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!
4500 comments
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599558986/?ref_=lsedt_bk
http://imdb.com/list/ls599558814/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599558849/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599570026/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599570553/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599570528/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599570738/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599570790/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599570179/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577172/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577146/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577307/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577395/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577388/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577654/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577237/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577243/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577405/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577952/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577939/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577947/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577839/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599577890/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571005/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571066/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571049/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571501/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571717/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571745/?ref_=lsedt_bk
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls599571109/?ref_=lsedt_bk
http://nopaste.ceske-hry.cz/1547053
https://onlinegdb.com/U_irQ5J3s
https://freepaste.link/w8xbwzziya
https://www.etextpad.com/iq6zq3vfi0
https://pastenote.net/link/vagum
https://pastelink.net/qb42svou
https://rextester.com/ZVCNIW68628
https://paiza.io/projects/FxI2WcsRk_0sKCx5Imb-jw?language=php
https://paste.centos.org/view/f96e0429
https://paste.myst.rs/fu66mk1j
https://telegra.ph/fdgfdg-06-21
https://paste.debian.net/1381464/
https://pastebin.com/32NFMTNC
https://ideone.com/xI5LNq
https://posh.vip/e/-sitaare-zameen-par-2025—9
https://posh.vip/e/-sitaare-zameen-par-2025—10
https://posh.vip/e/-sitaare-zameen-par-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p-3
https://posh.vip/e/-detective-sherdil-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-detective-sherdil-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-detective-sherdil-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-kuberaa-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-kuberaa-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-kuberaa-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-padai-thalaivan-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-padai-thalaivan-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-padai-thalaivan-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-bou-buttu-bhuta-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-bou-buttu-bhuta-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-bou-buttu-bhuta-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-ronth-2025—9
https://posh.vip/e/-ronth-2025—10
https://posh.vip/e/-ronth-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p-3
https://posh.vip/e/-thug-life-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-thug-life-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-thug-life-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-aabhyanthara-kuttavaali-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-aabhyanthara-kuttavaali-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-aabhyanthara-kuttavaali-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-ace-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-ace-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-ace-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-blind-spot-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-blind-spot-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-blind-spot-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-eleven-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-eleven-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-eleven-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-subham-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-subham-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-subham-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-single-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-single-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-single-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
https://posh.vip/e/-detective-sherdil-2025—2
https://posh.vip/e/-detective-sherdil-2025—3
https://posh.vip/e/-detective-sherdil-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p-1
http://posh.vip/e/-raid-2-2025-
https://posh.vip/e/-raid-2-2025—1
https://posh.vip/e/-raid-2-2025-hidi-dubed-70p-and-100p
http://nopaste.ceske-hry.cz/1547045
https://onlinegdb.com/PB3dGm1NP
