#16
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A limiter is just a really high ratio compressor with a fast attack.
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#17
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I was under the impression that a compressor alters the dynamic range of the entire signal, and a limiter only alters the loudest peaks, but otherwise leaves the dynamic range intact.
__________________
Something something, beer is good, and people are crazy. |
#18
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A limiter would be more like 10 or 20:1, or even higher, and typically set to reduce only the very highest peaks. I'd typically only use a limiter to prevent distortion/overmodulation/clipping, but recording guys sometimes use them on a mix. In my opinion, a limiter is a very specialized and specific tool, but compressors are great for general use. I'm a live audio guy and I hardly ever use limiters, but I use compression all the time. Not on everything, but I can't think of a show I've done recently that I wasn't compressing around half of the inputs to some degree. |
#19
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I have a Maxon CP101 available as a boost/thickener for the fingers. I treat it as a way to match weight and volume with the strummed signal being the norm. If you’re compressing to pull the strummed information back, then the volume pedal’s probably the better option. Most pickups will have a narrower dynamic range than the instrument it supports. If you’re compressing output toward the top of the available spectrum that’s already being effectively compressed by the pickup, then it’s not necessarily headed toward a pretty outcome. I mention the Maxon because it’s relatively slow in its attack (the Greer is another) and tends toward preserving more transient information than some.
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#20
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doesnt a limiter kill anything above the threshold
thats set. where a compressor just cuts off the peaks? |
#21
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As for their perceived behaviors, it depends a lot on how they’re used. You can go low threshold/low ratio and simply slow things down a bit. You can go high/high and round the peaks ever so slightly. Generally speaking, I’d tend to keep a high threshold on acoustic instruments and vary the tonal impact with the ratio and attack. |
#22
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__________________
Something something, beer is good, and people are crazy. |
#23
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I have used the K & K and find that the Fishman Aura is pretty handy and solves a lot of problems. It has compression (but that alone probably won't solve your problems) and a volume control (I find that useful when switching from picking to strumming). I also find that the imaging is very helpful and makes the K & K sound fantastic. It's one more thing to carry, one more thing to set up, and one more thing to keep an eye on, and I wish Fishman would just build it into an amp because it is a bit of a hassle when you are busking. That said, it will probably solve your problem plus it will make your guitar sound much better than what you get from the K & K by itself.
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#24
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If you want to fit the picking loudness to the strumming loudness, a simple boost pedal (a simple EQ pedal with a volume control can be nice) is the right choice. Just set it to +3 to +6dB and use it only for your picking songs/parts.
BUT: If you use a piezo pickup, consider that a piezo works exponentially. A mic or a magnetic pickup works linear: double input = double output while with a piezo that formula is: double input = four times the output! That is one of the reasons why a piezo sounds very spiky. A compressor with a very low threshold and a ratio of 1:2 and a fast attack will even that out. Sometimes 1:1.5 is more than enough, that depents on the compressor unit (some do more than they show). Thus, it makes sense to plug the guitar into the boost pedal first to even out the volume between picking and strumming and than into a compressor to even out that micro-dynamic misbehaviour of a piezo pickup. I'm not completly sure if all piezos pickups behave in the same way regarding dynamics but I think so. Of course, if you have an internal preamp in your guitar it is possible that there is compression incuded already. PS: here is a link where you can find some more info: https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/t...gnetic-pickups |
#25
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#26
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Agree with the above. Absolutely use a compressor (light) for acoustic. Every studio album you have heard of acoustic has compression....that's why you can hear every nuance. Many, many pro acoustic rigs will use compression too. If you want your audience to hear you, get a compressor. But experiment, too much will make it sound too flat and sterile. Get the best possible, cleanest, compressor you can get. When you get the sound like you like, it then you will be able to raise the overall volume slightly of your guitar. If playing in a band situation, a compressor is essential for an acoustic to be heard in the mix IMHO.
__________________
Taylor 512ce Urban Ironbark Fender Special Edition Stratocaster Eastman SB59 |
#27
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This is something I’ll be looking to do as o join an new acoustic band.
As a fingerstyle player I don’t use a pick for strumming so when I play electric guitar I ride the volume knob. Acoustic guitar is more of challenge of Ergonomics - your standard onboard preamp might mean that’s not doable. I also play with a rhythm guitarist who suffers with creeping volume ( he gets louder and louder until you hear nothing else) so I got a volume boost pedal to deal with that. My iRig acoustic stage has a belt clip preamp which is even more awkward than the controls on the guitar. I’m thinking volume pedal is the way, but I’ve yet to dry these active soundhole pickups with mic, transducer and control wheels - I think they’re going to well if the control wheels are accessible. |
#28
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Do I need a compressor pedal
I have two complaints with compressors on an acoustic guitar live:
1) They decrease your headroom before feedback. 2) They encourage you to play without paying attention to your dynamics. Both of these are only the case if you overuse the effect, but I like so little compression on my instrument that on all but the largest gigs (where the soundman takes care of it) I don’t bother with it. Plus, I think that playing without compression encourages you to really learn to control your dynamics with your picking. |
#29
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Especially when transparency is important, two very useful features are
I usually set mine to barely flicker when I’m picking single notes, and clearly be “doing something” when strumming hard. Set attack so there’s no harsh transient For “country puckin’” they set it so the compressor is engaged nearly all the time, which is pretty nasty on acoustic mostbof the time |
#30
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acoustic guitar, compressor |
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