elephantgrey

I have a compression question, so i thought id slightly derail this thread a bit instead of starting yet another compression thread. I have a vocoder (EHX voice box), but every time we use it the sound guy shouts at us cause of the jump in volume, problem being that we use it both as a vocoder and an effect make our singer sound like a girl etc. My thinking is, I dont really want to just hard limited it, as it will then loose all of its dynamics, would side chaining a compressor with the clean signal allow me to cut the volume back dynamically so that it matches the volume of the clean signal over all of the modes we use it in, and also keeps in the dynamics?

[quote name='TheBadger' timestamp='1426748271' post='2721427'] I wasn't getting the same effects from the bassballs and compressor when set up to the diagram.[/quote] Compressors change your envelope, so change the way the filter moves. Try playing with the Attack and Release if you have them on your compressor, see how they affect it. [quote name='TheBadger' timestamp='1426748271' post='2721427'] Hmmmmmm I must be doing something wrong.[/quote] There is no wrong, only different. Playing about with the order/settings is part of the fun. Moving a pedals place in the chain, and/or changing the way its set up can often change the way the effect affects your sound as a whole. Plus, its half the fun.

Id have the compressor towards the start of the chain to even out the playing a little, and/or before the filter to change the envelope. Id also have the chorus before the dirt pedals.

They can be used as part of a board as a light drive. I use a sim of a preamp (The BDDI model on a zoom ms60b) in my setup, i use it at low gain to colour my sound. Especially after drive pedals with a blend, so that it sounds more like one bass and not a clean + distorted.

The only thing id suggest trying is swapping the compressor and envelope filter, as the compressor changes the shape of you envelope. Of course if you prefer it after leave it where it is. Playing about with the order of pedals is part of the fun. There are a few 'right' ways to order your pedals floating about, but its subjective really. The right order is the one that sounds best to you, and that works well in the mix.

I have just realised that i havnt actually put my board up here. I run this and a mic (that goes through an EHX voice box), into a Boss RC50, alongside a Korg ESX-1. I tempo-sync the drum machine, loop pedal and delay via midi. Heres my board: [attachment=186375:Fermanagh-20150313-00016.jpg] Obligitory pretty-lights shot: [attachment=186376:Fermanagh-20150313-00018.jpg] Signal chain for board is: TRAPCo buffer In/Out > TC Polytune > Markbass Compressore > Danelectro FAB > Bardge Concepts VFB-2 (IE Frantabit>Joyo Vintage OV) > Zoom MS-60b (BDDI>Amp sim>Noise Gate>Room Verb) > Eventide TimeFactor > TRAPCo buffer In/Out That would then go into the loop pedal. Midi chain: RC50>ESX-1>TimeFactor. I power the board with a Gigrig power system. Sorry for both the poor quality photo (took on phone) and for how untidy the leads are…

I ended up buying the VFB-2 off of Gareth, which arrived this morning. Its a really handy pedal. The feedback is going to make for some fun pavement style shoe-gazer/noise outros.

[quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1426088829' post='2714241'] Am I right in thinking that a compressor with reduce a lot of noise and hiss coming through modulation / delayed effects? [/quote] A noise gate might be your best bet here, it allows you to mute the signal as soon as it falls under a set volume. This helps you at least conceal the noise, as when you are playing a note that masks the noise, but when you are playing a rest the noise is silenced. EQing might also help reduce the noise when you are playing a note. The best option, if you can, is to eliminate the problem that is causing the noise instead of covering it up afterwards.

[quote name='donslow' timestamp='1426026173' post='2713674'] Would you have any suggestions as to where I should look?! [/quote] Off the top of my head, here are some that i think will do the trick in one pedal: Aguilar Tone Hammer; Xotic AC Plus; COG Dual Knightfall Distortion; Visual Sound V3 VS-XO.

Compression is quite hard to set correctly without metering. Metering being either one LED (that changes brightness depending on how much the level of the signal is being lowered) or a line of LEDs (more LEDs lit = signal being lowered more).

