This is why you need a COMPRESSOR
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- All about compression. The most seen usages, we'll see what it does to the sound. The transients, attack, release, ratio, threshold, we'll learn it all!
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Tegeler Audio - VTRC
Origin Effects - Cali76
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Hi, my name is Paul Davids! I am a guitar player, teacher, producer, and overall music enthusiast from the Netherlands! I try to inspire people from all over the world with my videos, here on TH-cam.
If you want to know more about me, check out PaulDavidsGuit...
Thank you for watching!
Paul - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Compressor on the pedalboard? Yes/No?!
No! (great video dude once again)
Yes, got an MXR dyna comp
Yes forever!!!!!
Yes, nut a small one for saving space
Yes. I use my Tech21 BoostComp a lot. I leave it off when playing with distortion. Boost function is very handy on this pedal. It's a winner.
I swear, most of the time, people talk about these kinds of things and how they work and I feel like they’re speaking another language, but you always manage to explain in a way I can understand. Thank you!
yep (on both counts...)... (:
I love his videos all because of what you just said here.
Yes, they talk so confidently about it that you suspect they consider you a doofus when you want explanations or to just try it the first time. I also love how you take your time on this one effect, thanks!
And now imagine he's not even native English speaker. Lol
Will second that. My new go-to video for explaining the concept. Even understanding it, some others had me wondering what they're on about at points but this explanation was perfectly clear. Brilliant.
This is the best explanation of how compression works that I've seen yet.
Jake Lecroy i agree
I agree and love it when he says "electrical guitar" 😉👍
@@shaunw9270 yeah he's got a great accent but speaks better English than most Americans lol
@@jakelecroy5553 ...and probably better English than me...and I'm English 😁
The showing of the waveforms helps alot!
Super-informative and accurate video, Paul! Thanks for choosing our Cali76 pedal to demonstrate the benefits of using a compressor pedal on guitar.
Hey man I just wanted to say that I have a lot of respect for you, being able to create this amazingly high quality content and supporting yourself through focusing on your passion, and giving it your all. It must take a lot of time and effort to create such high quality content, and I commend you on that, and appreciate that you are helping so many people like me to learn, taking great pains not to leave out crucial details a student of music might miss. Love you man!
I understood compression pretty well before clicking on this - but this is the best and clearest presentation I have ever heard. Not sure which is better, Paul’s musicianship or his communication skills - truly one of the absolute top YT creators!
Compressor can kill our dynamics if it doesn't set correctly. It is very subjective topic to tell depends on what individual like how their sound to be. I always love your video content 👍
I'm always scared to use it in case it squashes the life out of the music. It's kind of dangerous because it initially sounds good when you apply it but can tire the ears quickly
@@fecklessmovies yup I understand. Many people like to compress their sound after recording because if you record your sound with compressor there is no way to kill it anymore 😂
@@hanten10 yes even more dangerous compressing it on the way in! I play folk music so compression is seen as the devil incarnate. However I'm wondering if a bit of judicious comp might actually be helpful.
That's what has always put me off . I have a really old compressor that was cheap to begin with and it just doesn't feel right , kind of takes away too much ... one day I might try out a Joyo which I think is meant to be like an MXR DynaComp , that might be better but to be fair , that Cali 76 is not in my price range at all ! 😊
@@shaunw9270 The cheapest and trusted is BOSS Compression Sustainer CS-3 bro, many guitarist use it including Paul Gilbert. I think it is better than any JOYO compressor. You must try it 👍
In response to all the people who claim not to like compression I think it's worth pointing out that nearly all pop and rock music involves compression in some form. People playing electric guitars are getting a compressed sound almost always even if they have no compressor pedal in the chain. The pickups, the pre-amp in the amplifier, the power amplifier, the loudspeakers all are capable of compressing the dynamics of the sound and very often that compression is what people like about a particular amplifier even if they don't consider it to be compression. Any kind of overdrive or distortion pedal adds compression. Using a dedicated compressor pedal is hardly any different to using any type of drive pedal in the sense that it results in a reduced dynamic range. Most country lead guitarists are happy to use compressors and people like Vince Gill have created their signature sounds using compressors. Lowell George of Little Feat is famous for using two 1176 compressors in line to get his trademark sound. Compressors have a long and honourable history amongst guitar heroes. There's no need to use them all the time if you don't want to but to dismiss them is to ignore a huge legacy of great guitar sounds.
