Question about compressor pedals

[FoxHound4690]

I've been thinking about getting myself an MXR Dyna Comp. I've got a pedal board and I've got a reasonably good idea of how to set up pedals in terms of where to place them in your signal chain but I don't know a great deal about Compressors. Where abouts in your signal chain is the ideal spot for a comp?

[FrankHudson]

Originally Posted by FoxHound4690

I've been thinking about getting myself an MXR Dyna Comp. I've got a pedal board and I've got a reasonably good idea of how to set up pedals in terms of where to place them in your signal chain but I don't know a great deal about Compressors. Where abouts in your signal chain is the ideal spot for a comp?

I have mine early, right after the tuner and then wah on my electric board, and ahead of the gain, grit, modulation, and time-based effects.

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by FoxHound4690

I've been thinking about getting myself an MXR Dyna Comp. I've got a pedal board and I've got a reasonably good idea of how to set up pedals in terms of where to place them in your signal chain but I don't know a great deal about Compressors. Where abouts in your signal chain is the ideal spot for a comp?

No ideal spot, really. Practically everyone keeps it before effects. Most common is probably before dirt pedals, but Roberty Keeley always recommended putting them after dirt instead. I dont rememeber his logic, but it's easy to try.

[swarfrat]

I can tell you what the knobs do. I just have a terrible time getting them to do what I want

[DupleMeter]

You want to put compressors early in the signal chain. Keep in mind that any overdrive/distortion pedal is also creating compression, so you may want to place it after those. That will keep you from over compressing the signal.

[phcorrigan]

Mine is second, after my tuner, but in my noise reducer's send-return loop.

[swarfrat]

I was trying to keep a Plexi model really clean on chords but still allow some bark on the pick attack. Getting attack/release/makeup/threshold right seems straight forward but getting the right balance for the desired result is not always obvious.

[J Patrick]

….I would strongly recommend considering a different make of compressor….yes the MXR is a classic and yes I’ve owned one……but others I have owned were noticeably cleaner and more usable….my three faves…..Barber Tone Press…..(allows you to blend the straight signal with the compressed signal)….Wampler EGO compressor….(I think it has a blend feature too)….and a Keeley….(I’ve only had the two knob but I’d imagine the 4 knob to be even more usable)….they’ll set you back a bit more even buying them used but well worth it I think….

[Blackmore Fan]

Originally Posted by Paleolith54

No ideal spot, really. Practically everyone keeps it before effects. Most common is probably before dirt pedals, but Roberty Keeley always recommended putting them after dirt instead. I dont rememeber his logic, but it's easy to try.

I've met Robert Keeley. He puts a lot of thought into what he does. I don't own a compressor at the moment, but if I did I would follow his advice--he's not playing around.

[YamahaGuy]

My MXR Dyna Comp is 2nd in my chain after the POG, before the Distortion. I set the knobs so the reference lines face each other.

[rmp]

Compressors should be just about first in the chain, (but not before a wah pedal)

[hatamoto]

Mine is first in the chain. In front of the amp, before the overdrive.