Compressors and how they are used

James Sweeten · From: Michigan, USA

Hi,
Does anybody use compression for live playing, and if so what compressor do you recommend? Does a compressor reduce the need for a volume pedal? I know that a lot of people use it for recording, but just am not sure about live sessions. If these sound like elementary questions, it is because I'm brand new at this, in fact I'm currently and impatiently waiting for my new Stageone S-10 to arrive.

Gary Meixner · From: New York, USA

James,

There are several past discussions about using a compressor with steel guitar that might be of help to you. It is a topic that comes up often. You will probably find that many steel player do use one but not in place of a volume pedal. A volumne pedal is an essential tool for most styles of steel and an important thing to master. Learning to use one with a light touch can take time and much can be done without a volume pedal or compressor just by the way you play. Don't sweat it though, get a decent pedal and start using it - it will take some practice but it is all part of the process. You may like the sound of a comnpressor too but get a handle on your technique fisrt.

Gary

James Sweeten · From: Michigan, USA

Okay, using a compressor sounds more like personal preference that anything. Yeah, I'm sure that most of my time will be spent on learning technique. I have acquired some teaching material, and they talk about blocking, volume pedal work. Plus that left hand having to land precisely on the fret. Thanks for the advice. It sounds like whether I use compression or not, is a decision that I have plenty of time to make. Thanks again.

James

Jerry Humphries · From: Jasper, AL.

I use a little compression that is one of my effects in my lexicon MX400. Still learning trying different settings with it. I think it helps in string seperation.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

I used a compressor (an old Dyna Comp) for awhile a long time ago. It became a big crutch to hide bad technique, and my playing became sloppy as a result. I don't use one at all anymore, and I don't plan to start using one again.

I strongly recommend that you forget about compressors.

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I have tried to use a compressor off and on. Mostly they seem to add to the noise base. My feeling is that if you have one you will adjust your technique to it and the same goes for if you don't. So why bother?

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

Pre VP...

...and it does anything but hide my sloppy playing Very Happy

Gary Cosden · From: Florida, USA

Everything you wanted to know about compression and compressors but were afraid to ask....
http://www.ovnilab.com/
I am somewhat of an addict where this site is concerned. Don't let the fact that he deals mostly with bass compressors scare you away. There's a ton of useful info here. Great site with many reviews including Georg Sørtun's favorite Boss. I recommend reading the FAQ pages as he suggests.

James Sweeten · From: Michigan, USA

Okay, thanks guys. I appreciate the input. I guess I'm gonna hold off on a compressor for a while till I develop my technique. Then see what happens from there.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I used to use an old MXR Dyna Comp as an effect. I would set it so the note got "squished" quite a bit giving an almost popping sound, similar to what Tele players were getting. I would only have it turned on when using it as an effect. I would NEVER use one all the time in my signal chain. It is not necessary and I have never had one "increase string separation" or add any other positive aspects to the sound.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

For optimal load/drive of each component in my sound-chain set up for below ear-damaging output, the sequence I use the most is like this...

A7 and LMB-3 clipped onto PSG leg for ease of control and minimal cable-loss.

My "favorite Boss" does even better when fed low impedance and adjusted (slightly higher than normal) level. Easy to overdrive it in that position though.

The Boss VP (one of several VP models I have and use) is 50Kohm in, and the input on the NV112 (bypassing all pre/eq stages) is 1Mohm (which really doesn't matter at all in this set-up).

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

Not long ago I began asking questions about using a compressor in a "Live" situation.
I received several personal replies from a number of well respected persons and was told that the number of pro pedal steel players using compressors was just about nil.
I was mildly surprised to read in one of the posts on this forum that Paul Franklin always uses a compressor and Paul was singing the praises of the Benado PB 1 which is a boutique unit of five pedals in one board.I went to the Benado site and I see that Sage Benado will shortly be introducing a 3 pedal unit called steel dream P.F.(Paul Franklin)
I was quite surprised to see that it did not have a compressor on the board??
I posted a question to Paul about his enthusiasm for the Benado compressor and then omitting the compressor from the P.F. sweet dream.Paul must have missed My post.
I later enquired from Sage Benado about this omission and Sage gave Me a very detailled explanation and said that Paul uses the compressor more as a boost effect than a compressor so the new sweet dream will be equipped with a "Nutradrive"
I would guess this forum will be buzzing soon on this pedal board.
Have a look at the web site http://www.benadoeffects.com/products.html

Best regards
Billy

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

Kevin Milner · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

I use a Keeley compressor (pre VP) for live applications. I set it to very subtle compression, just to even things out a little bit. It just makes things easier at gigs with bad monitoring and such. I also sometimes use it as an effect, for example to emulate the really squashed steel sound I often hear on Paisley records, or for crazy sustain on one song (with lots of overdrive as well). For recording I normally bypass the compressor as whoever mixes it will probably slather too much on anyway.
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Effects: Cali76-CD Compressor -> EP booster -> Sarno Earth Drive -> Earthquaker Devices Zap Machine -> Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter Phaser -> Caitlinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk III -> Malekko Envelope Filter -> Hilton VP -> Pedal Projects Klone -> Tech 21 Blonde -> Strymon Timeline -> TC Electronics Spark Mini Boost -> Strymon Lex -> Strymon Flint

Steve Humes · From: Tampa, Florida, USA

Like any tool, you have to understand what it does to know how to use it properly and effectively. Compression circuits will boost soft signals and suppress loud signals, all in relation to how you set it to do. This can add noise by amplifying the low level noise of the instrument and related connections.

In live situations, I reserve the compression for vocals. Limiters are often built in to newer bass amps. Tube amps can also offer a bit of compression, along with overdrive.

I recently acquired Stage One, and use a Goodrich Matchbox 7A which is designed for PSG.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I have mixed emotions about these things, but I do feel that beginners should avoid them for a few years. My reasoning is that they can be a kind of crutch, in that they prevent (or rather, make it unnecessary) for players to learn proper volume pedal and picking techniques. Yes, I know that many pros use them, but these are almost always players who already had excellent skills, and then they added the compressor for a "finishing touch" in their sound.

Look at like this: If you had a car that had lots of rust and dings, and needed a paint job, it would be rather foolish to pay for a hand-rubbed wax job because the car wasn't ready. Waxing a rusty, dented hulk would be wasting time, time that would be far better spent on fixing the body and getting a paint job, and making the car look presentable, first. Then, and only then, would you be able to apperciate the beauty that a good wax job could do.

So, my own feeling is...get the basic skills down pat, learn the ins and outs of playing the instrument. Then, a couple of years down the road, you can begin to worry (experiment) with the various gadgets and devices that can be an adjunct to the pro, but merely a distraction to the newbie.

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Well said Donny. I think compressors also smooth over uneven picking with the right hand. As a result one doesn't have to develop good right hand technique. The smoothness of a good competent steel player should come from the hands, not from a device.

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

James thanks for bringing up the use of a compressor, I have not used one in years and because of you I am taking another look. It makes the E9 sustain longer and fattens up the sound. I use more on the C6th, more like a guitar player would use. It chops the notes but it is a nice change of pace.

Larry Behm
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