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Compressor, HPF and Overdrive
- Thread starter Jhass
- Start date
That's a simple-enough setup that you really can't go wrong no matter what you do. It's more a usage scenario question than anything.
I'd probably slap the HPF before the compressor to give it signal without subharmonic rumbles that could trigger it. Then, Microtubes third... as the compressor can level things out and give a super consistent signal to the 'tubes, boost/cut signal going in, or get switched off so you've got strictly finger dynamics. The comp makes for a nice signal sculptor.
Or if you thump/pick aggressively, you might want the drive before the compressor to get the sound of highly dynamic playing, but with the levels then tamed. Placing the HPF will just depend on what you want the other pedals to do.
I'd probably slap the HPF before the compressor to give it signal without subharmonic rumbles that could trigger it. Then, Microtubes third... as the compressor can level things out and give a super consistent signal to the 'tubes, boost/cut signal going in, or get switched off so you've got strictly finger dynamics. The comp makes for a nice signal sculptor.
Or if you thump/pick aggressively, you might want the drive before the compressor to get the sound of highly dynamic playing, but with the levels then tamed. Placing the HPF will just depend on what you want the other pedals to do.
RealSoon makes some great points, and his logic is sound.
That being said, I would do the opposite!
You really just need to experiment. I prefer compression after overdrive because I don’t like the way my compressor (Wampler Ego) sounds before the drive. It seems to give my various drive pedals un unpleasant feel/response. The trade off is that a compressor may boost noise from the overdrive pedal.
Depending on how and why you use high and low pass filters, you may find you like it somewhere in particular. For me personally, I like them at the end of the chain so that when I play direct into a PA system I don’t have to worry about excessive highs and lows in the mains.
That being said, I would do the opposite!
You really just need to experiment. I prefer compression after overdrive because I don’t like the way my compressor (Wampler Ego) sounds before the drive. It seems to give my various drive pedals un unpleasant feel/response. The trade off is that a compressor may boost noise from the overdrive pedal.
Depending on how and why you use high and low pass filters, you may find you like it somewhere in particular. For me personally, I like them at the end of the chain so that when I play direct into a PA system I don’t have to worry about excessive highs and lows in the mains.
