Explained : Compressor should go before overdrive, or after overdrive?
Should compressor go before overdrive, or after overdrive? I saw many of this questions on Internet.
There is no correct answer for this, and many videos and forums explain the difference with excellent demos. In this article I will explain from more technical point of view by using some oscilloscope screenshots.
What is compressor, what is overdrive?
Before we check graphs, I want to explain what the compressor is and what the overdrive is. Basically compressor compresses the signal when input signal reaches threshold and more. Overdrive pedals do very similar thing. Actually, overdrive can be described as boost + high compression ratio compressor. So there is no wonder the fact that overdrive hides compressor result. If you give extreme gain to overdrive, there is no difference to add compressor (In perfect world. In real world, there are another factor like tone circuit gonna change the tone, so there is the difference).
1. Compressor AFTER overdrive
Here is real screenshot of oscilloscope. Blue is the result of big signal, and yellow is the result of small signal. All input signal is sine wave.
As you see, big signal is clipped by overdrive, and compressor doesn't do much for the big signal. For small signal, compressor enhance the volume. In result, this configuration keeps your picking nuance, but equalizes the volume. Other words, when you play weaker note, you will hear tone difference (less distortion), but volume will be kept.
2. Compressor BEFORE overdrive
Let's move on next. This graph shows the result of Compressor before overdrive configuration. Difference of big and small signal is much less than first configuration because compressor equalizes the volume to overdrive. This will hide signal size difference and the signal will be more equally clipped by overdrive section. Your playing will be more equalized and tone will be constant regardless how hard you pick the string. This configuration is suitable when you prefer more consistent tone and volume.
I hope this article helps to understand the difference!
2923 comments
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574345
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574962
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574346
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574921
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574964
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574966
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574347
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574922
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574348
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574923
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574924
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574968
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574969
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574970
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574349
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574350
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574971
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574973
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574974
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574351
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574927
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574928
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574975
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574976
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574929
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574931
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574932
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250575737
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250575738
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250575739
https://rentry.co/zmwmq
https://vocus.cc/article/633aeeaffd897800016f1a94
https://dotnetfiddle.net/XHSgQE
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/sfsdfdsgdsg
https://pasteio.com/xo8RMhjzaoUn
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/39ce9fb8
https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQXis2Ew
https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/253f450f
https://coliru.stacked-crooked.com/feedback
https://paiza.io/projects/PyUhn68FPy-KPdSTccW5MQ
https://paste2.org/exgYz8bm
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/053a181b-fecc-4b70-9d20-afcd6c5647e6
https://yamcode.com/liguzvj2ql
https://geany.org/p/yCg93/
https://jsitor.com/iEGX34x54
https://zenodo.org/communities/sdftrwrwer/edit/
https://techplanet.today/post/ertewrewrwtew
https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/dsgsdgerwere/
https://github.com/themallthemerrier/erewrewr/tree/main
https://gitlab.com/themallthemerrier/stferwet/-/blob/main/ferwer
https://sway.office.com/rksDEsRB9HYVt5I2
https://www.scoop.it/topic/2zjs1vzyyz?&kind=crawled&fId=1162200
https://ctftime.org/writeup/35795
https://pastelink.net/qnlba6n1
https://anodamemoria.com/como-habilitar-la-isla-dinamica-de-iphone-14-en-cualquier-telefono-android/
https://arfgenies.xyz/how-to-enable-iphone-14-dynamic-island-in-any-android-phone/
https://rentry.co/r7ipu
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573012
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573304
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573013
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573014
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573305
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573015
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250571254
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573308
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573016
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574557
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574558
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574559
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574560
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574562
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574563
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574564
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574565
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573311
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574567
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574569
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573312
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573313
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574337
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574572
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574573
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574338
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574575
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574576
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250574957
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250573315
https://rentry.co/843z69
https://vocus.cc/article/633ae942fd897800016edf7b
https://dotnetfiddle.net/g1idST
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/dfhdfhfdhdfh
https://pasteio.com/xtzgvFr7N5fm
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/b4f2eb03
https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQkf7yEw
https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/3a5efe18
https://coliru.stacked-crooked.com/feedback
https://paiza.io/projects/Kko-LLrDP0YjFVhXddnWuA
https://paste2.org/smWAmKsd
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/42d27a6a-3bfc-4ee1-8eaf-127a00e1fdbf
https://yamcode.com/6ty4hrdtd0
https://geany.org/p/q2Tmc/
https://jsitor.com/fOcIKxTPw
https://zenodo.org/communities/new/
https://techplanet.today/post/sdgsdgd
https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/agasfderte/
https://github.com/themallthemerrier/fasfasfsf/tree/main
https://gitlab.com/themallthemerrier/rwrqwrqwr/-/blob/main/sdhdshsdh
https://sway.office.com/9K0cZpLZjXvFc1M5
https://www.scoop.it/topic/2zjs1vzyyz?&kind=crawled&fId=1162200
https://ctftime.org/writeup/35792
https://pastelink.net/49isfzeo
https://anodamemoria.com/hoy-free-fire-max-canjear-codigo-4-de-octubre-de-2022-paquete-y-recompensas-gratis/
https://arfgenies.xyz/wp-admin/post.php?post=1005&action=edit
https://rentry.co/on79n
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504476
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505287
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504514
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504670
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504480
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504482
