Compression Pedals explained

I walk you through how and why to use compression. The new Know Your Gear Facebook page is up check it out! www.facebook.c...

[@crustybass75]

this is the best explanation of compression on KZbin. You make great video's.

[@andylec5879]

+100 Great teacher.

[@michaelbates5375]

THANKS DUDE!!!!!!!! VERY HELPFUL!!!!!!!!

[@domformula1]

I remember thinking years ago this was the best and most important - clearest, explanation of compression I’d seen on the internet - it still is.

[@hiltontrollip6020]

I agree, many thanks Phil!

[@mitchmarks500]

Best no BS guitar related gear reviews and general info on You Tube. Thanks again for a very clear explanation, very helpful.

[@123sambrose]

That was the best explanation of compression I've heard. Nicely done. Thank you for that.

[@nicholascustomdesigns8365]

I'm with you Sam... that was great.

[@allkinds1069]

when you slapped that tele like a bass I was astounded, that was fucking awesome

[@lizzielyly]

yeah

[@aclep5]

yeah

[@LemonMeIon]

yeah

[@fergusguiver5974]

yeah

[@GroundbreakGames]

yeah

[@macjones2988]

Excellent thanks, all in simple, plain English. No showing off, just explanation. Thanks.

[@jfflyboy]

This turned on the light bulb for me. Thank you for a brilliant explanation.

[@jkeating7906]

Clearest explanation I’ve found on KZbin, thanks!

[@facelessbeing6209]

Love how you simplify all these things and make it straight to the point. As everyone said, Pedal of the Week thi NH would be super cool!

[@alangreenway6695]

I’ve never really understood compression, but now I do I’ve figured out I don’t want to use it. Thanks for the explanation.

[@GroundbreakGames]

You have a gift for teaching. This was so helpful.

[@ArchDukeOfTops]

I've been playing for 20+ years, and that's the best explanation of compression I've ever heard. I might have to get one now :D

[@ricmel8008]

Great video. Thanks much. Now I have to try and figure which compressor is the best. Because I may need one.

[@mrdigitalmayhem]

Phil - you have some of the best guitar videos on KZbin. I look forward to each one and I like the no nonesense approach you take at providing information. Keep it up and keep helping us all rock out better.

[@hunterbarq]

he knows how to really explain... well done sir

[@EdDanaGuitar]

I'm getting tired of your guitar collection. Sell them all or give them to me. I've been using compression with distortion since 1979... guys couldn't figure out how I got the sound. You are a good teacher Phil.

[@stallionstudios]

ahahaha love it

[@mark7166]

I try not to use a compressor much, but almost always just end up leaving it on all the time. I just like to have the built in sustain and apparent volume boost (due to the compressor evening out the frequencies), and find it less enjoyable to play without it on.

[@mark7166]

@@Haha-Jim I don't like the way a tubescreamer changes the alters the tone though, especially for a clean tone. I'll kick an overdrive on when I need even more boost, or for doing some heavy riffing, but in general I just prefer the sound and feel of a compressor.

[@jejmoss11]

This is really well explained. Thanks from England.

[@thirteenturtles]

I've been using compression for a long time and have heard it explained many ways. I was just browsing KZbin tonight and came across your explanation/tutorial video.... The "pebble in the water" illustration is one of the best explanations on compression I've ever heard. Well done.

[@stevedavis8329]

This is unbelievably useful.

[@WoodesosGuitarMods]

Great vid. I had no idea what a compression pedal did until watching this. I'm not a big pedal guy myself, but this is super cool.

[@Wtfdawg321]

A great compressor/sustainer for a good price is the behringer cs400. It really evens out your sound, and for around $30.00 it can’t be beat

[@gaz0463]

That’s the best explanation I’ve heard yet.

[@CristianAleitte]

What Compressor were you using? Can you Share the Settings? Thx!

[@LeftRight1511]

Very good video. Commenting to feed the KZbin algorithm.

[@yijiehe3966]

finally! I understand why I need a compressor!

[@coolwaterdvr]

Man I always overlook how important a compressor is. Thanks for the lesson. Do have a video regarding how to arrange a pedal board? Ex. Where to put a compressor in the signal chain?

[@philweinstock]

Thank you! I'm an older guy who has seen it all - I know a lot but I'm always open to better explanations of music points. You do a great job of explaining things. Myself, I'm attempting to put together a basic pedal board - so far I have a Menatone RED SNAPPER overdrive which I really like and a TC Electronics Delay/Looper which I haven't played with much. I know I'm going to need a compression pedal - HERE'S MY PROBLEM - Phil, What MORE should I buy and put on my pedal setup??? Big question. I play mostly rock and blues - some jazz, some country. Maybe you have something on KZbin already??