The complaining don’t really know what they’re talking about. The best amps and the majority of all blues and jazz players use compression. Good quality amps like 2 rock does it on its own. But there’s a reason why people like the Cali76. It’s like complaining about the keely katana
I think a lot of people who _"don't like compression"_ have only ever heard about it in regards to the loudness-war where mixes are just completely over-compressed or 'brickwalled'. Meaning there's no dynamic range left in the mix, all life is taken out. A hit on the drums is just as loud as a whispered vocal. And at the same time this links compression to pop music.
Pretty sure that leads to a lot of "real musicians" claiming they "don't like" compression because they don't "need" "pop music" compression, and that it just "sounds bad".
Your run-of-the-mill snobbery really.
Well, if all these factors- from pickups to amps to speakers- create compression, why add another form of compression with a pedal? Outside of country- and you name checked Gill and George- virtually no one uses a compressor really. The list of great players in rock and roll using them is extremely small. I don’t think there really is a great legacy of guitar sound via compressor pedals outside of perhaps country and maybe some funk, which are both pretty standard sounds.
@@hammill444 agreed it may not be that common amongst rock players but. David Gilmour sound on Another Brick in the Wall definitely uses a compressor. Mark Knopfler has used one on some songs. Chris Buck has his cali76 permanently on and I would dearly love to be able to sound like him Clearly if people are getting the sound they want without using a compressor then that's what they should carry on doing but I find it really helps me to nail my sound.
@@TheMrVengeance As someone who thought he hated compression until I saw this video, I think you're correct in your first sentence. Anytime I heard people talk about compression it was always focusing on the negative aspects of over using it without ever mentioning how it can be used to improve your sound when used thoughtfully.
I added a subtle amount of compression to my chain after watching this video and the impact has been huge. Definitely showed me it's not what you use but how you use it.
Im a bass player and when I got my first compression pedal it radically changed my bass sound for the better, it sounded strong and the notes sustained as long as I wanted them to. Really awesome in other words!
I always use a compressor on my clean tone. It gives me the sustain i need without distortion. Love the sound too!
Isn't that kinda the definition of overdrive? Clips the peaks a bit, boosts the body of sound, provides for a better sustain, but without distorting the guitar or the amp sound significantly, and still responds nicely to dynamics.
Is it normal that I don't hear the difference?
No matter how many tutorials I've seen about compressing, I can never get enough of how much it helps to watch these, especially with guitars. Thanks Paul :)
This is the best and most understandable way I have ever had compression explained to me. Thanks for doing this video!
I agree with the other folks. This made more sense than any explanation Ive seen. Thanks man!
I’ve been an electronics engineer by profession for 40 years working on diagnostic imaging equipment. (CAT scanners, MRI, Cardiovascular etc…) when you are imaging a heart cath procedure we use a video processing scheme called EDR (extended dynamic range) to bring the brightest spots down out of sun flare status and the low level signals up out of the background noise….. video compression basically. I’ve also been a musician for 40 years and when I did my recording studio internship, I was stoked to find out that compressors are just the audio version of my EDR and I already understood the stuff…..
Best/cleanest presentation of audio compression I have seen on the interwebs….
Excellent educating sir!! This is why I am a subscriber….
And on your “compressor on the pedalboard” question Paul, that is the first thing on my board, add some delay, and some overdrive ……and I consider that my basic seasoning recipe and build out from there…..
did you reference chocolate rain? brilliant
What? I just moved away from the mic... I do that all the time when I breathe in, because it's so loud because the compressor brings it up so much, I hate that compressor thingy. Never again.
