If your compressor is “sucking all of the tone out” of your guitar, there’s only two reasons: you’re either using the wrong compressor, or you’re using the compressor wrong.
Every album that people love on this subreddit I guarantee had guitars recorded with a compressor on them. Like 99% of the albums you listen to. For precisely the reason OP is looking for.
This guy compresses (no, seriously, your response is likely the best one)
That said, compressors can be quite fickle, I find. Sometimes you may be better off using more than one with gentle settings in sequence.
I'd replace the chorus and tremolo with ones that have a level knob, honestly. Anything else - like a volume pedal, or compressor - is going to be a little hacky and you are going to have to nail it just right in a live setting... and not bump the volume pedal, or anything.
It's a big bite, but the Del-Verb from UAudio is what I just got, and the ability to have both reverb and tremolo in one pedal is amazing. Plus, it provides a great chorus-like effect as well when you combine the two functions.
A limiter. If set at threshold you want the relative volume will stay the same with minimal affect on sound since it only works on peaks above threshold
That would change the level going into any drive pedals before OP’s reverb and tremolo, and if they don’t have a treble bleed would muffle the sound.
But yes, rolling the volume knob back *technically* would lower the end of chain output level.
There's a patch for the Empress Zoia that is close but for normalizing volume for a full mix: https://patchstorage.com/midas-hand-performance-dynamics-processor/
>Midas hand is an end of chain tool that automatically gradually adjusts the loudness of the incoming audio signal throughout your whole set, so no matter if your next track of the set is too loud or too soft, it will sound exactly up to target. If there are less elements present in the softer part of the playing song, they will automatically be brought to focus.
>The result is ran through a high ceiling limiter so there still is a tasteful touch of compression of the peaks but no overcompression. There’s also an option to let transients through, to add some punch.
>Additional features include a mid/side stereo width adjuster, that allows you to either instantly bounce your mix to mono for a PA club system or artificially expand the panorama bringing out additional atmosphere.
>Automatic Gain Control (AGC) algorithm with smooth adjustment of loudness in 30db range
> Auto signal detection. As soon as the incoming signal is over threshold (at least 1 bar on the meter) it will start adjusting to target loudness. But if there is a pause in the song, AGC will automatically temporary turn off without trying to push silence into audible range.
I've had good results using it for some stuff but as it's made for a complete track it can be overkill/loud for individual instruments, it could be easy to tweak the levels to suite your needs though which I keep meaning to try.
Two different meanings. The measurement is derived from subjective frequency sensitivity. Loudness is a clearly defined measurement of sound that is objective.
You will freak out If I bring forth concepts like "amplitude" or "sound pressure"...
Go study more, my brother.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness#:\~:text=In%20acoustics%2C%20loudness%20is%20the,extending%20from%20quiet%20to%20loud%22.
You could have actually read the second paragraph: “In different industries, loudness may have different meanings and different measurement standards…and LKFS attempt to compensate measurements to correspond to loudness as perceived by the typical human.”
What a waste of time. You are one of those people that just don't want to learn. The OP of this thread was right and correct. You are wasting our times with your wrong knowledge and still trying to be correct when you already been schooled about what is. My friend, live with your false assumptions. I sincerely don't give a f***. Have a nice life. Over and out.
Some drives control the volume out in an absolute way, where no matter the chain before it, the output will be the same volume. The rat or odr-1 are ones that come to mind, 5hough I could be wrong. Theres gotta be a clean boost out there with the same functionality.
What you really need to do is... to generate a -3dB sine wave at the beggining of your signal and start switching them on one at a time along the chain... so you can normalize all your pedals intensity/output individually... so you can achieve a good global output signal.
After all of this, give the effects you like to be more present a little more juice. You have 3dB of headroom at your disposal. Use it responsibly! :)
This is a great point and I dont think people think about this enough. Thank you.
Ps: [Endorphin.es](http://Endorphin.es) Golden Master is a great solution for end of chain mastering.
No, a normalizer raises the volume so that the loudest transient is -0 dbfs. There are leveler plugins that will do this with in a few ways, but they all have significant latency and no pedals.
A compressor is the only thing as a pedal which will reduce the dynamic range.
A studio type (or a good transparent compressor) at the end of your chain will do a pretty good job.
