This is why you need a COMPRESSOR 

Compressor on the pedalboard? Yes/No?!

I swear, most of the time, people talk about these kinds of things and how they work and I feel like they’re speaking another language, but you always manage to explain in a way I can understand. Thank you!

This is the best explanation of how compression works that I've seen yet.

In response to all the people who claim not to like compression I think it's worth pointing out that nearly all pop and rock music involves compression in some form. People playing electric guitars are getting a compressed sound almost always even if they have no compressor pedal in the chain. The pickups, the pre-amp in the amplifier, the power amplifier, the loudspeakers all are capable of compressing the dynamics of the sound and very often that compression is what people like about a particular amplifier even if they don't consider it to be compression. Any kind of overdrive or distortion pedal adds compression. Using a dedicated compressor pedal is hardly any different to using any type of drive pedal in the sense that it results in a reduced dynamic range. Most country lead guitarists are happy to use compressors and people like Vince Gill have created their signature sounds using compressors. Lowell George of Little Feat is famous for using two 1176 compressors in line to get his trademark sound. Compressors have a long and honourable history amongst guitar heroes. There's no need to use them all the time if you don't want to but to dismiss them is to ignore a huge legacy of great guitar sounds.

Hey man I just wanted to say that I have a lot of respect for you, being able to create this amazingly high quality content and supporting yourself through focusing on your passion, and giving it your all. It must take a lot of time and effort to create such high quality content, and I commend you on that, and appreciate that you are helping so many people like me to learn, taking great pains not to leave out crucial details a student of music might miss. Love you man!

No matter how many tutorials I've seen about compressing, I can never get enough of how much it helps to watch these, especially with guitars. Thanks Paul :)

Super-informative and accurate video, Paul! Thanks for choosing our Cali76 pedal to demonstrate the benefits of using a compressor pedal on guitar.

The Chocolate Rain moment was pure gold!

Compression has changed my guitar tone and pedal board forever, I am a big fan of having one on my board

This is the best and most understandable way I have ever had compression explained to me. Thanks for doing this video!

Dude, I love your channel, you're so sincere about your topics and the production quality is top notch. Keep it up!

Thank you - excellent stuff - after years of listening to numerous people explain compression you are the first one to talk about it in a way I can CLEARLY understand!!!!!!!

This was a great video for folks to understand compression, but then also let them think on how they can explore the sound further with pedal placement in the effects chain, and blending in on particular pedals. Kudos to you!

Compressor can kill our dynamics if it doesn't set correctly. It is very subjective topic to tell depends on what individual like how their sound to be. I always love your video content 👍

I understood compression pretty well before clicking on this - but this is the best and clearest presentation I have ever heard. Not sure which is better, Paul’s musicianship or his communication skills - truly one of the absolute top YT creators!

This was easily the best explanation of compression I’ve found anywhere. Your explanation was so simple but it told us everything we needed to know about it, and the visual representation helped SO much with the side by side comparisons too. Very glad I subscribed👌🏻

One of the best explanations of compression I've ever heard. From a sound engineer to another, hats off to you.

Im a bass player and when I got my first compression pedal it radically changed my bass sound for the better, it sounded strong and the notes sustained as long as I wanted them to. Really awesome in other words!

This video really helped me understand what compressor is and how to use it! Please make videos for other effects too😝👍

Hands down the best music channel on youtube. Love your work Paul and thanks for sharing your skills and expertise.

One of the best, well explained videos on you tube - most of the others start simple and then get too complex but you made me understand attack, release etc like nobody else - thank you

I agree with the other folks. This made more sense than any explanation Ive seen. Thanks man!

I always use a compressor on my clean tone. It gives me the sustain i need without distortion. Love the sound too!

I've been in music for years as a singer songwriter amd everyone gave me confusing descriptions on effects. I love how you undo a years worth of confusion in 30 second explanations.

Paul, thank you for your videos. I have been playing for half a century and you are still my "goto" guy. Your efforts do not go unnoticed!

Great video making compression clear. It is a great tool when used right! Thanks for the time making these video's. I enjoy them!

Loved the Tay Zonday reference. 🤣

I also agree this is the best and simplest tutorial on how to use compression and how it works that i have seen. Thanks for making videos like these they help me greatly!