[quote name='donslow' timestamp='1425974447' post='2712811'] Thanks guys, would there be need for a separate boost pedal as well do you think?! [/quote] The reason most people use a boost pedal into some kind of dirt pedal is to use the dirt to colour the sound normally, and then kick on the boost to drive it a bit more. If this is the kind of thing your looking for, you can either get a separate boost pedal, or an OD/preamp that has a separate boost switch.

So as far as i can tell the diferences between the guitar and bass versions are: DBBM (Bass):- Crossover (with footswitch) Blend bknob attenuator switch for input DI DBM(Guitar):- Swept mids (with footswitch) Q switch Attack knob Bass boost switch Id probably prefer the DBM, as long as the bass boost brings the bass to the levels of the DBBM. You have the swept mids instead of the crossover (which id find more useful) and an attack switch. Blend can be done with a loop pedal, and DI is only useful if you want the fuzz pedal at the end of the chain. Edit: With further inspection, the DBM also has an expression/cv input for the Mids Freq., and internal trim pots for: 1) High Q bandwidth, 2) High Q Output Volume and 3) overall MIDS EQ Output Volume.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1425681434' post='2709802'] I thought compression came first? [/quote] There are two (main) schools of thought; Compress first, to even out playing, or last to even out effects. Of course these are just the most common uses ive seen, there are many more uses and techniques (controlling envelope/parallel compressing/ side chaining to name a few).

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1425643347' post='2709296'] [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bdi2000.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ton_bdi2000.htm[/url] This looks interesting, good reviews and cheap. [/quote] Is that a BDDI clone with a mid control and a LPF?

Is it possible to have a loop pedal that both can feedback the signal onto itself, as well as adding a clean blend? Im sorry if this is a stupid question, but im unsure (electronically speaking) what the difference between a blend and a feedback is, they both seam to link the send and return from the effects, im unsure that stops the signal going wither way (stops a blend pedal feeding back the signal, or a feedback loop adding clean). Many thanks for any help.

You can get the B1On fo £50. Newer modling, 5 fx at once. Seams the better option to me.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424730394' post='2699893'] In my case I think 'parallel compression' is probably too grand a term for it... ...what I really mean is 'a compressor with a blend control'. [/quote] Well parallel compression is compression with 50/50 wet/dry. heres a good diagram i found explaining it (mainly just cause im a geek and like this sort of thing)

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424692465' post='2699132'] Parallel compression is the best of both worlds, IMHO. [/quote] Parallel compression on drums is almost a must for me.

I love my zoom ms60b, 4 fx at once with the footprint of one. I use mine alongside some standalone pedals as a preamp>amp/cab sim>gate>verb (all allways on but verb, so only once switch doesnt bother me). I love that they have added mid and mix controls to alot of the fx that the standalone you would have to mod.

[quote name='uzzell' timestamp='1423842458' post='2689629'] Hmm, sounds like a great device but sadly a little of my my price range. I might give the Moog one a look into though. [/quote] Not something you hear everyday...

The Eventide Timefactor has an expression you can set up the min and max perimeters of the exp. on any control for that patch. It also has an aux switch (ive never really tried using), and midi control (i use to sync the tempo with other pedals).

[quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1423644612' post='2687284'] Actually.... we do have a korg Microkorg. The actual keyboard doesnt state the voltage etc, but the adapter does state 110-240v AC. I wonder if that will be ok to use! [/quote] if thats the official one, says [url="http://www.korg.com/us/products/synthesizers/microkorg/page_3.php"]here[/url] that it outputs 9v, center negative, 600mA.

I would consider if it had midi...

A quick google found [url="http://www.mattgallagher.me/2011/07/replacing-the-footswitch-in-an-ehx-freeze-pedal/"]this[/url]. looks like the freeze is controlled by a SPDT, so maybe its possible to bypass the switch, and connect it to an external switch via a stereo cable. Might be able to rig up a loop pedal that also activates the freeze.