@@PaulDavids Never change
I caught that, too. Absolute genius!
So good
Haha!
Paul, thank you for your videos. I have been playing for half a century and you are still my "goto" guy. Your efforts do not go unnoticed!
Chocolate rain! 🤣😂😂 Nice reference! Great video with a real solid explanation
Thank you - excellent stuff - after years of listening to numerous people explain compression you are the first one to talk about it in a way I can CLEARLY understand!!!!!!!
Compression has been very confusing. I have read about it and seen other videos, but there is nothing like seeing the effect on the waveform. Kudos to you sir. This BY FAR the best explanation of compression I have EVER seen!!!
Calm, quiet, understandable explanation and demonstration. Perfect.
Sometimes i watch paul just to calm myself😌down,such a deep voice!😂
Doesn't help that your name is deep. dang bro.
Duct Tape lol sometimes
compression raises the quite sound and lower the loud sound to have finally a balanced/less dynamic audio signal. good explanation Paul!
Dude, I love your channel, you're so sincere about your topics and the production quality is top notch. Keep it up!
This was a great video for folks to understand compression, but then also let them think on how they can explore the sound further with pedal placement in the effects chain, and blending in on particular pedals. Kudos to you!
I think everyone that says it sucks the life out of your playing is missing the point, in a full band mix subtle dynamics get lost and louder ones become overpowering, compression is there to help all of the parts be heard. Paul even touched on how overcompression can suck the dynamics out. I think that example with the funky guitar part was really a good depiction of a good use of compression.
There is a big difference between using compression in the mixing phase vs over-using it in regular playing, making it harder to control dynamics with technique. I don't use a compressor on my board per se, bit I'm aware of which elements of my rig are providing compression ( eg pups, OD/distortion/fuzz).
Today it’s a great day... I finally understand what the compressor does!!! I love that visual example with Ableton and I really appreciate what u does for all of us. Keep going👍🏻
This video came out right when i needed it
thanks dude you're great
I just discovered your channel now where have I been all my life. Thanks so much for this sir
I liked the video only because of the chocolate rain reference
Best TH-camr Award goes to...
*takes weird breath*
I know!!! ❤
Paul your videos are the greatest ! Greetings from Colombia !
You are actually my mentor and I’m really inspired by your playing and it would be great if you would do an entire playlist on lead guitar lessons 😅❤️
I have been trying to understand compressors for a while, concerning producing music. This is the first time I feel like someone explained it in a way that I can comprehend. Thank you much Paul
4:30 love that reference to chocolate rain hahaha
some stay dry and others feel the pain
I only expected to learn how guitar compression works. What I didn’t expect is that I would actually get how compression actually works, in general. As a musician/producer who is quite new to compression, this really helped me! Good job, man! Continue to explain concepts that can be understood by everyone!
Hey Paul!
Any advice on using an EQ pedal versus EQing on the amp?
Great video as always!
This was great. I now understand why many pop songs have dead instrumentals - overly compressed instruments. Sounds cleaner to most ears, but it lacks soul. Thanks so much!
Great video, really enjoyed the use of the visual with the wafeform in there.
Best, most clear explanation of compression ever! Thank you.
Great video making compression clear. It is a great tool when used right! Thanks for the time making these video's. I enjoy them!
Damn, Iemember when I first subbed to this channel; it had like 200k subs. You're growing fast! I'm happy for you, man.
Edit: grammar
My answer to your question for me is absolutely yes. I've gotten to the point that when I play without compression, the music I make is far less pleasing to my ears. I click my Barber Tone Press on and I'm much happier. When I play with the band, I set my compression pedal to 'neutral' setting and I never take turn it off. It's become my only 'always on' pedal. Great video btw!
Can you make a series of these videos for other guitar effects?? Love the way this video is laid out.
Thank you very much! I was trying to figure out why my new compression pedal was totally removed in the dynamics from my Les Paul volume knob and pots. I found my answer here, thank you.