Best explanation for compression on guitar that I've seen. Seriously...the compressor is the very most difficult thing to wrap your brain around. Great demonstration Paul!

did you reference chocolate rain? brilliant

This video came out right when i needed it thanks dude you're great

This is by far the best video on compression, what it does, and how to use it. Thank you so much. I can finally fix my guitar tone now.

This is a really great video, you contribute fantastic content to the music community and I really appreciate. There are a few things I would like to add to further discussion on the topic! First of which, is that there are multiple types of compression that occur when it comes to distorted guitar tones, a few things that didn't get mentioned in the video (specifically in regards to a tube amp) are the differences between pre-amp signal compression, power tube compression and speaker compression. As amplifiers (specifically tube amps though speakers would behavior similarly in a solid state scenario I would imagine with some degree of variance) are played at a higher volume, the power tubes and the speakers begin to compress the sound much more. It's why, at least for me, I find it much easier to play on a cranked up 4x12 than at bedroom volumes, all of that compression hits together to create a significant tonal and feel change in the amplifier. This also enables you to turn down the "gain" knob when you crank the volume. Most modern production high gain amplifiers rely on a ton of clean headroom for their "tight and punchy" sound, and the preamp section for the distortion/compression, I honestly can't imagine how loud my Diezel would have to be to create power tube distortion. As you turn up the volume level you don't need as much of the compression occurring in the preamp section to retain the nice compressed feel, due to the power tubes and the speakers beginning to compress. Just something to consider exploring in a further video possibly? It's fairly complicated and a bit over my head at this point in time so I'll leave it to an excerpt from Weber on speaker compression: "The whole 'AlNiCo mojo' is about smooth compression at high average levels, such as what you would have running the amp flat out. AlNiCo (Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt) is an alloy magnet and all alloy magnets are easier to demagnetize than comparable Ceramic (Strontium Ferrite) magnets. What this means is that as the voice coil starts moving in response to the input signal, it generates a magnetic field of its own that tries to demagnetize the magnet. As its effect lowers the available magnetic field of the AlNiCo magnet, the speaker becomes less efficient, the voice coil moves less, etc. The physics of it is that the small magnets near the surface of the magnet poles (called 'domains') begin to change state, or flip directions. The result is smooth compression, the same kind of operating curve compression that occurs in a tube amplifier. The ceramic magnet, on the other hand, doesn't compress or demagnetize as easily, so the voice coil moves to its mechanical limit and won't go any farther. This is why some players say ceramics sound a little edgey at high average levels as opposed to AlNiCo. However, by properly designing the entire magnetic circuit, Ceramics can be made to behave quite well for desirable guitar amp tone and dynamics. You might compare the two magnetic circuits to solid state amps versus tube amps, where the solid state amp gives it all its got then clips hard, while a tube amp compresses nice and smooth. The extension of this idea, then, is that with the AlNiCo, like the tube amp, you can seem to have a louder average volume since it gets compressed smoothly. By the way, the compressing or demagnetization that occurs with the AlNiCo is not permanent. It springs right back to its design operating point. A voice coil is like an electric motor. The bigger the voice coil, the more wire used, the more torque or pulling power you have to move the cone. With the proper match of components, you can get more sensitivity, wider frequency response, and more power handling ability." The second thing I wanted to mention is in regards to audio production and utilization of a compressor. One of the first mistakes that we all make as aspiring audio engineers is over compressing the sound. There will always be artistic choices for specific compression effects in studio production, though in general one of the worst things you can do to a mix is over compress everything. Sure, it creates a nice "even" sound from all the instruments however; much like you stated, it can suck the "life" out of your playing, the same can happen in the audio world. Less is more when tracking (in my opinion), when using an outboard compressor for tracking, generally I only commit to some peak leveling, because once it's "printed" I can't undo the compression (and I'm no master engineer so I can easily make mistakes). I can always patch in more via digital or analog routing and add it later at the time of mixing. One more note in this regard, is as the barrier to entry in regards to automation control has been greatly lowered, I'm seeing more and more mixing techniques rely on automation control of dynamics rather than utilizing compression because it retains more of the instrument or voices natural characteristics. For example, when you play one part louder than the other, rather than using a compressor, some will manually edit the volume levels of the various sections (much like you did with makeup gain after the compression), and then run the already leveled dynamic output through a compressor. This prevents any radical changes to the sound and allows the compressor to react in a more uniform and predictable manner, creating a more cohesive sound. Thanks again for the video, hopefully my ramblings are useful to someone out there in the TubeVerse.