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504515
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504671
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504672
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504673
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504483
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504484
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504517
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504518
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505134
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505130
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505128
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505136
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505137
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504678
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505139
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504679
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504680
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504521
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504681
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504683
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504522
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504523
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505285
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250505185
https://rentry.co/48f94
https://dotnetfiddle.net/s3m8a4
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/untitled-287
https://pasteio.com/xDFG5adu8Liw
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/259758bc
https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQXk0CFQ
https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/dde748ee
https://paiza.io/projects/9DE4VlVjJ9I94qtKzUxakg
https://paste2.org/sP3d82BK
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/6719e843-4901-436e-b12f-9a8884617f0b
https://yamcode.com/
https://geany.org/p/wogyt/
https://jsitor.com/U2nU4pC9I
https://zenodo.org/communities/themallthemerrier/?page=1&size=20
https://techplanet.today/post/dsgdsg-1
https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/sdgdsgdsgrw/
https://github.com/themallthemerrier/sfdfsdf/tree/main
https://gitlab.com/themallthemerrier/sdfdsf/-/blob/main/sdgsdgert
https://sway.office.com/AaZoLo0Yb8nthf6q
https://www.scoop.it/topic/2zjs1vzyyz?&kind=crawled&fId=1162200
https://ctftime.org/writeup/35777
https://pastelink.net/2b2fk7t9
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503799
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503800
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503878
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503802
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503804
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503953
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503954
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503955
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504466
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503880
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503881
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503882
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503883
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503958
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503884
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504505
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503959
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504469
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504506
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503961
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503963
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504507
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503964
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504508
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504509
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504665
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504511
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504666
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504667
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250504668
https://rentry.co/sqam2
https://dotnetfiddle.net/
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/untitled-855
https://pasteio.com/xZu8bWAKWvpq
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/63be0b3b
https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQQWzIEA
https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/fcf84445
https://paiza.io/projects/zkQE40tsrZ7SZgJssd4oyg
https://paste2.org/exKO4Cb6
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/74fec124-61f1-4f0e-b7f5-bf212d3a4391
https://yamcode.com/zcqqi6vgj2
https://geany.org/p/KoBNd/
https://jsitor.com/C-lrpphu6
https://zenodo.org/communities/dsgdsg/?page=1&size=20
https://techplanet.today/post/dsgdsgsdg
https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/shsdhsdh/
https://github.com/themallthemerrier/dshdshsdh/tree/main
https://gitlab.com/themallthemerrier/asgsagasg/-/blob/main/asgsgsga
https://sway.office.com/7L88gBxOFAaJE9iG
https://www.scoop.it/topic/2zjs1vzyyz?&kind=crawled&fId=1162200
https://ctftime.org/writeup/35776
https://pastelink.net/f21p6xgh
https://arfgenies.xyz/now-the-ram-of-any-android-phone-will-increase-like-this-learn-a-new-way/
https://anodamemoria.com/ahora-la-memoria-ram-de-cualquier-telefono-android-aumentara-asi-aprende-una-nueva-forma/
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503080
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503191
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503192
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503193
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250502959
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250502961
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250502962
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503082
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250502963
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503195
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503083
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503196
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503198
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503199
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503200
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503867
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503868
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503203
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503789
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503791
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503870
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503945
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503792
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503872
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503794
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503795
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503796
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503947
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503797
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/250503873
https://dotnetfiddle.net/x2yt7A
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/untitled-329
https://pasteio.com/xva5g2Cb5hYQ
https://dotnetfiddle.net/xJVpfa
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/untitled-975
https://pasteio.com/xtXD7LovEP4o
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/5b0e154e
https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQoTNQFg
https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/94708431
https://paiza.io/projects/k2awQ8Zl9Sj9dzWPII2PLQ
https://paste2.org/3HGVDD56
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/4fa879b1-4d7a-4951-b6c7-f818945f1e75
https://yamcode.com/vcpmvrfxgd
https://geany.org/p/sNDRK/
https://jsitor.com/axWMomcim
https://zenodo.org/communities/dsgdsgdshdsh/edit/
https://techplanet.today/post/sdfdsgdsg
https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/sdgdsgsdg/
https://github.com/themallthemerrier/fdhdfhdfh/tree/main
https://gitlab.com/themallthemerrier/sdgsdgsdg/-/blob/main/sdgdhsdh
https://sway.office.com/3H0Aihy6whaUwOxN
https://www.scoop.it/topic/2zjs1vzyyz?&kind=crawled&fId=1162200
https://ctftime.org/writeup/35774
https://pastelink.net/idziqkas
https://arfgenies.xyz/today-free-fire-max-redeem-code-3-october-2022-free-glow-wall-skin-rewards/
https://anodamemoria.com/hoy-free-fire-max-canjear-codigo-3-de-octubre-de-2022-aspecto-y-recompensas-de-glow-wall-gratis/