https://freepaste.link/n4bzjfz6gl
https://www.etextpad.com/qr4f9lapju
https://pastenote.net/link/g8jhf
https://pastelink.net/lee9u290\
https://rextester.com/PZU75926
https://paiza.io/projects/KvKMCqAvUVPcSM-l7A5sJw?language=php
https://paste.centos.org/view/61d9f88c
https://paste.myst.rs/tomgeh51
https://telegra.ph/xgdfvd-06-21
https://paste.debian.net/1381434/
https://pastebin.com/TRffW5c7
https://ideone.com/qlheiM
https://thangs.com/designer/tallrike
https://thangs.com/designer/lineth
https://thangs.com/designer/taterie
https://thangs.com/designer/djerbicacas
https://thangs.com/designer/antibiotika
https://thangs.com/designer/songsmith
http://thangs.com/designer/sealing
https://thangs.com/designer/kwakzalverij
https://thangs.com/designer/vloeien
https://thangs.com/designer/growthle
https://github.com/gzc/isystem/issues/1
https://github.com/Programming-from-A-to-Z/A2Z-F15/issues/30
https://github.com/cy4nguy/PythonSimpleKeylogger/issues/3
https://github.com/HoyDiamond/DiamondSeo01/issues/1
https://github.com/EllanJiang/GameFramework/issues/76
https://github.com/dashpradeep99/https-github.com-miguellgt-books/issues/6
https://github.com/openai/sparse_attention/issues/13
https://github.com/defunkt/ambitious_activeldap/issues/14
https://x.com/ggs_jsj60901/status/1936312301327618088
https://br.advfn.com/forum/perfil/ryuazqrandy
https://scrapbox.io/ss168huay/huay16888
https://cara.app/asdosdo168huay/all
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/BgtaYh
https://files.fm/ryuazqrandy/info
https://matters.town/a/5kvqjqu3kedy
https://pastebin.com/fdcwD0Wp
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/ymIcrpQb0Yh
https://pastelink.net/vq0ubjdt
https://telegra.ph/huay168diamondseo-06-21
https://p.ip.fi/vKX
https://paiza.io/projects/rnJEAnBTOhZ37TDUdBtKzg
http://ofbiz.116.s1.nabble.com/huay44168seo-td4873030.html
https://jsbin.com/fifarilotu/edit?html
https://www.onlinegdb.com/dxcNL7ZJ
https://etextpad.com/public/z5ubsv3qbz
https://paste.rs/p8OG2.txt
https://gitlab.aicrowd.com/-/snippets/341175
https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/67297/huay168seoxxzz
https://medium.com/@ryuazqrandy/huay168seoo-72d9aebebe4a
https://glucogen17-usa.systeme.io/
https://healthmartblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy.html
https://sites.google.com/view/glucogen17-report/
https://glucogen17-0srq0y9.gamma.site/glucogen17
https://glucogen17.mywebselfsite.net/
https://glucogen17.webflow.io/
https://glucogen17-glucogen17.jimdosite.com/
https://glucogen17.mystrikingly.com/
https://glucogen17report.quora.com/
https://github.com/GlucoGen17-Report/GlucoGen17/
https://gitlab.com/GlucoGen17-Report/GlucoGen17
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/80212c9378.html
https://pdfhost.io/v/T3Xddw5xHM_GlucoGen17__USA_OFFERS__Managing_Healthy_Cholesterol__Blood_Sugar_And_Levels
https://online.visual-paradigm.com/community/bookshelf/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels-27btc9mbi
https://soundcloud.com/glucogen17official/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://medium.com/@glucogen17official/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels-c567dfb3cd6c
https://groups.google.com/g/glucogen17-report/c/QQJQ4vh4ou4
https://www.globhy.com/article/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://cscourse.ustc.edu.cn/vdir/Gitlab/compiler_staff/jianmu-supplemental/-/issues/5509
https://www.dewalist.com/services/health-beauty-fitness/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholester-phoenix-534168.html
https://indibloghub.com/post/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://www.hashtaglunchbag.org/glucogen17
https://www.grepmed.com/GlucoGen17
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/3baba002-73fa-433b-b905-ed29b4ae4707
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/16eLRlVT3rV-eLpUxJO__qLaBO9O2EZFV?usp=sharing
https://groups.google.com/g/glucogen17-report/c/a70bmj3iWZs
https://www.provenexpert.com/glucogen17-official/
https://solo.to/glucogen17-report
https://hellobiz.in/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels-920778555
https://haitiliberte.com/advert/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels/
https://www.invastor.com/blog/167336-GlucoGen17-USA-OFFERS-Managing-Healthy-Cholesterol-Blood-Sugar-And-Levels/
https://glucogen17-official.hashnode.dev/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://sfero.me/podcast/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol
http://glucogen17.alboompro.com/portfolio/health-wellness/1519093-glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://gitcq.cyberinner.com/GlucoGen17/GlucoGen17-GlucoGen17/
https://git.skyviewfund.com/GlucoGen17/GlucoGen17/
https://hackmd.io/@GlucoGen17/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://www.dibiz.com/glucogen17official
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels
https://nas.io/glucogen17/challenges/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels-nv5r
http://nexusstem.co.uk/community/main-forum/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels/
https://www.deviantart.com/glucogen17usa/art/GlucoGen17-USA-OFFERS-Managing-Healthy-Cholester-1209229412
https://www.adpost4u.com/for-sale/health-beauty/970155/glucogen17-usa-offers-managing-healthy-cholesterol-blood-sugar-and-levels