Freshly Squeezed Signal. Compression.

I apologize for my disappearance the past week.  Sometimes trials in life require a good smiting, and I had some "project management training" that needed a good dose of smite.  Anyhow, a topic I've been wanting to address that has been grinding my gears lately, is compression.  I'm not going to get into what compression actually is, because there are a number of excellent articles about it, but I will hit on a few key points about compression here and there.  A compressor has a variety of applicable uses for guitarists.  It can give a nice "pop" to your sound if you're swattin' at some funk guitar.  If you're doing some serious finger tapping, compression can definitely help bring your signal up in the mix.  A soft right-hand fingertip just isn't going to give you same sustain as a plastic pick.

Do I Need a Compressor?
The short answer to 95% of you is, no you probably don't.  Most pedal junkies assume that a compressor is something needed to complete their ever changing pedalboard of smugness.  Let's be real here, having one of everything is much more American than just having what you need.  Am I right?  Compression really isn't an "effect", but is actually a "dynamic".  In a basic sense, it will bring up the signal of softer dynamics, and smash down some of the more extreme signals.  In most cases if you know that compression is being used, you're most likely using it wrong.  Many of you are about to retort, "This chump has some kind of nerve!  Everyone knows there shouldn't be any RULES to using effects!"  True, but these people also live horribly discontent lives trying to figure out why their guitar tone isn't spinning the world the opposite direction.  A compressor does not cover up bad playing, in fact, it enhances it.  If you suck, you will still suck.  A common "reason" many people buy them is to add some more "sustain" to their lead phrases.  Most compressors will do this, but they also raise the noise floor adding quite a bit of muck to your signal.  So in addition to that sweet string bend you just ripped, you also blasted everyone with quite a bit of snake hiss as well.

Another common "misuse" of a compressor pedal, is using it with an already overdriven signal.  Ladies and gents, an overdriven signal is already compressed.  This fact is especially true if you're using a tube amp that's cooking.  At that point you're simply squashing and already squashed signal.

But Stonewall, What about Transparent Compressors?!?
There are a lot of Jabronis that are going to talk up the Diamond, Keely, etc comps. While excellent compressors, I would argue that given most people's needs, you don't need something like that. I'm going to take it a step further and say that if you're playing live at stage volume, having a transparent compressor is pointless.  Unless you're using extreme settings for a very compressed sound (which defeats the purpose of a transparent compressor). If you're using a tube amp, playing at stage volume will add natural compression.  I fell into the trap of playing the nicer ones and owning a lot of the big names. When I played live with them, I never touched them because I didn't need to.  Also, as "transparent" as most of them are, they will add a dash of Treble to your signal.  If you're doing A LOT of recording, then a nicer compressor may be up your alley. However, wouldn't most studios have a nice thousand dollar compressor... 

So What IS a Compressor Good For?!?
In classic Stonewall fashion, I've now berated a topic and now most of you are wondering what the point of a compressor really is.  Having a compressor can be a convenient Swiss Army knife for a number of situations.  Have you ever had to use a backline at a gig?  If you have, you can appreciate the frustration of showing up at a gig only to realize you will be performing with a 100 watt solid-state POS.  Even an extremely high wattage clean tube amp (a Twin comes to mind) can be a pain.  Having a compressor handy can give you a little more sustain to work with.  It'll be a lot like slapping a band-aid on a bleeding ulcer, but you do what you can.

I've seen a number of artists do some really innovative stuff with compressors to help keep a strong signal, like rhythmic tapping stuff.  If you haven't already, check out Minus the Bear's Highly Refined Pirates record.  Dave Knudsen is the master of tapping and compression.  That album is drenched in the blood of a Boss CS3 and a Barber Tone Press.  Two compressors!  He's even been fabled to have used an FMR Really Nice Compressor during live performances as well.  A lot of chickin' pickers like compression because it give them a good "spank" while they're firing off the licks of the South.

Sweet mother of delay...

I've worked in some pretty lo-fi studios home studios, doing some session work for local artists.  Having a nice transparent compressor is nice in such a situation, because the "engineer" may not even know what compression is.

It's best to evaluate your needs and really understand why you would actually need a compressor, rather than gripe about why you don't have one.


-  Stonewall