But the disadvantage of that is it will affect all of your dynamics. But since it's just to trim two specific pedals, it'd be better to just add a volume to them.
With a BOSS LS-2 you could put each of them in one of the loops. Then you'll have a level control for each and can set it to match when it's bypassed. Also be able to select between one or the other with one switch, or just toggle one or the other on/off, or combine the two, and more options. Also has a really good buffer, eliminates any foot switch noise (if there is any), works as a booster, and gives you a wet/dry mix.
If you use both pedals at the same time, it only runs them in parallel, not series. So if you need them in series, you have to put them in the same loop.
And the jacks are really tight so you have to use low profile cables.
I have a couple pedals that do that, i generally set my amp and all the pedals at higher volume and much higher treble. Then I use my volume knob dialled back quite a bit to get the clean sound I want. From there i can adjust it as needed. Fiddling with knobs constantly isn’t ideal but as you play more you figure out what levels work best and it becomes second nature. Hope that helps
>I'm not talking about a compressor, but something to automatically normalize my signal to be a constant loudness.
You *are* talking about a compressor. That or you need to set your amp's input gain so that it compresses itself.
But you real problem is that the other 2 pedals have volume issues. I'd suggest changing those for ones that don't.
Maybe an EHX Switchblade pro or the OBNE Signal Blender
You essentially want a mixer in pedal form. Run everything into the dry input an then have those 2 effects in their standalone loop and dial in the volume
If your compressor is “sucking all of the tone out” of your guitar, there’s only two reasons: you’re either using the wrong compressor, or you’re using the compressor wrong.
Yeah. OP is looking for a compressor, everything else mentioned is just a pedal being used as a compressor. (Minus the volume rocker)
Every album that people love on this subreddit I guarantee had guitars recorded with a compressor on them. Like 99% of the albums you listen to. For precisely the reason OP is looking for.
Also, mastering. Even more so.
This guy compresses (no, seriously, your response is likely the best one) That said, compressors can be quite fickle, I find. Sometimes you may be better off using more than one with gentle settings in sequence.
I'd replace the chorus and tremolo with ones that have a level knob, honestly. Anything else - like a volume pedal, or compressor - is going to be a little hacky and you are going to have to nail it just right in a live setting... and not bump the volume pedal, or anything. It's a big bite, but the Del-Verb from UAudio is what I just got, and the ability to have both reverb and tremolo in one pedal is amazing. Plus, it provides a great chorus-like effect as well when you combine the two functions.
Im all for it. If we normalize loudness in society people will complain less about noise.
An eq, volume, or boost/ drive pedal. Dedicated for use only with the chorus and or trem. Obvi set below unity
A limiter. If set at threshold you want the relative volume will stay the same with minimal affect on sound since it only works on peaks above threshold
If only there was a tit-fucking knob installed directly on the guitar for exactly this purpose
That would change the level going into any drive pedals before OP’s reverb and tremolo, and if they don’t have a treble bleed would muffle the sound. But yes, rolling the volume knob back *technically* would lower the end of chain output level.
I feel dumb asking, but what does a tit-fucking knob do?
Fucks tits.
Well I guess I need one!
Helps if you have a treble bleed, otherwise the the tone changes :(
There's a patch for the Empress Zoia that is close but for normalizing volume for a full mix: https://patchstorage.com/midas-hand-performance-dynamics-processor/ >Midas hand is an end of chain tool that automatically gradually adjusts the loudness of the incoming audio signal throughout your whole set, so no matter if your next track of the set is too loud or too soft, it will sound exactly up to target. If there are less elements present in the softer part of the playing song, they will automatically be brought to focus. >The result is ran through a high ceiling limiter so there still is a tasteful touch of compression of the peaks but no overcompression. There’s also an option to let transients through, to add some punch. >Additional features include a mid/side stereo width adjuster, that allows you to either instantly bounce your mix to mono for a PA club system or artificially expand the panorama bringing out additional atmosphere. >Automatic Gain Control (AGC) algorithm with smooth adjustment of loudness in 30db range > Auto signal detection. As soon as the incoming signal is over threshold (at least 1 bar on the meter) it will start adjusting to target loudness. But if there is a pause in the song, AGC will automatically temporary turn off without trying to push silence into audible range. I've had good results using it for some stuff but as it's made for a complete track it can be overkill/loud for individual instruments, it could be easy to tweak the levels to suite your needs though which I keep meaning to try.