Great video, really enjoyed the use of the visual with the wafeform in there.

Compression has been very confusing. I have read about it and seen other videos, but there is nothing like seeing the effect on the waveform. Kudos to you sir. This BY FAR the best explanation of compression I have EVER seen!!!

I have been trying to understand compressors for a while, concerning producing music. This is the first time I feel like someone explained it in a way that I can comprehend. Thank you much Paul

Today it’s a great day... I finally understand what the compressor does!!! I love that visual example with Ableton and I really appreciate what u does for all of us. Keep going👍🏻

I liked the video only because of the chocolate rain reference

Damn, Iemember when I first subbed to this channel; it had like 200k subs. You're growing fast! I'm happy for you, man. Edit: grammar

Very very very good video. The way you explain and show everything with the waveforms was super straightforward.

Thank you so much for making this. I've always understood the basic theory of what a compression pedal does but never really fully understood all the subtleties of it or why you'd use one. Sounds like something I'd like to use. Great video!

Chocolate rain! 🤣😂😂 Nice reference! Great video with a real solid explanation

Hey Paul! Any advice on using an EQ pedal versus EQing on the amp? Great video as always!

Thanks Paul. This video was really really helpful in understanding compression. I love your videos and look forward to seeing more.

I only expected to learn how guitar compression works. What I didn’t expect is that I would actually get how compression actually works, in general. As a musician/producer who is quite new to compression, this really helped me! Good job, man! Continue to explain concepts that can be understood by everyone!

You are actually my mentor and I’m really inspired by your playing and it would be great if you would do an entire playlist on lead guitar lessons 😅❤️

Sometimes i watch paul just to calm myself😌down,such a deep voice!😂

Great video, Paul. Really informative, delivered with expertise and fun. And really helpful too. Cheers, dude.

Calm, quiet, understandable explanation and demonstration. Perfect.

Can you make a series of these videos for other guitar effects?? Love the way this video is laid out.

Thank you for this video. I've always had trouble understanding the ratio in compression. And the way you explane it, just perfect.

Great video! This really showed exactly what compression does versus a lot of other videos that are just demoing guys noodling around with pedals. I just started using my compressor again after a long time, and while I didn’t like it with my last guitar, I love it with my current one!

4:30 love that reference to chocolate rain hahaha

I think everyone that says it sucks the life out of your playing is missing the point, in a full band mix subtle dynamics get lost and louder ones become overpowering, compression is there to help all of the parts be heard. Paul even touched on how overcompression can suck the dynamics out. I think that example with the funky guitar part was really a good depiction of a good use of compression.

Hey Paul, you are extremely skilful. I’d love to watch what you do with the guitar when you are practising by yourself! I love watching your videos. Every aspect of your presentation is brilliant.

Excellent video. It explains the principles of compression better than just about any video I've seen.

Very well explained. Controlled specific use of comression does have some merit the way you explained it but overall I still hate it for the way it its killed the overall dynamics of cd recordings these days. Recordings should sound better than they did in the 80's but its not the case. Limiting dynamic range in music should be a switchable option on the playback device rather than baked in at the studio. Its also very subjective as I prefer the uncompressed sound of an acoustic guitar for example. Play Dire straight's "Brothers in arms" cd from 1985 on a decent system and compare it to just about any modern recording.

I'd love to see a video on EQing the guitar

Thanks Paul Davids 👍🏻 I use the origin slide rig compressor and it’s brilliant, i like the inbuilt preamp too. I really enjoy how you explain compression in an easy to understand and informative fashion.

Your work is much appreciated. We're lucky to have your help.

I'd like to try one. All these years I've been playing softer or turning the volume down

a nerd video of length 13:37 ... that can't be a coincidence! :D Love the explanation, thanks Paul!

So glad you made this video, Paul. I'm an audio engineer and compression is the single most useful tool in our arsenal.

Fantastic digest of otherwise fairly complex concepts. What a gifted instructor.

0:19 No Paul, we don’t have any pedals to put on our board. Or a board to put them on. *Cue sad music with a slow, tragic zoom*

"And a hum, like.... hum!" \*literally sings the word hum\*

One of the best explanations I’ve seen on RU-vid. Thank you.

