Compressor talk

[Tahoebrian5]

I just picked up an Xotic SP pedal. I still have not plugged it into my main rig yet but really liking what I'm hearing so far. Really sweetens up the highs on both clean and overdriven sounds. One thing that always strikes me when using compressors is what it does to the low end. I really wish I could somehow not compress the low notes. I don't know a lot about high end studio compressors. Is this an option on higher end rack units? I guess another option would to split the signal, shelf the highs n lows, run the highs thru the compressor and then remix the signal.

 

[rupe]

Sounds like you need a limiter if you don't want it to affect your low notes

 

[mjtripper]

What you are looking for is either a multiband compressor or one with a sidechain. If you get one with a parallel option or a mix knob like the empress it lets you mix in some of the dry signal which minimizes that. Yes, many studio compressors do offer that but there are a few in stomp box format like the tc nova dynamics. A limiter is basically a brick wall compressor and can sometimes more so exaggerate this effect. Think of a limiter as a 'none shall pass' type of effect.

 

[tripstan]

I run a Barber Tonepress in the loop. Works similar to how you described what your looking for. And it has a blend (mix) knob so it should work pretty good out front. Might sound weird putting it in the loop but I like my compression after gain.

 

[Tahoebrian5]

Ya, the Xotic does have a blend knob. It does help but then I get less sweetness on the highs. It's funny, never occurred to me to just turn up the lows on the amp. Maybe that will make up for the loss from the compressor. I'm considering looking for a voodoo system mix plus. Maybe I can run it in a parallel loop with a eq pedal to shelf the highs on the non compressed side. Jeez, it's always something!