A Guitarists Guide to Compression

In this episode I will explain what compressors do before your guitar amp and after it using plugins in your DAW.

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[adamwattsmusic]

If you're new to compression, I wanted to point something out... I think by mistake, the first part of this video was a little bit misleading because Rick didn't talk specifically about the RATIO of compression on the pedal. So, keep in mind, while they were talking about the compressor pedal, they were actually talking about the compression as if it was "hard limiting" (i.e. infinity:1 ratio). When Rick said "If Rhett really kicks in really hard on it, it CAN'T get any louder than it is"... this is only true if the compressor is set all the way up to limiting (again, infinity:1), but the pedal was actually set to a 4:1 ratio... meaning it was just taming Rhett's playing when the lights came on. For every 4db above the threshold Rhett was playing, it would only let 1db of that volume be heard... so it's taming 75% of the volume above the threshold. That's what you're hearing in this part of the video: When the red lights are on during his playing, it's taming his playing by 75%... which is a lot, but you don't, "...completely lose all your dynamic control" as Rhett said... UNLESS it's set to limiting... which, again, they were not set to (look at the pedal, it's set to 4:1, not infinity:1).

When a compressor is set to a more common compression setting (2:1, 4:1 etc.), you CAN retain a lot of the player's dynamics while just TAMING them to the degree that you want (by carefully choosing the ratio and the threshold settings). This is one of the many great things a compressor can do: rein in dynamics, rather than remove them (though that can be cool too, when you want that sound). 

Rick does know this... it was just an oversight... he gets deep into this concept in his other video (with the whiteboard), so make sure to check that out. 

So, just because you're compressor "gain reduction" lights are on, doesn't mean you've totally removed all dynamics... the other settings determine the degree of dynamic alright that's my lil PSA. I just don't want my good buddy Compression to get a bad name:)... because it's so often misunderstood (understandably!) and can be pretty hard to explain.

[JoeFamousOne]

The compressor is like your mother lol
THRESHOLD: The level she asks you to turn the music down
RATIO : How much you turn down the volume after she shouts at you.
ATTACK: How fast you react.
RELEASE: How fast you turn the volume back up as soon as she closes the door.

[WindowLicker_]

I am 44 years old and been playing guitar for 30 of those years, never understood compressors untill today.Thank you Rick and Rhett

[distortedjams]

I'd love to see this as a series, there is plenty of effects you could always do.

[karlcarlsburg]

I like it when Rick dresses like your uncle who is meeting you out for lunch.

[antonellomascarello]

Compression has always been a tricky one for me, not the theory but training the ear to listen to the actual effects of a compressor. That is way I find this video so amazing!! Thanks a lot for sharing all this knowledge at this high quality level. Cheers from Italy 🇮🇹

[stevefishner]

As a Bassist/musician for 40 years...I want to thank you, Rick, for what you am concerned that we are just getting lazy tech has allowed it...and I loathe it! The older I get the more I appreciate older recordings...due to the fact that they had LESS technology helping them ! For me, less tech is more better ! Again, Rick you are priceless ! I soooo much appreciate what you do !

[egj]

It still blows me away the amount of talent this man has. Your ear, your talent, your open mind, your brain and your love of music... just one of (if not the) greatest man music has seen for decades.

[keef]

Pete Townshend- who has always used very little in the way of effects pedals- uses an MXR Dyna-comp as an overdrive pedal on stage for solos, replacing his previous Univox Super-Fuzz. There’s a usage you don’t hear much about.

[shawnmcvey]

I'm a big fan of using an EQ after a comp pedal for cleans with humbuckers to basically kill the mids while boosting treble/bass into a 50w EL34 head with Treb on 6, Mids on 9.8, and Bass on 7.

Add a bit of modulation and you've got a surprisingly great clean tone into an amp that would prefer to be dirty.

[MrHeliosoul]

This is the kind of content that initially got me started on your videos. I love how everything comes full circle. Mind-blowing how there is more wisdom, intelligence and skill in Rick's pinky than most people have in their whole body a combined!

[HarryGustafsson]

Rick is such a great teacher. I feel like somehow the algorithm brings me to Rick and Rhett to increased my knowledge at the right peace! Before your videos, I was using BIAS FX but learning from you I have really taken the time with impulse responses and achieving better results!! So much support on youtube.

[stringKen]

Great video, but my nitpick is the assertion (mostly from Rhett) that a compressor will squish all dynamics so it should only be used as an effect, rather than always on. A compressor *can* squish when set up to do so, and I acknowledge that there are some crappy comps that only know how to squish. OTOH, these days there are many great compressors -- even in pedal form -- that aren't binary. That is, they don't toggle between full squish and nothing, they will give you all points in between depending on how they are set. For those unfamiliar with attack/release/threshold, etc, the easiest way to get subtlety is from a compressor that has a dry mix control -- known as "parallel compression". I noticed that the Distressor plugin had this feature (though it was set to full wet). Parallel compression allows you to mix compressed and uncompressed signal within the same box, as opposed to setting up two channels, dry and compressed, in the studio. So, parallel is especially valuable for gigging musicians. Blending in uncompressed signal lets transients through to maintain great dynamics, but the compressed signal adds phatness and sustain. I'm a bassist and the last thing I want is too much squish. In fact I don't often use compression at the gig (it's a nice-to-have, not a must-have), but when I do, I use a quality compressor that gives me better presence in the onstage mix without hampering my dynamics. When I get the settings right the difference is indeed subtle, I can "feel" it more than "hear" it, but it's a noticeable improvement. I'm a semi-pro bassist, but I know some full pro guitarists who agree.

[jonathanstrand]

I find an exception. If you use lots of amp pre-amp distortion, but no dirt pedals, you can play soft.
Mark 5:25 dark, Glass compressor @4 to 1, maximum compression
mix at 10 o’clock, it’s boosts the note, when it would normally fade, hammers pulloffs fabulous...

[summerfazed]

Thanks you guys! Hardware Distressor is a great investment. It works great on vocals, bass & guitars. Vocals I crank the input into OPTO on the way in and it is very transparent and leveled in the mix without much else. Distressor is soft-knee so it looks like more gain reduction i than it sounds. I didn't want to buy two of them but I've process drums L & R separately and without any phase problems. The high pass and distortion modes are great for cutting off some peaks too. I think I will spend the money on an SSL buss compressor instead of a second disstressor.

[mindscrub]

I love the different ways compression is used across genres.

[phishfan]

I tend to go with the Trey Anastasio way of comp after dirt- that way you can use playing dynamics or guitar volume to clean up the signal coming out of the dirt pedal but retain the overall level hitting the amp.

[debvalle]

Love when the episodes are timely and linked to what I’m learning. Have not yet gotten into more gear, but I remember watching that first compression vid & being lost. Don’t feel as lost now!

[hotfuzz]

There is so much knowledge on this channel. I don't get a ton of time to practice but man, I've had so many questions answered here, sometimes things i didn't know i needed. I purchased the Beato Book and just wanted to say I'm grateful for the channel. Keep on Keepin on Rick.

[emrahu]

RettShull is the pronunciation of a word in Turkish which has the meaning "Jam".