heard. bad limiting will be heard. . . .

Good points!

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

we really ought to all run compressors. its going to be compressed when its recorded anyway. so why not beat them to it.

Because they'll likely compress you anyway & then you've got a compressed compressed signal; squashed.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by JustDavid

Because they'll likely compress you anyway & then you've got a compressed compressed signal; squashed.

Nope, only if one compressor is set to "squash".

A compressor is not an effect that adds up on another compressor. (Unlike distortion on distortion for example.)
If two compressors in this kind of recording setup are setup for the same kind of compression, one renders the other useless.

It's like polishing an already polished rock. What's cleaned doesn't need to be cleaned a second time.
Unless the first cleaner missed a spot.

My analogies suck probably.


In a recording situation the recording engineer will probably tell you to turn of your compressor. Because his is always better and he knows how to operate it better.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by grygrx

I weep for poor bongo and his compression lust.

Poor bongo is right! I can't tell you how many times I've come up with bizarre justifications for floating some credit or some weird trade deal just so I could get another compressor- which I resell at a loss almost every time.

[cheapbasslovin]

Whenever I hear it I almost never like it, but I suspect that all the compression I've used is of the 'sucks kinda bad' variety. The exception is that I can hear it when a decent engineer adds it in after the fact on a recording. It usually sounds all right then.

[JustDavid]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

A compressor is not an effect that adds up on another compressor. (Unlike distortion on distortion for example.)
If two compressors in this kind of recording setup are setup for the same kind of compression, one renders the other useless.

Hmmm . . .

Bass > Comp 1 > Comp 2 > Board (or whatever).

Comp 1 set to 3:1 compression ratio. Comp 2 ditto. Threshold set so they are always active, & leave attack & decay times out of the picture (to make it easier to picture); just 2 comps always doing 3:1.

Bass plays with 9 dB of dynamic range. Comp 1 outputs 3 dB of range. Comp 2 outputs 1 dB of range.

?

[Rattman]

I find when playing at church, the compression I use on certain pre-programmed patches are kinda wasted . . . however I find after listening to my guitar/bass playbacks while laying down studio tracks compression and limiter become noticable...

[Kubs]

I bought comp from mr. bongo, it was my 2-3rd comp.Unfortunatelly I had to sell it (sometimes you cant justify all outcomes.......)
It was EBS, but from my short experience - its, great - you can hear it if you want and in that case it will make very marcus miller brutal compression, but also you can add only slight compression, and boost your sound with gain then you also weill hear "compressor" but not in its main purpose way.
You also can keep gain lower(ther is no cut with gain, only boost) and add slight compression - then you wont hear anything significant but you´ll get used on very nice, very clear sound, literally it will make you feel you play better, then you turn it off and you get it - you find that your compresioned sound is far better, bur still natural and thats by many opinions best way to use compressor.....

so very roughly said there are main 3 ways for compressor....
1)audible compression-miller like - compressor works practically on every touch of strings
2)slight or even no compression-with significant gain boost (very nice for cranking guitar amps....)
3) slight compression which controls your frequency tops in playing - making you sound far clear and perfect- in fact its some kind of "secret sound doctor" which works although you think there is no effect.....i think you can check it with recording sound with and without comp - if you haven´t perfect "godlike" righthand technique - you will find that your compressor really works and works very welll :-D


Its just my view...nothing dogmatic....lets complain about it if its not correct

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

Nope, only if one compressor is set to "squash".

A compressor is not an effect that adds up on another compressor. (Unlike distortion on distortion for example.)
If two compressors in this kind of recording setup are setup for the same kind of compression, one renders the other useless.

It's like polishing an already polished rock. What's cleaned doesn't need to be cleaned a second time.

Sorry man, doesn't work quite like that. Both processors act on their input thresholds independently- if the output level (set by makeup gain) of the first compressor raises any portion of the signal over the threshold of the second processor, then you get doubly compressed. The only way the second one would not affect the first signal is if the first processor's output never reaches the second processor's threshold. Again though it's not based on whether they are "the same kind of compression", but merely signal levels versus thresholds.