Hi Paul. As usual, a very educating video of yours. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, and for your (always) very clear and graphik explanation. Greetings from Spain
This video really helped me understand what compressor is and how to use it! Please make videos for other effects too😝👍
I agree. As a mostly-acoustic player until pretty recently, I'm way behind on my understanding of what effect do and how they work. Having a few more of them explained this well would be magnificently helpful.
Think compressed: Think compressed: flattened by pressure; squeezed or pressed together.
Good teacher ! at last I understand what threshold, attack, release and ratio do. and I learned something new: sausage. Thanks !
Very well explained. Controlled specific use of comression does have some merit the way you explained it but overall I still hate it for the way it its killed the overall dynamics of cd recordings these days. Recordings should sound better than they did in the 80's but its not the case. Limiting dynamic range in music should be a switchable option on the playback device rather than baked in at the studio. Its also very subjective as I prefer the uncompressed sound of an acoustic guitar for example. Play Dire straight's "Brothers in arms" cd from 1985 on a decent system and compare it to just about any modern recording.
This is a really great video, you contribute fantastic content to the music community and I really appreciate. There are a few things I would like to add to further discussion on the topic!
First of which, is that there are multiple types of compression that occur when it comes to distorted guitar tones, a few things that didn't get mentioned in the video (specifically in regards to a tube amp) are the differences between pre-amp signal compression, power tube compression and speaker compression. As amplifiers (specifically tube amps though speakers would behavior similarly in a solid state scenario I would imagine with some degree of variance) are played at a higher volume, the power tubes and the speakers begin to compress the sound much more. It's why, at least for me, I find it much easier to play on a cranked up 4x12 than at bedroom volumes, all of that compression hits together to create a significant tonal and feel change in the amplifier. This also enables you to turn down the "gain" knob when you crank the volume. Most modern production high gain amplifiers rely on a ton of clean headroom for their "tight and punchy" sound, and the preamp section for the distortion/compression, I honestly can't imagine how loud my Diezel would have to be to create power tube distortion. As you turn up the volume level you don't need as much of the compression occurring in the preamp section to retain the nice compressed feel, due to the power tubes and the speakers beginning to compress. Just something to consider exploring in a further video possibly? It's fairly complicated and a bit over my head at this point in time so I'll leave it to an excerpt from Weber on speaker compression:
"The whole 'AlNiCo mojo' is about smooth compression at high average levels, such as what you would have running the amp flat out. AlNiCo (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) is an alloy magnet and all alloy magnets are easier to demagnetize than comparable Ceramic (Strontium Ferrite) magnets. What this means is that as the voice coil starts moving in response to the input signal, it generates a magnetic field of its own that tries to demagnetize the magnet. As its effect lowers the available magnetic field of the AlNiCo magnet, the speaker becomes less efficient, the voice coil moves less, etc. The physics of it is that the small magnets near the surface of the magnet poles (called 'domains') begin to change state, or flip directions. The result is smooth compression, the same kind of operating curve compression that occurs in a tube amplifier. The ceramic magnet, on the other hand, doesn't compress or demagnetize as easily, so the voice coil moves to its mechanical limit and won't go any farther. This is why some players say ceramics sound a little edgey at high average levels as opposed to AlNiCo. However, by properly designing the entire magnetic circuit, Ceramics can be made to behave quite well for desirable guitar amp tone and dynamics. You might compare the two magnetic circuits to solid state amps versus tube amps, where the solid state amp gives it all its got then clips hard, while a tube amp compresses nice and smooth. The extension of this idea, then, is that with the AlNiCo, like the tube amp, you can seem to have a louder average volume since it gets compressed smoothly. By the way, the compressing or demagnetization that occurs with the AlNiCo is not permanent. It springs right back to its design operating point.
A voice coil is like an electric motor. The bigger the voice coil, the more wire used, the more torque or pulling power you have to move the cone. With the proper match of components, you can get more sensitivity, wider frequency response, and more power handling ability."
