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What exactly does a compressor do? I need some enlightenment.
- Thread starter JoshSmith
- Start date
- Dec 10, 2008
- 2,341
- 5,822
- Disclosures
- Douglas Castro, Founder: darkglass.com
Ovnila... just kidding, actually the briefest explanation I could come up with: a compressor is basically an automated volume control. Depending on how you set it it will detect your signal's volume and readjust it to a certain level.
If you want to read I'd suggest checking out the page above
.
Regards!
Doug.
If you want to read I'd suggest checking out the page above
.Regards!
Doug.
I'm afraid to post what I think a compressor does in case Bongo comes in and says, "Wrong! No compressor for you!!" But in my simplistic description, it boosts the signal an limits the maximum volume. So that ends up giving you less difference between your loud notes and your soft notes. The attack and release determine how quickly this happens and how it trails off as the note gets quieter. Ratio determines the difference between the softs and louds. Higher ratios giving a "smoother" sound. All of these come with tradeoffs and it's rare to find a good compressor that doesn't get noisy as you turn it up. Bongo's Smoothie is, maybe not the best compressor of all time, but it slays anything triple its price or lower.
A compressor can do a ton of different things depending on how you set it. It can add attack, it can reduce attack, it can add punchiness, it can even out volume, it can act as an expander, it can add thickness, it can add sustain, it can reduce sustain, etc.
Most people think of it as a way to control volume, but it can have significant impact on the envelope of the sounds depending on how you set the attack, release and threshold.
Most people think of it as a way to control volume, but it can have significant impact on the envelope of the sounds depending on how you set the attack, release and threshold.
Not essential by any means. For some musical styles, players like to use compression to even out their dynamic range. An example would be funk, where they are slapping a lot. I cannot stand compression, as it takes away my ability to accentuate certain notes when I want to.
I went through a compression phase, mostly because I was just trying out pedals and effects. I got over it quickly.
I went through a compression phase, mostly because I was just trying out pedals and effects. I got over it quickly.
A compressor doesn't have to do that. In fact, you can make a compressor the the opposite - accentuate notes even more. You just need to set it properly.
In Soviet Russia notes compress you!
Technically speaking a compressor is like Doug said, an automated volume control. Imagine that you set a volume threshold and every time you go over it your volume is turned down a bit. That's pretty much it.
The attack control is how quickly the compressor reacts to turn down volume when you cross the threshold.
The ratio is just a measure of how much your volume gets turned down. A 2:1 ratio means that for every 2dB over the threshold your volume only goes up by 1 dB. A higher ratio means a greater level of compression and at very high ratios your volume essentially doesn't go over the threshold volume except the little volume spike before the compressor kicks in - which is governed by the attack time. Some compressors have lots of other controls such as release (when the compressor stops compressing), tone or EQ controls, input levels, and more but in essence it's just about attenuating volume above a certain level.
And the last important control is volume (sometimes labeled as level or gain) which controls the overall volume. Since your loud sounds are going to be made quieter by the compressor, you will likely like to increase the overall volume so that the average volume stays the same.
So what is the overall change to your sound? Well, it depends on the compressor but often times you'll hear the effect described as "fattening up your sound" or making it more "punchy" or at extreme levels "squashing" your sound as well as added sustain. Some compressors can also add "warmth" or "vintage" tone, which is often part of the selling point of tube comps.
Because quiet sounds are made louder due to the overall gain going up and loud notes over the threshold being brought down, you'll hear harmonics much better than before, the notes will be made even and for recording purposes the bass will slot better in the mix . Or depending on the type of compressor (some are more for tonal coloring and some are more for "clinical" compression) you may just like the way the compressor changes your sound and tone.
If used too heavily a compressor can decrease your dynamic range and cause your playing to sound flat. Often times when people say they hate compressors it's because they use a relatively high ratio compressor with a low enough threshold that you lose the "excitement" of the uncompressed sound.
A compressor can go anywhere in your chain. Early on it can help with evenness and sustain for octave or synth pedals. At the end it can reduce volume spikes from things like envelope filters. Like any other effect, experiment and see what works for you. Personally, when I use a compressor it usually ends up in the middle of my chain, after octave/pitch shifting, dirt and envelope filters but before any other modulation pedals. That's what works for me.
Technically speaking a compressor is like Doug said, an automated volume control. Imagine that you set a volume threshold and every time you go over it your volume is turned down a bit. That's pretty much it.
The attack control is how quickly the compressor reacts to turn down volume when you cross the threshold.
The ratio is just a measure of how much your volume gets turned down. A 2:1 ratio means that for every 2dB over the threshold your volume only goes up by 1 dB. A higher ratio means a greater level of compression and at very high ratios your volume essentially doesn't go over the threshold volume except the little volume spike before the compressor kicks in - which is governed by the attack time. Some compressors have lots of other controls such as release (when the compressor stops compressing), tone or EQ controls, input levels, and more but in essence it's just about attenuating volume above a certain level.
And the last important control is volume (sometimes labeled as level or gain) which controls the overall volume. Since your loud sounds are going to be made quieter by the compressor, you will likely like to increase the overall volume so that the average volume stays the same.
So what is the overall change to your sound? Well, it depends on the compressor but often times you'll hear the effect described as "fattening up your sound" or making it more "punchy" or at extreme levels "squashing" your sound as well as added sustain. Some compressors can also add "warmth" or "vintage" tone, which is often part of the selling point of tube comps.
Because quiet sounds are made louder due to the overall gain going up and loud notes over the threshold being brought down, you'll hear harmonics much better than before, the notes will be made even and for recording purposes the bass will slot better in the mix . Or depending on the type of compressor (some are more for tonal coloring and some are more for "clinical" compression) you may just like the way the compressor changes your sound and tone.
If used too heavily a compressor can decrease your dynamic range and cause your playing to sound flat. Often times when people say they hate compressors it's because they use a relatively high ratio compressor with a low enough threshold that you lose the "excitement" of the uncompressed sound.
A compressor can go anywhere in your chain. Early on it can help with evenness and sustain for octave or synth pedals. At the end it can reduce volume spikes from things like envelope filters. Like any other effect, experiment and see what works for you. Personally, when I use a compressor it usually ends up in the middle of my chain, after octave/pitch shifting, dirt and envelope filters but before any other modulation pedals. That's what works for me.
bongomania
Commercial User
Wro... Oh hm no I am not nearly as grumpy these days as I've been in the past here. No "wrong" for you!
I really ought to make this article ( http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/necessary.shtml ) be the front page of my site, the first thing anybody sees when going to ovnilab for the first time.
Its traction control for your instrument. Similarly, compression is either loved or hated. Try one and see if it does what you need.
Agree, but there is a problem, is an effect, compressors destroy the natural dynamics of any musician who have some competence. It's his only fault, repairs and rebuilds a lot of things, but "hide" what a musician does best, their interpretation and dynamic.
I prefer my fingers dynamics, I lose something and gain another. Naturalness.
Once again, it doesn't have to affect the dynamics. In fact, compressors can increase dynamics. The problem is, 99% of bass players don't actually know how to use a compressor other than for reducing dynamics.
But try a good compressor. Something from the recommended list from Ovnilabs.