[@siggiarabi]

omg. very impressed with your abilities to slap on a tele.

[@paulodiasduarte]

Hey Phillip, which compressor are you using here. Thanks for the amazing work

[@jasoncarpenter7108]

Finally....Compression explained!

[@samward9641]

I use my boss compression pedal once in awhile when I'm playing leads but it works great and conjunction with an EQ pedal going through your acoustic amp on your acoustic guitar so the compression works best for me when I play acoustic through my acoustic amp with an EQ

[@KimchiDronie]

Thanks Phillips, I just subscribed to your channel. You just clarified a huge question I had about compression. God Bless, and happy new year..

[@suegates5]

Thanks! Very clear explanation . Getting into Country, and that was first pedal recommended 👍

[@redress5]

How do you keep that cone head so closely shaven? Impressive diligence

[@fonzybrookestone727]

That dog barking in the background, had my dogs barking.

[@PhillipMcKnight]

+Fonzy Brookestone I have my dog and I have two German Shepherds visiting for a couple weeks.

[@JimmyDurden]

Can't live without it

[@remipaul1081]

Finally, someone that could give me a straight answer to what a compression pedal does!

[@illuminotme4261]

Well I neglected far too long my understanding of some key effects on the overall sound. This helps but now I've got to understand the difference between compression and a noise gate. I love the sustain but when it comes to mixing tracks I've learned to recognize too much compression just makes the overall sound flat or weak to me. I have much more to learn.

[@dinobogris9164]

good video great teacher great player

[@lewisbeeman]

Great video. Thanks for the info. Now are there some good compression pedals that you would suggest.

[@RonaldvandenBoogaard]

I'm not a pedal person, but this is convincing to get one.

[@shirleyallen7960]

It's kinda creepy the way he always stares into the camera while playing.

[@outliersoutside9043]

Thank you very much for the beautiful explanation.

[@wuldntuliktonoptb6861]

I use 2 love using compression in a small room in the garage and if I'd hit a note and let it ring true it would every so slowly feedback going higher n higher frequency without doing anything could be used for horrible screeching but it would take like a minute 2 build in volume only did it if the notes rang perfect so like a true d and would limit each end and feedback forever

[@johnniecameron8829]

I'm a bass player ,I know most of your info is for guitar but I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS ....THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK

[@brendanleighton]

I'm almost 4 minutes into the video but had to stop to comment... I love your explanation! Your analogy makes sense to me and I have a hard time finding that in videos. The musical terminology is lost on me and other videos use it way to much. Thanks for the video man! Will be checking out your other videos for sure!

[@brianl634]

Awesome as always Phil🤘🏼

[@paulsilva6543]

Thank you sir, what would compression do for harmonica? Thank you.

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Great explanation. Thank you.

[@okayestguitarist]

Very cool video! It make a lot more sense how to use it and when to use it. ....my next question would be how you would go about choosing a compression pedal? I get the sustain or consistency difference but what about the difference between two sustainers or two consistency compression pedals? I'm sure that is a loaded question with a lot of answers so to simplify it....what have you discovered in choosing comp pedals over the years and how did you ended up where you are today with compression? ....thanks again for the great videos!

[@PhillipMcKnight]

+Michael Stander I have a short answer, but It is a 100% true. I use my ear. knowing what compressors do is cool. but before I knew what they did, I just liked the way they sounded. And that made me want to find out why I liked them. I seen you got a Dyna Comp. That is a Staple used in 100s of recordings. Can not go wrong. If you like what it does and who it works keep it. If not, its to the next one. If I had a MXR Dyna Comp and it was my only Compressor I would be fine no problem at all.

[@okayestguitarist]

+Phillip McKnight I'm with you on that. I think I just need to keep a look out for used compressors so I can try different ones and the pedals I don't like and can just sell again. I think we always want to know what sounds the best but it usually just comes down to playing different stuff and letting your ears guide you. ....thanks again for the video! ....another video idea would be to cover wet and dry modulation. I don't understand what a wet tone is vs a dry tone.

[@familiardave6540]

Dude, gonna need you to tab out that sweet bass riff 3:32

[@kurtmoorelifeinthesky7993]

Awesomeness ! Great explanation 🎸

[@michaelscott7762]

I’ve seen pedals that say “Compression/Limiter” and “Compression/Sustain”....is there a difference between the two...? Thanks.....

