I have a CS-3 compressor for some really hard squashed one dimensional tones; I understand that the nature of really heavy (and cheap) compression is hiss. But what im thinking is will a decimator or something along those lines work with taking out the hiss when i am not hitting a note?
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Will a decimator stop compressor hiss?
- Thread starter Blu bro
- Start date
i figured. Its not really that big of a deal as whenever i am using the compressor generally it is for really heaverly effected tones (synth/octave). Thanks for your answer BTW.
Dominick C.
Guest
Seems like for the cost of the decimator you could sell your hissy comp and invest in a nicer one? Just my two cents.
The catch is... when i was looking for a compressor all i needed it to do was turn my playing into a one dimensional squashed sound. I got it so when i use synthy sounds it would sound like a keyboard rather than a bass ie. no dynamics at all.
Dominick C.
Guest
Maybe a parametric eq that lets you cut that frequency? But that is even more money. Plus these options all involve another pedal. A nicer comp may do what you want without hiss.
Despite what you might have heard, a noise gate will solve your problem fairly easily, just remember to put it after the compressor.
The Decimator is a really good choice and I always liked mine, but if you have access to the EHX Silencer, it'll do just fine at a much lower price. I got it because I needed a noise gate and didn't want to spend much, and I'm actually pretty pleased with it.
Let me qualify my answer, it Will work to kill the hiss but at the cost of having it sound very gated.
Opening and closing with each note, you will have to set it pretty high, cutting off any "tail" to a note.
Gates can work to eliminate hiss, but solve the hiss problem, and you don't introduce the stutter of a gate.
Your money would be better spent on a better comp IMHO, YMMV etc.
A seriously quiet comp that works really naturally and just happens to be pretty economical, is the Seymour Duncan Studio (@170 USD)
Opening and closing with each note, you will have to set it pretty high, cutting off any "tail" to a note.
Gates can work to eliminate hiss, but solve the hiss problem, and you don't introduce the stutter of a gate.
Your money would be better spent on a better comp IMHO, YMMV etc.
A seriously quiet comp that works really naturally and just happens to be pretty economical, is the Seymour Duncan Studio (@170 USD)
Actually, this is exactly the reason I recommended the "g-string" Decimator. Unlike a lot of noise-gates (such as the "normal" Decimator, that I actually have) the "g-string" has a loop, so that it can sense the level at one point in the chain and open/close the gate in another point. So the OP will connect the "input" (level-sensing part) before the compressor, and the send/return (actual gate) after the compressor.
I agree that eliminating the source of the noise, is always the best option, but I suspect that any compressor will have some hiss with extreme settings, and it looks like the OP can actually be served well by a noise-gate because it looks like this is the actual effect he's trying to achieve (distinct on/off sound with no dynamics).
Perhaps! But an opening closing gate is a harsh ugly sound, The G string sounds interesting and may be just the ticket, if it can "sense" signal from the instrument separate from the effects, that would work so much more naturally, and reduce the "chopped tail" syndrome.
Get a Zoom MS-60B and use the bult-in compressor with the Zoom noise suppressor. That's essentially how I use the MS-60B on my main board, except, I am using the limiter rather than the compressor, though I do have a setting for that as well. Or get a better compressor, lol. I have the standard Decimator, and it probably would be like /\/\3phist0 described
There are much better compressors than the CS-3 for tone squashing that don't hiss or squeal.
My favorites at this game are the Jacques FatBurner and the Guyatone ST-2.
My favorites at this game are the Jacques FatBurner and the Guyatone ST-2.
What you're hearing is the noise floor, and every piece of gear has one. Applying enough gain to the signal will raise this to audible levels and the basic solutions are to get a quieter compressor, find a cleaner way to apply the makeup gain (preamp pedal), or simply dial back your comp to more sane levels. IMO the Boss CS pedals are pretty underrated, and there may be a mod or two available to help clean them up.
Will look into it. I am personally happy with the compressor, it does exactly what I need it to, just a bonus really if I can get rid of the hiss.
If what you're after is aggressive squashed synth tones then the harsh and erratic sound of a cheap noise gate will probably be exactly what you're looking for to enhance that effect, the hiss removal is a bonus.
But otherwise the G string is the most natural and transparent sounding noise gate out there and I currently use a synth fuzz in the effect loop for the exact purpose you describe.
Just make sure you run it on its own isolated power tap or else you'll have ground hum.
But otherwise the G string is the most natural and transparent sounding noise gate out there and I currently use a synth fuzz in the effect loop for the exact purpose you describe.
Just make sure you run it on its own isolated power tap or else you'll have ground hum.
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Hiss is hiss whether it's from a dirt pedal or the CS-3, and decent noise gates IME take care of that kind of hiss just fine.
