How to Use a Compressor Pedal
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Compression pedals eliminate large leaps or reductions in volume, creating an even and pleasing guitar tone with dynamic ranges.
- These tools are popular as guitar effects pedals but even more useful as studio effects when recording audio signals.
- When using a compressor, start slowly and rely on the blend knob. Too much compression is never a good look, especially with clean tones.
If you are new to guitar effects, you may wonder what is a loop pedal. Many of the best guitars, after all, integrate with a vast array of effects pedals, and loop pedals are certainly one of the more popular options. So what exactly is a loop pedal, and why is this type of pedal considered one of the best guitar pedals for some musicians? Keep reading to find out.
What is a Compressor Pedal?
After learning how to use distortion pedals and other types of pedals, you may move on to the more complex and nuanced compressor pedal. So what exactly is a compressor pedal, and will it help eliminate hum from guitar pedals? Compression pedals help regulate the volume output from your audio source, ensuring that you get a reduction in peaks and valleys, even when conducting that Seymour Duncan studio bass compressor review.
In other words, using a compressor pedal in the proper way makes it so that your playing doesn’t hog all of the space while still allowing it to be heard. This makes compression pedals some of the more popular jazz guitar pedals.
Tips for Using a Compressor Pedal
Each one of these pedals boasts different designs, so there is no universal how-to guide here. There are, however, some tips for properly using any compression system, no matter the design.
Less is More
Compression is a finicky effect, and over-applying will result in a dull kind of muddled sound that just sort of retreats into the mix. Or, even worse, the sound will kind of thump along, creating a displeasing tone as it goes. You get the drill. Less is more here. No matter the design, start slowly and work your way up. A little bit of compression goes a long way, and unless you are going for a mangled sound, you will rarely have to proceed beyond light compression.
Read the Instructions and Practice
Remember, compression pedals are all different, and compressors are complex pieces of tech with unique control schemes. Read the instructions and get to know your specific pedal. Even if your pedal does not use traditional compression terminologies, read up on compression algorithms, compression thresholds, attack times, release times, and more. This will help you understand what is going on underneath the hood as you make changes. Also, experiment with these pedals at both the beginning and end of your signal chain.
Compression FAQs
Where should a compressor go in my signal chain?
This depends on what you want. Putting a compressor up front compresses everything after it, so keep that in mind when adjusting for makeup gain. Putting a compressor at the end compresses the finished signal.
What is the best compressor pedal for guitar players?
It depends on what type of player you are and what you are looking for. For instance, acoustic guitar players excel with different compressors than electric guitars playing clean tones.
How do you get the most from your compressor pedal?
The key here is to practice until you understand what it is doing. Use the blend knob and pair the compressor with clean tons and with overdrive pedals. Add a boost pedal for a little extra assistance.
STAT
“Compression is one of the most popular effects in recorded music. It “evens out” the dynamics of a musical performance, making the soft parts louder and the loud parts softer.” (source)
TIP: If you put a compressor at the top of your chain, each subsequent effect will be compressed by the pedal.
Sources:
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-compressor-pedal-part-1/
https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-compressor-pedal-guide
https://stringjoy.com/what-does-compressor-pedal-do-guitar/
https://pedaltown.nl/en/compressor-pedal-what-is-the-use-and-how-does-it-work