[@ravdiz9995]

should i get compressor if I only have ds-1 ..Im planning to get chorus,looper,reverb should i replace one for the compressor?

[@AdamRainStopper]

I love compressors. I'll set all the parameters at their most intense for bass, and play moderately with a .60mm pick on brand new pro-steels, and let the compressor swell up the volume. I also use my compression pedals to layer in a clean or almost clean rhythm guitar in a place where it would normally be very distorted. Like a thrashy song with fast (NON-palm-muted) downstrokes a la Johnny Ramone, I'll quad-track with fuckload of distortion on the two main tracks, then record two secondary tracks with the amp set almost clean, but have the compression on and set to squash the signal. It creates a really cool dirty/clean textural thing, but without the sharp attack of the clean sound, allowing the two different tones to gel better in the mix. Damn, I typed way more than I meant to.....I really do love compression!

[@charlesgraham4286]

Great explanation video thanks

[@stevenmaclean7908]

best description of it is putting 7 pounds of shit in a 4lb bag

[@ernesthayes6229]

Thank you!!!! Perfect breakdown!

[@chucknowakowski6676]

That helped, no b s. I never understood compression. Thanx

[@programmedwrong3795]

Awesome video. And is hilarious watching your mouth when you do the bass slaps. I know a guy that does that too. He looks like a guppy when he does it. So i guess you do too. Take care. 😆😊☺

[@Guitarmanjhc1]

Thank you i never realized what a limiter / compressor was for so i never bought one but then i bought a Zoom multi effect procesor which has compression in it. cool

[@solomonoh7769]

Could you explain the difference between a clean boost and a compressor?

[@robertlailvaux3037]

Excellent explanation, thank you Phillip. After all these years now I know :-)

[@Colthrone]

That was a fantastic explanation. The language was so easy to understand, the examples were perfect. Thank you.

[@CerealKiller420]

One of the best youtubers on here for guitar info, love the videos Phil! You've convinced me to pick up a Compressor now.

[@hammill444]

Everyone talks about the sound. But how does-- or can- compression affect feel?

[@rubeneloff]

this is an awesome video thanks man

[@nathansongne9790]

Killer! Maybe I don't need the custom comp deluxe after all....haha

[@NPNewsAgency]

Hey Phil, next-level informative vidz mate; nothing else like it on you-tube. I'd appreciate if you could go through your signal chain/ pedal rig again to get that insane high gain metal tone you seem to get out of that DSL100h. I have one going through a 1960A cab. And can't recreate your tone ie. type of compressor pedal, noisegate, thru or not thru effects loop, etc.

[@leonardo.rafael]

I tried a BOSS CS-3 with great expectancies. I use a silicon fuzz in front of a soft overdrive and obtain clean tones when the guitar volume is rolled down to 5. But no matters where in the chain I set the CS-3, I loose that clean tone. Even if I roll down the level knob, always can hear a subtle hiss like if it is clipping (overdriving) the signal. All compressor behave like that or am I doing something wrong ?

[@johnsample5628]

That was awesome! Thought I knew what compression was, but found out I only knew half the story. Thx!

[@sparkyguitar0058]

I just took a modded CS-1 off my board. It seems to hold back too much and stifle my tone. I've twisted all the knobs but always felt it sounded better without that pedal so. Maybe if I'm playing louder than bedroom volume it might help, but not now.

[@timwatsonphotography]

Thanks for this video. I’m looking at getting a compression pedal. Is there one I can get that will give me lots of sustain without giving that weird sound at the start of the note, please?

[@brainstewX]

Or, even more simply, compression makes the quiet parts louder, and the loud parts quieter. This produces a more balanced volume no matter how one plays their guitar.

[@bobbyllockhart7829]

Explained perfectly thank you I don't really use pedals so when someone said "you need a compression pedal" I looked you up!! 🤘🤘🤘he was right I need one. Lol

[@feedmenegative]

Off topic, but what is that PRS hanging over your left shoulder? Just curious, it has an huge cut-away - I really like the way it looks.

[@kerrytyk111]

Thanks. Came here from 3 other videos including Rick Beatos. This is much MUCH clearer and helps me practically

[@danielcarter3928]

this is super helpful. thinking about getting a Dyna Comp. trying to decide if i want to put a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge of my Les Paul or use the money to get a MXR Dyna Comp instead !

