T
Tchara
New member
Aside from a thing to air up your tires, what is a compressor. Is it nessessary for good home recording sound, and how does it
relate to the effects processor.
relate to the effects processor.
L
Larry Sheehan
New member
Hi, good info on compressors at www.dbxpro.com/white.htm but here's a quick overview.
It is useful to think of a compressor as a sort of automatic volume control. When the signal being compressed exceeds a target level (the threshold), the volume is reduced by some proportion (the ratio). There are other controls which determine how quickly the reduction occurs (Attack) and how quickly the original volume is restored after the level drops below the threshold (Release).
Many/most compressors have another control to raise the average output level (Makeup Gain).
The most common application for compressors is to keep transient peaks (Volume spikes) from causing distortion due to clipping or digital overs.
They are also used to raise the apparent loudness of a track by reducing the difference between the loudest and quietest parts (the dynamic range).
Effects processors are used to add things like reverb/delay, etc. to a track.
In general there are three types of signal processing - dynamic processing (compressors/limiters/noise gates/expanders), Effects processing (reverb, echo, flange, etc), and EQ.
[This message has been edited by Larry Sheehan (edited 11-19-1999).]
It is useful to think of a compressor as a sort of automatic volume control. When the signal being compressed exceeds a target level (the threshold), the volume is reduced by some proportion (the ratio). There are other controls which determine how quickly the reduction occurs (Attack) and how quickly the original volume is restored after the level drops below the threshold (Release).
Many/most compressors have another control to raise the average output level (Makeup Gain).
The most common application for compressors is to keep transient peaks (Volume spikes) from causing distortion due to clipping or digital overs.
They are also used to raise the apparent loudness of a track by reducing the difference between the loudest and quietest parts (the dynamic range).
Effects processors are used to add things like reverb/delay, etc. to a track.
In general there are three types of signal processing - dynamic processing (compressors/limiters/noise gates/expanders), Effects processing (reverb, echo, flange, etc), and EQ.
[This message has been edited by Larry Sheehan (edited 11-19-1999).]
Brad
New member
Nice job, Larry.
That was one of the best descriptions of a compressor I have seen on this BBS.
I wish I could have read those words about 14 years ago...
Brad
That was one of the best descriptions of a compressor I have seen on this BBS.
I wish I could have read those words about 14 years ago...
Brad
L
Larry Sheehan
New member
<Blush> Thanks.
Tchara, I can elaborate more if you'd like more info. De-Essing and Ducking are other useful areas. I tried not to overwhelm you with a PhD thesis level of info.
Tchara, I can elaborate more if you'd like more info. De-Essing and Ducking are other useful areas. I tried not to overwhelm you with a PhD thesis level of info.
T
tdukex
Man of the Muse
Compressors compress. Duh! 
Use the search function dammit!
Use the search function dammit!
Fishmed
Well-known member
I don't think there was much content to seach back then.tdukex said:Compressors compress. Duh!
Use the search function dammit!
T
tdukex
Man of the Muse
Fishmed_Returns said:I don't think there was much content to seach back then.
Oops, did I just dig up a pre-turn-of-the-century thread started by a member who no longer posts here?
SRR
New member
Well I just bumped Larry's rep from 8 to 625 for that nice reply....I know a little late in coming but he deserved it.... 
A
Aidnas
Member
Wow, I thought Al Gore invented the internet AFTER 1999.
DogFood
New member
I play electric guitar. Compressors are (not really, but sorta kinda...you understand don't you?) my enemy.
I
isfahani
Disciple of Wong Jing
I don't understand...
Do you use saturated overdrive or distorted tones? That's also compression.
One of my favorite tones is a slightly compressed Strat with an old Roland Jazz Chorus.
HOW old can threads be and still be revived?
Do you use saturated overdrive or distorted tones? That's also compression.
One of my favorite tones is a slightly compressed Strat with an old Roland Jazz Chorus.
HOW old can threads be and still be revived?
SRR
New member
They come up in searches, you don't look at the date, you reply, bang its here.
C
cusebassman
Freakin' sweet
And what's better is that the guy who unearthed it has been a member since before the original posts were put up. How could you not remember reading this in the winter of 1999 for God's sake???
T
tdukex
Man of the Muse
cusebassman said:
Yo, doods, it was a joke.
I unearthed the oldest, moldiest thread I could find to try and make a joke/point about newbies digging up and responding to old, dead, rotting threads from years ago started by members who no longer even post here--which has been happening a lot lately. Get it? For some laughs from the old days do a search for the Ken D. Webber thread or some old posts from S8-N. Those were the good old days.
Fishmed
Well-known member
Where is S8-N these days? 
Is he still cooking?
Is he still cooking?
B
Big Kenny
New member
you're a compressor.....
Gorty
New member
I'm compressed.
T
tdukex
Man of the Muse
Fishmed_Returns said:Where is S8-N these days?
Is he still cooking?
Yes, In prison.
Just kidding. I think he just got bored with us--for good reason.
Fishmed
Well-known member
tdukex said:Yes, In prison.
Just kidding. I think he just got bored with us--for good reason.
I think he lost his PC access when he broke up with his girlfriend.
B
Big Kenny
New member
and now he's compressed?......Fishmed_Returns said:
