Noobish Compression question...

[Luke73]

Firstly - very sorry about the noobish nature of my question:

 

So I think I understand the concept of compression. It cut's or limits the peaks of a signal - to squash it, and give it less dynamic range....right?

 

So - I've never used it before - but recently thought it might be useful.

 

I've always played fingerstyle until a few weeks ago, when I thought a few of our songs with an "edgy" rock feel would benefit from a more aggressive tone, and had a go at playing them with a pick. I've never played bass with a pick before, and I liked it fine. I think the sound really suits the couple of songs in question, so I figure I'll keep using the pick on those songs and play fingerstyle on everything else.

 

...which leads me to my question:

 

When I set the gain on my amp, I set it playing fingerstyle, so when I play my loudest notes the clip light just flickers on - then I back it off a touch. I then adjust the master volume dial to get the volume I need for the gig/rehearsal that I'm doing.

 

The problem is that when I switch to playing with a pick, of course the more aggressive attack of the pick clips the preamp quite alot - which I don't want for fear of damaging the speakers.

 

I also don't really want to have to adjust the gain each time I use the pick (on only two songs).

 

My amp (Eden Nemesis NC210) has a built in compressor, and I was thinking that I would be able to engage the compressor when I play with the pick to limit the signal from the peaks that I generate with a pick, and prohibit the pre amp from clipping (protecting the speakers)...

 

Am I understanding this correctly? Will this work, or do I have it all wrong?

 

Thanks,

 

 

Luke.

 

 

 

 

 

[The Geoff]

On a simple level, you understand correctly.

 

G.

[Tom Capasso]

You could turn down the bass (at the bass) to address the immediate need. Play with the onboard compressor and see how you like what it does.

 

I play with a pick for a few songs, but I don't find it that different because I often spank down on the strings with my fingers.

 

Tom

[rumpelstiltskin.]

you don't need to worry about damaging the speakers with a little preamp clipping, though you can turn down the gain if you don't like the sonic effect. still, it would be fruitful to try the compressor for both the dynamic *and* the tonal differences between fingers and a pick.

 

robb.

[Luke73]

On a simple level, you understand correctly.

 

G.

 

Humour me please.

 

Tell me about the complex level.

 

[Luke73]

You could turn down the bass (at the bass) to address the immediate need. Play with the onboard compressor and see how you like what it does.

 

I play with a pick for a few songs, but I don't find it that different because I often spank down on the strings with my fingers.

 

Tom

 

Thanks - so far I do like what the compressor does. The bass sounds good with the pick, and the compressor on. As for the difference - the difference in output between my fingerstyle and pick playing is vast (which is one reason why I like it).

 

I could turn down at the bass, or adjust the gain of course - I was just wondering if compression would help.

 

[Luke73]

you don't need to worry about damaging the speakers with a little preamp clipping, though you can turn down the gain if you don't like the sonic effect. still, it would be fruitful to try the compressor for both the dynamic *and* the tonal differences between fingers and a pick.

 

robb.

 

Sorry robb - I'm confused about not worrying about damaging speakers with preamp clipping.

 

I thought that (solid state) pre amp clipping caused a certain type of signal that had the potential to be particularly harmful to speakers, even if the power amp level was set quite low, and as a result was something to be avoided.

 

Is that not the case?

 

[yourlord]

If the preamp is clipped to a ridiculous level then it can harm the speakers, but it would have to be really clipped and you would still need to be running the power amp at a decent level.

[mcbn]

It seems that you are really wanting to run the compressor as more of a limiter... not necessarily "squashing" the sound, but more just setting an upper limit to the level.

 

Some compressors have a "limit" knob, if yours does just find what works. It you just have a "compression" or "level" knob, set that pretty high and work down until you are getting the level you want.

[alexclaber]

Preamp clipping is fine, it's exactly what's happening in a distortion pedal.

 

Alex

[Luke73]

Preamp clipping is fine, it's exactly what's happening in a distortion pedal.

 

Alex

 

So are you saying that (this is not something I would normally do BTW) it is safe to dime the gain knob on my solid state amp to get a distorted sound, and it poses no threat to the speakers?

 

If that's the case I've been misunderstanding things.

 

[Luke73]

It seems that you are really wanting to run the compressor as more of a limiter... not necessarily "squashing" the sound, but more just setting an upper limit to the level.

 

Some compressors have a "limit" knob, if yours does just find what works. It you just have a "compression" or "level" knob, set that pretty high and work down until you are getting the level you want.

 

Hi Nutt - yes...I suppose I'm hoping to use the compression in this case as some kind of a limiter. It may or may not actually do that - which is what I'm trying to ascertain.

 

I'm not actually too fussed about it - just interested to learn more.

 

The compressor on my amp is very simple.

 

The manual states:

 

The compressor automatically tracks the input level and follows the gain. This is a fixed threshold type compressor. You control the compressor by setting the gain higher or lower; depending on how much compression effect you want. The compressor is also provided with a bypass switch to defeat the compressor operation if desired.