[@exploitedboy216]

What is the difference between compression sustainer and limiter?

[@guitarslim1989]

Great video do you have one on phaser pedals i recently got a boss phase shifter ph3

[@EllisDashayel]

Thx for making this vid - very informative ! Just wondering if you have a definite opinion on where the compression pedal should go in the chain - in front of the amp or in an effects loop ? And, before or after a drive pedal ? You mentioned getting noise from the drive pedal, so it seems like you were using compression after the drive ? Thx again.

[@alexserafini5205]

+Bob Foster I don't know exactly where to put it, but I'd probably put it AFTER the drives, to even out any frequency spikes or dips the distortion adds, and definitely BEFORE any delay or reverbs, otherwise the decay of those pedals won't be right at all - other than those pedals, I'd just experiment with placement in relation to other kinds of pedals like modulations and find what you think sounds best. I just checked out a few of your videos, nice playing man!

[@onemorething100]

Can I utilize Compression Just for the increase in sustain?

[@TheMurkGaming]

I like this guy. It upsets me that he has so few subscribers. His videos are pretty good and I always love the guitar wall behind him. Great job man.

[@WS-bk7uu]

Greqt video, good to see he's not doing badly on the subscriber count now!

[@randybrooks5754]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@BangOng]

Can't believe nobody said anything about that fierce bass slapping demonstration on guitar. Mad skills man. Subscribed

[@SirPraiseSun]

idk compressor feels optional/ unnecessary for me at least for just practice, thanks for the explanation btw good stuff

[@PedroMachadoBorges]

Best compression explaination online. Thank you so much!

[@montys8th]

Well I learnt something today. Thanks for the explanation.

[@freerockstar]

OK so whats the best compressor for infinite sustain like GIlmour?

[@duckyjp17]

This is very helpful. I could not figure out compression pedals!

[@adriancronin533]

Great video, thanks , so would a limiter style compressor have less (/ no) hiss interference on a distorted sound than a sustain one?

[@geckovision]

Thanks for the explanation. Which pedal are you using?

[@mike1967sam]

The first compressor I bought was a MXR Dyna Comp...I spent the late 80's and 90's playing with a Boss Heavy Metal pedal an Ibanez SC10 Chorus and an Ibanez DML20 Delay...only about 10 years ago did i get into the pedal craze, before it was just plug and play...now I've had an MXR Custom Comp for a while and I'm really happy with it...i was gonna buy the Custom Comp Deluxe but it sold out at my shop so I just let it go...The Custom Comp is fine...for me that is. the probem with the Duna Comp although it sounded great was the noise, way too noisy.

[@joseph-ow1hf]

The first time I tried a compressor it was a revelation. I could finally do pinky Hamer-on/pulloffs. Crutch? maybe.....but I'll take it. My fave fx. While I like my delay pedal, it's lipstick on a pig.....the compressor actually helps me sound better.

[@sebwu9829]

This was such a great explanation, helped me understand right away thank you so much

[@davidwinn721]

You are the guru on guitar/amp/pedal and equipment in general. I have ear-based guitar skill, and my arthritis is hampering my playing. Nevertheless, I have a bucket-list purchase goal of getting my hands on 3-5 essential pedals and quintessential electric guitar. Want a Telecaster or Strat, and seek your opinion on pedals to acquire or what one comprehensive digital sound/production tool works to emulate over-driven Stones/Richards guitar sound, Andy Summers Police delay, chorus blend (phase) sounds, and Mayer style dirty sound. Any recommendations, Phil? Not just the pedal variety but brand name suggestions. Also, any thoughts on most realistic Leslie speaker sounds? Thank you.

[@hazelkingofrabbits]

Throw a pedal in the lake - Awesome analogy; so like, I launch an original Cali76 or LA-2a it's gonna create a Massive wave, like say 4-1 compression :D Whereas chucking in a dyna-comp - little ripple like 10-1 maybe.

[@bryanmchugh1307]

Wow OP! You really know your stuff! You HAVE to be a guitar teacher correct? What compression pedal were you using in this upload? I too have the Blackstar H1R to plug into. I take it you are using that here as well? Whichever compression pedal that was it sounded VERY good to me..

[@pajotrus]

the best explanation i've ever heard. i was looking for the other "explained" videos on your channel, but it seems like there's only this one? i bought the compression pedal immediately after watching this video 😂 MXR Dyna Comp as I was learning how to play "Play For Today" by the Cure and the teacher (Anyone Can Play Guitar) used that one in the video