What exactly is a compressor

I understand if keeps your volume the same? but what would you need that for? Does is take away like the lower volumes of fingerpicking and the higher volume on struming and give them the same output volume?????

just a little confused

sorry for such a newbie question

Don't apologize - Ive been playing for years and Im still not sure...I think you are on the right track though...Never been interested because I depend a lot on my attack to control the volume between palm muting or jsut playing lightly for the rythm and then hammering on it for lead's. From what I understand, as you mentioned, that would just defeat the purpose. SOme people love em. I guess its just their style.

Yes, the main function what it's been invented for is to keep the volume level in a desired range. But if you turn up the "sustain" or "compression" (depending on the actual pedal) you basically bring everything to the same volume level, or at least in a very narrow range of volume levels; that's when you get that squishy country chicken pickin sound where you can sustain clean notes seemingly forever. And then there's the attack time, the time under the compression effect actually engages, which means the beginning of your notes will still be uncompressed for a moment, so you will hear a certain "pop" or "click" every time you pick or strum the strings.

I use them to reduce the dynamic range slightly, if playing with other instruments there is a chance that your more quiet playing could get lost and your louder (attacking) playing could over ride it, this brings it in a more more workable range, I don't like them to take away all the expression though.

A compressor is basically equivalent to turning the volume down when the signal goes above a certain level.

The basic controls on a "typical" compressor would by threshold, ratio, attack, and release.

Threshold: is the volume level (in dB) where the compressor will turn on. If the volume goes louder than the threshold level, it will start getting turned down.

Ratio: how much the volume gets turned down by (in dB). The ratio is a ratio of input / output, so a ratio of 10:1 means that an input of 10dB will produce an output of 1dB. Higher ratio = more compression.

Attack: how long the compressor turns on when the volume goes above the threshold (in miliseconds). Longer attack time = slow "turn on" response.

Release: how long the compressor takes to turn off once the volume has dropped back down below the threshold (in miliseconds). Longer release time = slow "turn off" response.

What exactly is a compressor


A compressor is a machine that makes 12-string electrics shine!


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How 'bout Keely compressor.....are they any good? I found one locally (used pawn shop) for $75

How 'bout Keely compressor.....are they any good? I found one locally (used pawn shop) for $75

I've never used one, but have heard they are great pedals and IIRC they are quite expensive... so $75.00 is a steal (if its in good condition).