Wow, this is a great video. Very clear with audio and visual examples with simple explanations.

4:30 Paul becoming a Meme Lord 🤣

I can see from this how compression makes the sound tighter and more polished sounding. But if you already have good technique and feel, I’m not sure whether you really need compression. It sounds worryingly akin to vocal auto tuning.

Nondeju jouw video's zijn echt goed! Niet alleen leerzaam maar ook heel veel diepgang in het onderwerp. Keep goin'!

I’ve been an electronics engineer by profession for 40 years working on diagnostic imaging equipment. (CAT scanners, MRI, Cardiovascular etc…) when you are imaging a heart cath procedure we use a video processing scheme called EDR (extended dynamic range) to bring the brightest spots down out of sun flare status and the low level signals up out of the background noise….. video compression basically. I’ve also been a musician for 40 years and when I did my recording studio internship, I was stoked to find out that compressors are just the audio version of my EDR and I already understood the stuff….. Best/cleanest presentation of audio compression I have seen on the interwebs…. Excellent educating sir!! This is why I am a subscriber…. And on your “compressor on the pedalboard” question Paul, that is the first thing on my board, add some delay, and some overdrive ……and I consider that my basic seasoning recipe and build out from there…..

After using effects for 40 years, i finally know what a compressor does.

If only my compressor pedal could be spelled the way you say it.

You are amazing. I could close my eyes and pick several random pedals, in any random order and you would make whatever concoction I came up with sound amazing. Thank you for teaching and inspiring me to be a better guitar player.

Thank you, you have a gift for making things crystal clear. You should do a whole series on pedals as there is no standard description of knobs, dials etc which can be very very confusing. Also, how to get better at guitar using a metronome. There are multiple uses for different things but being shown the correct usage, that is another thing altogether. Your beginners guitar course is simply brilliant by the way.

Compressor Gain! Made me move away from the mic again Compressor Gain! Please listen to how it works as I explain

Can you do a tutorial on your hair style? no joke

A great video Paul. One of the best compression explanations out there.

Finally compression well explained for us guitarist. Great job again, Paul ! 👍

is it just me or the sounds without the compressor are sounding more "alive" than with compressor?

John Frusciante used it, and if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me!

Thank you for your explanation. You have a great understanding and yet can make it sound like common knowledge.

Thx Mr. Davids your beautifully explained what I recently experienced. You're doing great work, also to improve the sound 👍👏

no one NEEDS a compressor...they can be useful, though.

TL;DR - it's a waveform sausage machine.

Great tip about rolling the volume down when using distortion before compression - works beautifully

Great examples of how compressors change the guitar's output...LOVE Paul's facial expressions when something sounds a bit wrong.... These videos are always entertaining AND educational! Thanks Paul!

Youll get copyrights strike by using the word COMPRESSION

"This is why you need to kill all of your dynamic range for no reason." Uhm, NO.

This was an outstanding video! Definitely helped with my understanding of compression and how I can use it in the studio!

Excuse me Paul David, but you're videos are by far my favorite guitar related videos available on RU-vid. Thank you, from all of my heart.

it's pronounced tran"s"ient with an s, not tran"sh"ient

This video is essential, thank you for making it. I learned about compression during my baby steps in Ableton but didn't know how to apply it to my guitar playing. Now people with the same problem can learn instantly what took me quite a while.

Best, most clear explanation of compression ever! Thank you.

Thank you for posting this video! I got a couple pedals for my acoustic and the compressor has sat in the box for almost a year because I didnt really know what to do with it. Now that I'm starting to notice the nuances of my guitar's tone through my preamp, I finally felt comfortable adding the compressor into my FX loop this week and really notice the difference. Safe to say its going to be a staple on my acoustic board now.

Just might be the best explanation of compression ever. Great job, Paul.

Great tutorial PD. really helps me understand it completely now. As for testing WHERE in the chain you want it, that's when a modeler like the Helix helps make it so easy to drag and drop in the signal chain wherever you want to try it out to A/B test so it's super easy no messing with cables ;) keep up the good work.

Great explanation thanks. My mxr dynacomp sits before all my fuzz/dist pedals and of course before the tubes I overdrive in my amp. The only thing I have behind it is my mutron 3 env filter.

Very well explained. The visual representation of the signal helped a lot