Compressor before or after?

[jezzaboy]

Bought a Spectra comp to try out. Signal chain is tuner - EHX Battalion - RCF powered speaker. Should the comp be before or after the EHX?

[Lozz196]

Before, just bought a compressor myself so researched this last week.

[RedVee]

I use my Spectracomp at the beginning before any other effect, and my MXR-87 Compressor at the end as a transparent limiter.

Edited February 8, 2020 by RedVee

[Osiris]

Try both and see which you prefer, there's no right or wrong answer but generally speaking compression is usually - but not always - before any other effects. If you have it after the Battalion you can use the 4 band EQ to boost certain frequencies to be squashed more than the others which can give some interesting tones. With compression after the EQ you're obviously then shaping the already compressed signal. 

[itu]

I see two ways, and how they differ:

- drive the effects and then compress the result

- compress your bass output and process it

Both have pros and cons and I would test both ways. The second option can be a bit like a limiter: the comp sets the max output (depending on the ratio), no matter how hard you hit.

It is up to you to make the choice. Very much depends on the settings of the comp and the other effects. Playing style has its effect, especially in the first option.

[dave_bass5]

Before for me as well, but bare in mind a lot of heads have comps in, ands these will be at the end of the chain, so its really what works and what you want it to do, and what’s in the chain before it. Ive found either to work, but in different ways.