The second thing I wanted to mention is in regards to audio production and utilization of a compressor. One of the first mistakes that we all make as aspiring audio engineers is over compressing the sound. There will always be artistic choices for specific compression effects in studio production, though in general one of the worst things you can do to a mix is over compress everything. Sure, it creates a nice "even" sound from all the instruments however; much like you stated, it can suck the "life" out of your playing, the same can happen in the audio world. Less is more when tracking (in my opinion), when using an outboard compressor for tracking, generally I only commit to some peak leveling, because once it's "printed" I can't undo the compression (and I'm no master engineer so I can easily make mistakes). I can always patch in more via digital or analog routing and add it later at the time of mixing. One more note in this regard, is as the barrier to entry in regards to automation control has been greatly lowered, I'm seeing more and more mixing techniques rely on automation control of dynamics rather than utilizing compression because it retains more of the instrument or voices natural characteristics. For example, when you play one part louder than the other, rather than using a compressor, some will manually edit the volume levels of the various sections (much like you did with makeup gain after the compression), and then run the already leveled dynamic output through a compressor. This prevents any radical changes to the sound and allows the compressor to react in a more uniform and predictable manner, creating a more cohesive sound.
Thanks again for the video, hopefully my ramblings are useful to someone out there in the TubeVerse.
I'd love to see a video on EQing the guitar
Just might be the best explanation of compression ever. Great job, Paul.
I'd like to try one. All these years I've been playing softer or turning the volume down
Thanks for a very clear explanation of compression!
I can see from this how compression makes the sound tighter and more polished sounding. But if you already have good technique and feel, I’m not sure whether you really need compression. It sounds worryingly akin to vocal auto tuning.
I think I know what your getting at but it’s far from the same deal as vocal auto tuning, compression isn’t a cop out as much as vocal auto tune when it’s done correctly and as Davids said “with care.”
If you have good technique and feel, you definitely need compression. Because good feel usually means that you play very dynamically which means you never have a consistent volume.
Excuse me Paul David, but you're videos are by far my favorite guitar related videos available on TH-cam. Thank you, from all of my heart.
"And a hum, like.... hum!"
\*literally sings the word hum\*
Best explanation for compression on guitar that I've seen. Seriously...the compressor is the very most difficult thing to wrap your brain around. Great demonstration Paul!
0:19 No Paul, we don’t have any pedals to put on our board. Or a board to put them on.
*Cue sad music with a slow, tragic zoom*
I'm a secondary teacher and laughed at the kids antics. I've had the opportunity to teach music for a while , wish I had have started that way. You are an inspirational teacher , love your implied humour , and your slightly "Mork" accent
a nerd video of length 13:37 ... that can't be a coincidence! :D Love the explanation, thanks Paul!
@@ansems3136 ik like voor je naam, Ride the Tijn was ook leuk geweest xD
Great video! This really showed exactly what compression does versus a lot of other videos that are just demoing guys noodling around with pedals. I just started using my compressor again after a long time, and while I didn’t like it with my last guitar, I love it with my current one!
After using effects for 40 years, i finally know what a compressor does.
"using"
Great explanation thanks. My mxr dynacomp sits before all my fuzz/dist pedals and of course before the tubes I overdrive in my amp. The only thing I have behind it is my mutron 3 env filter.
I didn't need this video but I watched it anyway. I wish I had found this when I was looking for an explanation of what compression was. I felt like I could never find a good answer and it took forever to figure out. Great video
Excellent explanation Paul!
4:30 Paul becoming a Meme Lord 🤣
I don't get it
Thank you Paul!! I no longer randomly turn dials until it lands somewhere I think sounds better.
I have finally understood what compression does, and how to use it ... Thanks.
So glad you made this video, Paul. I'm an audio engineer and compression is the single most useful tool in our arsenal.
If only my compressor pedal could be spelled the way you say it.
I also agree this is the best and simplest tutorial on how to use compression and how it works that i have seen. Thanks for making videos like these they help me greatly!
