Compressor Settings For Acoustic Picking (Strumming) Sound?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robertt8
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Robertt8

Robertt8

Well-known member
Hey guys, what I'm looking for are some rough settings to get a nice fat picking sound out of my acoustic...you know, less notes and more of that percussion sound. I can pick it up nice through the mic until I plug in my Compressor, and however I've got it set up, it's mellowing everything out and practically erasing the strumming noise all together. I think I've got a really fast attack and a quick release...is that wrong? It must be.

Thanks!
 
Leave the compressor out of the chain if you are getting a good sound without it.
 
hmmm...simple yet effective.

But alas, there's got to be a way to compress and acomplish this as well...
 
The attack setting controls the precussiveness of the sound. A fast attack kills the initial pop of the string, which is exactly what you don't want to do. Set the attack longer and the release to a medium or shorter setting. Run the threshhold to where you have about 6dB or so of compression going.
 
Sweet! That makes sense...I had it backwards. I guess I could have figured it out by screwing with the damn thing, but I'm at work and it's been driving me crazy!

Thanks!
 
I've just got to send out my thanks to Harvey Gerst...That info worked like a charm thanks!

That damn compressor is one of the most difficult things I've ever used. one of these days i'll get it figured out, and now i'm another step closer.

Thanks!
 
now, if someone could just tell me how to mic the damn acoustic with as little picking noise as possible... haha...

i'm so jealous, robertt. i've been trying to find a good way to not hear the picking noise all this time.

.pete.
 
well, I'm jealous of you cuz you live in San Deigo...Much colder up here in S.F.

Try setting the compressor the way I had it. Fast attack (I think I had it set at 0 and I think my release was 50ms). That should give you a really smooth sound without practically any picking getting picked up. At least that's what it did to me.

good luck!
 
yeah, man, it's nice down here. but some of my best times have been in SF, so i spose the grass is always greener. haha...

i'll give the compressor a go.

thanks,
.pete.

ps - i heard something you did a while ago as a b1 example on acoustic, and it was awesome. never got around to posting and saying so, though. i'm still struggling to find that sound, but we shall see!!
 
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