Compressor before effects chain or after effects chain?

[Nephilymbass]

My compressor is right after my wireless. But I don't use "brick wall" compression so I still have some dynamic flexibility even with the compressor on so I don't have issues running the compressor into other effects. I've had issues with running compressors after delays in particular though.

Some effects are more dynamic than others, some more sensitive to input, some effects react different with compressors based on the order, people use different levels of compression. There's a lot of variables to this.

 

[RunBeerRun]

It only needs to be first if you need that sound before the overdrive.

 

[Dash Lashes]

Check out the FAQ linked in my sig. The real deal is you have to analyze exactly which points in the chain put out volume spikes that need regulating; whether there are any points in the chain that would benefit or suffer from having a less dynamic signal at the input; and whether the input and output levels of those points in the chain are in the range of the input and output levels that will work best with the compressor.

All this "first" and "last" business is strictly for people who set up their own gear by ear (which is fine) but then they think other people's gear and tastes will be the same, when it won't.

^this sounds about right to me... but,

what happened between Jan 14, 2009 and Sunday at 9:02 AM?

6.5 year old thread?

 

[cnltb]

I run mine at the end so I can still get the most touch sensitivity out of my overdrives and envelope filters, whilst evening out any volume jumps from the overdrives and envelope filters!

I do the same.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

I run mine at the end so I can still get the most touch sensitivity out of my overdrives and envelope filters, whilst evening out any volume jumps from the overdrives and envelope filters!

Same here, I find it is much more effective after drive and fuzz pedals to try and tame the peaks which is especially nice with envelope filters for sure

 

[Dilbert]

Last

 

[Dilbert]

It only needs to be first if you need that sound before the overdrive.

I was always under the impression that overdrive compresses your signal somewhat

 

[AndreasR]

Use a compressor at the start and a hard limiter at the end.

At least that's what I do.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

I was always under the impression that overdrive compresses your signal somewhat

Some definitely do but some are more transparent as well.

 

[Bassheart365]

It seems like a lot of bass players like their compressor before an octave pedal. I have mine after. Thoughts?

 

[Sunset Shalom]

It seems like a lot of bass players like their compressor before an octave pedal. I have mine after. Thoughts?

It might boost the signal differently depending on the type of comp, before you may notice the comp effecting your picking attack/ feel more and after if might effect the octaves attack more instead. I haven't used much octave effects so that is just how I assume it may work. After you also get to tame any peaks from the octaver instead of from your clean signal going into the octaver. So for clean octave stuff before or after is probably fine but for fuzz/ dirty stuff after may be best.

 

[fly agaric]

I definitely like my compressor at the front of the chain. I feel like it gives a "better" signal to the rest of the effects by limiting some of the natural volume spikes or whathaveyou.

That said. There are some modulating effects that create volume spikes in the signal which would benefit from running through a compressor.

So I guess that means you need TWO compressors. If your wife / significant other objects, you can explain what I did.

Can never go wrong with more than one of anything, right?