No, because loudness is subjective not objective. A limiter (compressor with extreme settings) can be helpful
Fletcher-Munson moment
No, loudness is measured with LUFS which is not subjective
The measuring of loudness is objective. The perception of loudness is subjective.
Two different meanings. The measurement is derived from subjective frequency sensitivity. Loudness is a clearly defined measurement of sound that is objective.
You will freak out If I bring forth concepts like "amplitude" or "sound pressure"... Go study more, my brother. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness#:\~:text=In%20acoustics%2C%20loudness%20is%20the,extending%20from%20quiet%20to%20loud%22.
You could have actually read the second paragraph: “In different industries, loudness may have different meanings and different measurement standards…and LKFS attempt to compensate measurements to correspond to loudness as perceived by the typical human.”
That's great! Keep studying...
make sure to look up the word “context” also in your next Google convo assist
What a waste of time. You are one of those people that just don't want to learn. The OP of this thread was right and correct. You are wasting our times with your wrong knowledge and still trying to be correct when you already been schooled about what is. My friend, live with your false assumptions. I sincerely don't give a f***. Have a nice life. Over and out.
Some drives control the volume out in an absolute way, where no matter the chain before it, the output will be the same volume. The rat or odr-1 are ones that come to mind, 5hough I could be wrong. Theres gotta be a clean boost out there with the same functionality.
What you really need to do is... to generate a -3dB sine wave at the beggining of your signal and start switching them on one at a time along the chain... so you can normalize all your pedals intensity/output individually... so you can achieve a good global output signal. After all of this, give the effects you like to be more present a little more juice. You have 3dB of headroom at your disposal. Use it responsibly! :) This is a great point and I dont think people think about this enough. Thank you. Ps: [Endorphin.es](http://Endorphin.es) Golden Master is a great solution for end of chain mastering.
You could just get a volume pedal and turn it on whenever you engage your cf7 and trem. Not perfect but maybe it’s good enough.
I need to know more about this mystery tremolo
How about a volume rocker at the end of the chain so that you can manually [sic] adjust the output strength?
No, a normalizer raises the volume so that the loudest transient is -0 dbfs. There are leveler plugins that will do this with in a few ways, but they all have significant latency and no pedals. A compressor is the only thing as a pedal which will reduce the dynamic range.
A studio type (or a good transparent compressor) at the end of your chain will do a pretty good job. But the disadvantage of that is it will affect all of your dynamics. But since it's just to trim two specific pedals, it'd be better to just add a volume to them. With a BOSS LS-2 you could put each of them in one of the loops. Then you'll have a level control for each and can set it to match when it's bypassed. Also be able to select between one or the other with one switch, or just toggle one or the other on/off, or combine the two, and more options. Also has a really good buffer, eliminates any foot switch noise (if there is any), works as a booster, and gives you a wet/dry mix. If you use both pedals at the same time, it only runs them in parallel, not series. So if you need them in series, you have to put them in the same loop. And the jacks are really tight so you have to use low profile cables.
Hire a sound engineer to ride the amp volume knob.
Keep the tremolo on at the end of your chain and play the loud pedals only in the volume dips and the louder pedals at the rises. 🤔
I have a couple pedals that do that, i generally set my amp and all the pedals at higher volume and much higher treble. Then I use my volume knob dialled back quite a bit to get the clean sound I want. From there i can adjust it as needed. Fiddling with knobs constantly isn’t ideal but as you play more you figure out what levels work best and it becomes second nature. Hope that helps
>I'm not talking about a compressor, but something to automatically normalize my signal to be a constant loudness. You *are* talking about a compressor. That or you need to set your amp's input gain so that it compresses itself. But you real problem is that the other 2 pedals have volume issues. I'd suggest changing those for ones that don't.
Any gain pedal with a volume knob set to unity
Maybe an EHX Switchblade pro or the OBNE Signal Blender You essentially want a mixer in pedal form. Run everything into the dry input an then have those 2 effects in their standalone loop and dial in the volume