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MXR M87 compressor...hiss?

M

Mike M.

Feb 14, 2010
2,208
174
#1
Bought the MXR M87 compressor today (never used a compressor before) and am surprised how much "hiss" this pedal generates. Is this normal? Doesn't seem right. The higher the "Output" the more hiss I get. When I turn the Output way down and increase the Input the overall signal get too compressed.

I'm still experimenting with settings that were recommended here. Nothing drastic, just want to "even it out" a little bit.

Output.....10:30
Input.......12:30
Release....12:00
Attack.......8:30
Ratio...........4:1

The "effect" is nice and subtle and just what I wanted. I was hoping to use this tomorrow at church (we're doing an acoustic set) but seeing how I go direct I'm wondering if the hiss may be a bit much.

Again, this is a whole new thing for me. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
#2
On the one hand, there have been more and more reports showing up from people who got a defective M87. OTOH, if you had hiss in your signal chain already, any compressor will amplify it. So to diagnose, you'll want to reduce or eliminate sources of hiss from before the comp in the signal chain. Even if that means no bass plugged in either! If the comp still hisses then, it's defective.
 
#3
bongomania said:
On the one hand, there have been more and more reports showing up from people who got a defective M87. OTOH, if you had hiss in your signal chain already, any compressor will amplify it. So to diagnose, you'll want to reduce or eliminate sources of hiss from before the comp in the signal chain. Even if that means no bass plugged in either! If the comp still hisses then, it's defective.
Click to expand...

Well, that takes care of that! I've never had any hissing prior to plugging this pedal in. My amp is a GK MB115 and I never use the tweeter. But just to be 1000% certain I tried a few things. Turned the amp on with nothing plugged in, dead quite. Bass and cord into the amp, no hiss. Plugged my bass into some guitar effects pedals I have (chorus and delay), plugged into the amp and again, no hiss. Plugged the M87 back in and there's the hiss.

Oh well, guess I won't be using it at church. I didn't know of reports of defective ones so your help is appreciated.

Back to the store today after church!
 

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