Compressor Gain!
Made me move away from the mic again
Compressor Gain!
Please listen to how it works as I explain
Great tip about rolling the volume down when using distortion before compression - works beautifully
Can you do a tutorial on your hair style? no joke
I would love to have a Beard like that :/ Doesn't grow as much sadly :/
I agree!
You people need to get out more and meet something that we used to call - A WOMAN !
@@douglaslay7487 Thanks for the tip man
He needs to use a compressor on his hair.
Use compression to complement your rhythm levels but never use it as a crutch for erratic strumming -- practice will fix that. Paul does another stellar video!
John Frusciante used it, and if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me!
Ronnie Jackson well you absolutely have the right to think that but that’s just not true
Didn't he use heroine too? :D
@@morten1 Yeaahhhh I'm only referring to his music, not his lifestyle lol
@Ronnie Jackson Many people above the age of 50...
@Ronnie Jackson dont worry. RHCP are the most overrated band of all time.
Very informative. And the Chocolate Rain nod was perfectly placed!
no one NEEDS a compressor...they can be useful, though.
Your videos are so well done! cheers!
TL;DR - it's a waveform sausage machine.
This is the highest quality video and best explanation I've even heard. Thank you!
it's pronounced tran"s"ient with an s, not tran"sh"ient
not in his language tho...we know what he means
Imagine there are people out there who speak a different native language and have a different accent thus pronouncing a word differently than you 🤯
@@chrismortlock2192 I’m not a native speaker.
If I said a word wrong I would like to know. I’m just trying to help him out.
Brilliant video. Very informative and educational. Excellent tips and food for thought.
"This is why you need to kill all of your dynamic range for no reason." Uhm, NO.
No logic in your statement. If you abuse compression, like any affect it can cause issues... Kinda like your generalized statement which are all ways wrong...
Calm down clown. Go listen to classical
@@lemfandango Make me.
@@lemfandango calm down listen to some great blues or rock. Though I doubt your capable of calm.
Im not a guitarrist, but its allways good to watch videos on compresion or other fx as a reminder on how things work, I constantly confuse the way a compressor pedal works with the way a synth envelope works. if you have the attack on zero on a synth envelope its fast, on a compressor the attack is slow with that setting, but the setting/value knob has the same name, Now I will continue to create a good sound!
Youll get copyrights strike by using the word COMPRESSION
I never understood why I want a compression pedal, but now I get it. Thanks Paul!
Excellent. Straight to the point.
Thank you.
Excellent video. It explains the principles of compression better than just about any video I've seen.
Fantastic digest of otherwise fairly complex concepts. What a gifted instructor.
One of the best channels. Period
Excellent Compression walk through
Sorry , I'd just previously watched your 2011 history how you started , I've watched so many now , I'd actually moved on. You are inspirational . Yes I have a compressor , made by a mate of mine. Love your program!
I was never clear on what compression did. This video was very helpful. Thank you!
... 02/29/2020: The best detailed review about compressors ... Thank You
Thank you so much making this confusing topic so simple using graphic wafeform examples.
First encounter with a compression unit was as one of the engineers as well as a DJ at a now-gone, 500+ TPO and generally well over our ERP by complete accident, of course, free format FM station long gone now. Thanks, Clear Channels, for helping kill off real radio.
Wish I'd had your "why you need compression" on tape to explain the thing to staff... interns... most they could ever seem to grasp is "you can make what you're playing sound louder and not toast your listener's speakers when they've got Frankenstein on 11."
This is one of the best videos on compression. Well done, Paul
As an engineer and producer compression is about the first thing I go to. Very great lesson Paul on this. Every guitarist needs compression and a noise gate IMHO. Keep up the great videos!!!
-LTB!
Thanks excellent video.
I play the blues harp and because of the way the instrument works the compressor is extremely useful.
fyi:
to get certain notes on the harp you have no choice but to make them a lot louder or quieter then the normal notes.