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Topic: Compressor |
John Gould
From:
Houston, TX Now in Cleveland TX
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 7:59 pm |
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Anyone using a compressor in their signal chain?
If so which one and what kind of settings.
And where in the signal path.
_________________
A couple of guitars
Nashville 1000 Fender Mustang III Boss Katana MKII 50
Emmons LeGrande II and Sho Bud Pro II |
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Ivan Funk
From:
Hamburg Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2009 9:11 pm
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I've been playing with a Bellari LA120 recently. I had a couple sitting around and thought I'd try it on the pedal steel.
I like the sound. Actually - pedal steel is the only thing it sounds good on (it's a cheap unit). It is subtle enough that you don't really notice a "compressed" sound although it colors the sound a with a bit of character and squeezes out nice sustain. It's an alleged "tube" compressor (12ax7) but I'm suspicious of the plate voltage although the description says: "All tube gain circuitry with proper high-voltage plate voltages. Maybe some electronics guy on here can explain how they do this with a 12v 300ma wall-wort. (Is it wort or wart?)
It uses optical gain reduction. It gives a nice touch sensitivity to the whole rig and I end up using the vol pedal differently.
The controls are just threshold and and output level. I just twist knobs till it sounds good.
I place it last in the chain before the amp or in an effects loop.
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Ulric Utsi-Åhlin
From:
Sweden
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Posted 13 Mar 2009 1:05 am
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Well,a 12AX7 double-triode operates from a 12 volt
heater supply,but You´re right in implying that it´s
best to take those "All-Tube...","Tube-Driven..."etc
rap w/ as many grains of salt as needed...there´s
some hoaxing going on,feeding off the concept of the
fabled,mysterious Electron Tube...McUtsi |
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Ulric Utsi-Åhlin
From:
Sweden
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Posted 13 Mar 2009 1:10 am
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...and I should add:I absolutely LOVE the fabled,
mysterious Electron Tube,it´s just that not every unit containing a tube is a high-end product,far
from it...McUtsi |
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Alan Kirk
From:
Paso Robles, CA, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2009 7:05 am
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If you're going to use a compressor, buy a good one, a Keeley 4-knob or a DBX rack mount. A compressor of lower quality will not make you happy. And those comps you find in multi-effects devices--like Line 6, and other cheapos--pretty much suck.
A good compressor can enhance your sound, if used judiciously. A cheap one just sounds cheap, it detracts from your sound.
_________________
Everyone in the world has two jobs: 1) whatever they do for a living; and 2) music critic.
Last edited by Alan Kirk on 13 Mar 2009 7:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Alan Kirk
From:
Paso Robles, CA, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2009 7:10 am
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Oops.
_________________
Everyone in the world has two jobs: 1) whatever they do for a living; and 2) music critic. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2009 7:21 am
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I use my Keeley 4 knob compressor both in "quack" mode and as a slight sustainer on my guitar parts. I haven't really needed it for steel. I do add a touch of compression to my steel recordings (via the Yamaha AW-2400 workstation) to even them out by reducing the extreme peaks. Never had to do that for live playing though.
Greg |
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Steve English
From:
Baja, Arizona
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Posted 13 Mar 2009 10:48 am
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In reference to the pedal steel guitar:
Unless you're going for the sound effect of the compressor(the "squashed effect"), I can't think of any practical application a compressor would have.
If it's sustain you're looking for, the trade-off will probably be higher noise and the audible side effects of the compressor.
Not a good substitute for technique, in my opinion.
For post effects recording, I've always preferred a good optical limiter.
_________________
Always remember you're unique..... Just like everyone else |
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Brian McGaughey
From:
Orcas Island, WA USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2009 3:53 pm
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My sustain "squeezer-outer"...
Otherwise after recording perhaps a little compression when you can hear me misuse my sustain "squeezer-outer.  |
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