Q&D Compressor Info Thread Here!

[markm]

Hi fellas,
Here's the Q&D Thread that I was talking about.
Lots of good info to be had!

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=47713.20

[Mark Hammer]

Note that I suggested a gain of 1 in the linked-to thread but suggested a gain just over x1 today.  Which is "right"?  neither, really.  It would depend on what sort of guitar you are using or what sort of sound you want to achieve.

You will note that by using a resistance to ground, it becomes possible to vary the frequency balance of what is feeding the envelope follower.  So, for instance, a person could conceivably tame the low end a bit if they were using it with, say, a 7-string guitar.  Alternatively, they could explore using generally light compression but feeding the envelope follower a treble-heavy signal to result in more squish for upper mids.  Ultimately, the wisdom of using something other than unity gain would depend on whatyou want to do and what signal you are feeding it.

IF you can get your hands on a suitable dual-ganged pot, then it becomes possible to simultaneously adjust the compression ratio AND rotation point at the same time by varying the resistance at pin 10 and 11.  So, at one extreme, you get lighter compression applied to only the peaks, and at the other you get serious clamping applied across just about anything not a whisper.  Not having attempted it myself, I can't say whether it would produce too much variety to capture in a dialable fashion in just one knob.....but it's do-able.  I imagine one would probably want to start off with a dual 25k and experiment with various parallel resistors for each half to get a desirable sort of change.

As well, leaving gain set to some happier medium, in conjunction with a volume pot on the output, seems like a more manageable arrangement than having a variable gain pot AND volume.  I suspect the way to identify the ideal gain setting would be to put the unit to the lightest compression, leave the output volume at max, and adjust the gain for just a bit more volume than bypass.  That way, you can have the choice of using it as a bit of a clean unadulterated boost.