Rock Tone: Effects

Description

The compressor is one of the more elusive effects. It's a difficult effect to describe and isn't as noticeable as distortion or delay. A compressor squashes the wavelength of your notes to reduce the louder notes and increase the softer notes. The result is a fuller overdrive or distortion and the ability to play many parts without the worry of hitting a note too loudly and it distract from the guitar part. If you are holding a note for a long period of time, it will allow the note to become louder or fill out as it sustains. It will sustain longer and allow the overtones (think feedback or harmonics) to be part of the note. You'll notice this in the notes I hold in this lesson. You'll also notice that even when the feedback sustain occurs, it's not the loud, annoying feedback that is the staple of the inexperienced sound guy. Give a compressor a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised at what it does for you.