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!
4675 comments
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301724/posts/32477285
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301724/posts/32477288
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301724/posts/32477290
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301724/posts/32477291
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477374
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477380
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477382
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477383
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477560
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477562
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477569
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301726/posts/32477573
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301733/posts/32477679
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301733/posts/32477680
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301733/posts/32477683
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301733/posts/32477703
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301740/posts/32477770
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301740/posts/32477772
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301740/posts/32477774
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301740/posts/32477775
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301743/posts/32477942
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301743/posts/32477946
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301743/posts/32477949
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301743/posts/32477952
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301747/posts/32478039
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301747/posts/32478086
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301747/posts/32478088
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301747/posts/32478090
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301747/posts/32478111
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300333/posts/32478233
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300333/posts/32478252
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300333/posts/32478253
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300333/posts/32478255
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300333/posts/32478321
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301757/posts/32478390
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301757/posts/32478395
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301757/posts/32478401
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301757/posts/32478402
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301758/posts/32478514
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301758/posts/32478522
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301760/posts/32478618
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301760/posts/32478617
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301760/posts/32478623
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301760/posts/32478622
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301761/posts/32478690
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301761/posts/32478693
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301761/posts/32478695
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301761/posts/32478696
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301762/posts/32478750
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301762/posts/32478756
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621732712316929/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621733112905728/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621733647581185/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621734029328384/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621734702481409/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621735363051520/
https://github.com/Subanallah/AmanahTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/Subanallah/AmanahTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/Ikhfak/IdharTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/Ikhfak/IdharTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/idghambigunnah/QolQolahTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/idghambigunnah/QolQolahTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/Tanwiin/TasydidTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/Tanwiin/TasydidTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/NunMati/KasrohTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/NunMati/KasrohTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/Subanallah/AmanahTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/Subanallah/AmanahTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/Ikhfak/IdharTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/Ikhfak/IdharTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/idghambigunnah/QolQolahTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/idghambigunnah/QolQolahTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/Tanwiin/TasydidTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/Tanwiin/TasydidTV/discussions/2
https://github.com/NunMati/KasrohTV/discussions/1
https://github.com/NunMati/KasrohTV/discussions/2
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32441344
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32351065
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442208
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442300
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442390
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442695
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442761
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442829
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442858
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442926
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442952
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32442974
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32443045
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32443075
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32443134
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32443201
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32443216
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147193886/posts/32443363
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443583
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443636
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443669
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443708
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443757
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443786
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443891
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443915
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443956
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300768/posts/32443993
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300790/posts/32444123
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300790/posts/32444150
https://about.me/bogaire
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/WEBMOVIES/profile
https://b.hatena.ne.jp/WEBMOVIES/bookmark
https://findaspring.org/members/megacinem4k/
https://cs.astronomy.com/members/cinepolis-cinemas/default.aspx
https://forum.daoyidh.com/topic/2052/4kpedia
https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_sdfoodsof,68269927.html
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/wnSoxc
https://solo.to/alocinemov
https://hackmd.io/@megacinemaxhd/rk3fU_3pA
https://taplink.cc/aiijdiejjd
https://jsitor.com/E7UFa9XAdD
https://wokwi.com/projects/409657753229350913
https://jsfiddle.net/cindyyuvia/9g02v356/
https://jsbin.com/difucas/edit?html,output
https://yamcode.com/4kpedia-71
https://pastebin.com/HPcngLDb
https://pastelink.net/n4e37fmf
https://www.etextpad.com/w684896ave
https://paiza.io/projects/nmKAJi52KvRazsJaJFRwKQ
https://bitbin.it/0NQZkY0T/
https://paste.intergen.online/view/dda4e732
https://paste.ee/p/cu0qw
https://rentry.co/uq23fhqv
https://onlinegdb.com/ikyiXphCSv
https://dictanote.co/n/1071121/
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/d3252e39
https://rextester.com/KTVD4670
https://rom.curseforge.com/paste/c4c1b7c2
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/2805ab9b
https://www.wowace.com/paste/d2f7b0aa
https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/b160a532
https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/77ad12e0
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/f33304f2
https://paste.gg/p/awwahsans/fbc94c0c590a461bb777c4c045446dde
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32462956
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32463889
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464002
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464057
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464144
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464262
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464292
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464312
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464354
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464802
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464844
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32464888
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465240
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465335
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465383
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465406
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465526
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465550
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465566
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465729
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465810
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465849
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465881
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145041628/posts/32465917
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147579163/posts/32466077
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147579163/posts/32466113
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147579163/posts/32466233
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147579163/posts/32466262
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301430/posts/32466371
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301430/posts/32466412
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301430/posts/32469455
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301430/posts/32469505
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301430/posts/32469543
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301548/posts/32469600
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301548/posts/32469639
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147579163/posts/32469741
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147579163/posts/32462822
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301548/posts/32469849/
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301585/posts/32470346
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301599/posts/32470451
https://www.intensedebate.com/people/clubmovie4k
https://taplink.cc/clubmovie4k
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/clubmovie4k/profile
https://b.hatena.ne.jp/clubmovie4k/bookmark
https://findaspring.org/members/clubmovie4k/
https://taylorhicks.ning.com/forum/topics/vbdfghhdfhreshdfhd
https://muckrack.com/club-movie4k/bio
https://heylink.me/tiansep622
https://hackmd.io/@clubmovie4k/Hk9QsohTR
http://opensource.platon.org/forum/projects/viewtopic.php?p=12659577#12659577
https://toirscript.com/topic/6546/cbdfbfdgnhgdfngn
https://ultrafighteronline.com/topic/7294/streaming-en-vf
https://nodebb.klangknecht.com/topic/3396/bfdbhndsfh
https://forum.realdigital.org/d/117522-fngjgfjdfghdrj
https://foro.ribbon.es/topic/20890/ngfnjgfjjytkj
https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/10105/vnfgndjgfnjshdfht
https://web3devcommunity.com/topic/12103/xvfsdgdsgagadgsd
https://forum.daoyidh.com/topic/2075/xbvdsjgf
https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/145038-cxvsdvdsadf
https://forum.instube.com/d/142303-cvbcvnvngfs
https://matters.town/a/i0vlwh1v0rbd?utm_source=share_copy&referral=tiansep622
https://demo.evolutionscript.com/forum/topic/1614-Club-Movi4k-HD
https://medium.com/@tiansep622/https-www-strava-com-athletes-145041628-posts-32462956-f2f94f5b1be7
https://onlinegdb.com/jCO_eTHgA