How Do Compressor Pedals Work?

I am a compressor junkie! I have spent thousands on compressors. I keep coming back to the Boss CS3. (I am not sure that the way the ''sustain'' knob works is how it is described in this video i.e. controls the threshold). Distortion is a necessary evil to create long notes when soloing. However distortion masks the true tone of the guitar {wood/pickups etc} . I always use as little as the job at hand requires. The CS3 allows you to create long notes without the distortion but keeping the tone of the strings. Add the slightest amount of gain (post compressor) and you end up with a wicked Steely Dan type lead tone. The only other way to create this sound is with a VERY loud amp in a room on the edge of feedback. Like Larry carlton. This is largely impractical in any kind of live setting unless your playing huge stages like JB. The CS3 adds a bit of a glassy sheen, which you either like or you don't. I do. A BIG plus is the amount of volume in the level control which is great for boosting for solos. Many other compressors fall down in this department for my uses. As for chord playing, why anyone would put a compressor on your rhythm guitar playing is a mystery to me. Dynamics are a good thing! They are a fundamental part of musical expression. Why you would add a box to remove them is a headscratcher! (In recording there are other issues to consider).

Shine On You Crazy Diamond 1-5 is my holy grail of compression

My kids asked “whats that red thing at the beginning of the video”

I'm a compression noob. Are there any compressors that have an instant or "constant" attack? With the couple compressors I've tried, I find that even at the fastest attack setting, they let a big spike of signal through before they compress. That's the opposite of what I want my compressor to do. I want a compressor that evens out my signal for a very "smooth" sound. I basically just want it to "add sustain" (I know they don't technically add sustain) and make my volume a big more consistent. I don't want that pokey attack at all. I can't seem to find a solution as a pedal. I know I can get the result I want in a recording in a DAW, but I really really want something that can do that in the moment.

Incredibly interesting and helpful !

I had a guitar teacher tell me that compression eliminates the highest and lowest frequencies. I disagreed with him and said it's about volume, not frequency. He insisted he was correct.

I have an Empress compressor. I actually use it behind the drive pedals to return at least some definition of the individual notes, whether by themselves or buried in a chord. Will try it up front when there is a moment.

Man, your playing has so much feel to it!

Is that a Thrash Master and Metal Maniac behind you on the left? DOD ruled the 90's.

BECOS also make some fine compressors. Not widely available in the US, more so in Europe. I've used a empress, great unit but overkill for my board. I switched to a xotic SP for a while but missed the blend (parallel compression) which is what led me to the small becos pro

Definitely Community College was awesome!

This video is golden. I was so confused on what the compressor pedals do. Its so clever on how to explain everything!

Can you gift me one of your TS9 🥺 you have so many back there haha.

This is, without a doubt, the best sell for compressor pedals I've ever heard.

I want a compressor because I love playing Skynyrd music and I just got a Peavey Deuce. Good lord it’s so loud and drive pedals are good but change the sound of my amp.

I love how amazing your slide tone sounds!

dig the 'cross shirt dude

Thank you, I always learn so much from your videos. And they’re all very entertaining.

perfect logo 😅

Love the Parmesan surf wearing boots

Origin Effects SlideRig for me. It does everything a single compressor should do but that Lowell George series double compressor sound and feel is to die for.

I use the good old MXR.

Great video. This should go in the Necronomicon of Guitar Pedals.

You’re a superb teacher. Also, great playing & that 12-string Nash sounds wonderful.

The slide demo gave off strong Risk of Rain vibes

I still can't understand why I would want to sound softer. I wanna sound loud 🤷🏻‍♂️

Just begun dabbling with compression to level out both my Rics due to changes in my overall rig (amps and effects). May check out the Whitey Tidy on my mini board.

I really like how explain ideas. I’m finally understanding the concepts about 25 years after first using a BOSS ME-30 multi fx

Another gorgeous video. I'd like to ask if Whitey Tighty (or any other compressor like that) can be paired with a synth rather than an electric guitar. I'm using pedals on synths and I am to buy a compression.

As a fellow guitar-cyclist : Nice T-shirt!

Talking Heads are one of the best use of Compression throughout the tone stack. They got a ton of traction from instruments that should have been competing for frequency space, but with EQ and Compression on basically everything they were able to shape some amazing sounds.

Difference between a solid state compression and tube compression why one is thousands and another hundreds is more important.

Here for the WinZip content

As someone who's a begginer at exploring pedal and amp effects, (just your regular acoustic guitar player who plans to play electric as well) this is really helpful. Understanding what each pedals do, how each of its knobs function and even the simplified explanation to the point that even a beginner would understand, thank you for all these stuff. Perhaps not right now, but when i have the chance, i'll buy pedal from you guys. GODBLESS y'all~

ok but I want that dynamic in my playing. soft and loud, dont you?

Way Huge Saffron Squeeze is pure magic.

Thanks for the video. I am trying to wire a on on switch with gain red leds.

the explanation in min 5 leads to a confusion between "compression" with "clipping" .... compression should NOT clip the signal :)

I don’t like compressors on my guitar since I do other things to compensate, ie saddle height and staggered pole pieces. On my bass it’s a different story, I love the compressed sound on that…

And if you like the boss compressor but your not gigging every night, save yourself $70 to $80 dollars and buy the behringer compressor pedal which has the same circuit just not built as rugged

See I break so many traditional rules with pedal boards. Reverb first, compression last, distortion middle and boosts after. Love the tones you can get from messing with the chains

With out a doubt. The best explanation Ive ever heard. Thank you. And Im looking into a "whitey tighty" 👍

I need the tab of parmesanwestern

Those knobs on the whitey tighty are way too close together, bad ergonomics

What about the “Slide Rig”

Compressors are about the stupidest waste of money in the world and it's really really funny. Hey, lets play a clean funk riff!

Sounded like a little Jesse Ed Davis influence in that western song.

You got my sub. Great stuff man. The humer keeps me very engaged. 😅