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

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!

4477 comments

fgrtgd

https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621359545057280/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621360094511105/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621360778149888/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621361554096129/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621363701612544/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621364062322689/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621364832043009/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621365580693504/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621366323118080/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621366606168064/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621366985818113/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621367921049601/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621368533483521/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621368902549505/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621369269518336/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621369636519937/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621370037174272/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621370450214913/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621370913685504/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621371444264960/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621371974877184/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621372331458561/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621372669067265/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621373073850369/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621373832986624/

srthsrthrsth

https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621353975054337/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621354887282688/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621355759697921/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621356126666753/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621356535709696/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621356990726144/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621357426933761/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621357773029376/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621358171455489/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621359003959296/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621359689728000/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621360190980096/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621360625057793/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621362176950272/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621363200393216/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621363846348800/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621364831977472/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621365555462144/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621366195093505/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621366704734209/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621367231152129/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621367864459264/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621368330027008/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621369483493376/

https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300141/posts/32429076
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300141/posts/32429108
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300141/posts/32429110
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300141/posts/32429112
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300141/posts/32429113
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429184
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429182
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429181
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429178
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429203
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429199
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429198
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429235
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300158/posts/32429281
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300158/posts/32429282
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300158/posts/32429284
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300148/posts/32429199
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300169/posts/32429451
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300169/posts/32429453
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300169/posts/32429457
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300169/posts/32429458
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300169/posts/32429476
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300181/posts/32429599
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300181/posts/32429606
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300181/posts/32429658
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300181/posts/32429656
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300193/posts/32429753
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300193/posts/32429755
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300193/posts/32429756
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300193/posts/32429759
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300196/posts/32429814
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300196/posts/32429816
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300196/posts/32429822
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300196/posts/32429825
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300196/posts/32430457
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300196/posts/32430458

Rachel

https://github.com/DailyFilms/Pelisplus/discussions/1
https://github.com/DailyFilms/Pelisplus/discussions/2
https://github.com/DailyFilms/Pelisplus/discussions/3
https://github.com/DailyFilms/Pelisplus/discussions/4
https://github.com/DailyFilms/AssistirFilme/discussions/1
https://github.com/DailyFilms/AssistirFilme/discussions/2
https://github.com/DailyFilms/AssistirFilme/discussions/3
https://github.com/DailyFilms/AssistirFilme/discussions/4
https://github.com/DailyFilms/AssistirFilme/discussions/5
https://github.com/KERE-MUNGGAH-BALE/REPELIS-HD/discussions/1
https://www.eventbee.com/v/hivam17261/boxoffice/
https://www.eventbee.com/v/diced89473/boxoffice/
https://www.eventbee.com/v/kewab46592/boxoffice/
https://www.eventbee.com/v/nodow98087/boxoffice/
https://www.eventbee.com/v/ceyoga1792/boxoffice/
https://www.eventbee.com/v/mapop68538/boxoffice/
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146754636/posts/32212569
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146754636/posts/32360425
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32418250
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32418571
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32359867
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32418843
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419039
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419137
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419327
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419423
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419486
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419566
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147242869/posts/32419633
https://about.me/moviefressh
https://forum.daoyidh.com/topic/1941/4k-vision
https://toirscript.com/topic/6105/4k-vision
https://ultrafighteronline.com/topic/6913/asdhromsa
https://nodebb.klangknecht.com/topic/3133/jkhmmdhydy
https://forum.realdigital.org/d/109078-mnxzbchd
https://foro.ribbon.es/topic/20379/mksdoodsie
https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/143326-vxcgvgdfgmm
https://groups.google.com/g/hd-getaction-movie/c/V2qt69Oamns
https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/9557/ksadklj
https://web3devcommunity.com/topic/10220/zxczxcmn
https://solo.to/4kvision
https://hackmd.io/@megacinemaxhd/rJOygWcp0
https://jsitor.com/_MD-cj6tOw
https://wokwi.com/projects/409486378131710977
https://jsfiddle.net/cindyyuvia/45ncgrf8/
https://jsbin.com/disacid/edit?html,output
https://pastebin.com/zuMNhdv3
https://pastelink.net/d6m0nvcq
https://paiza.io/projects/TtCgJ3fHIwB0gzKqMAJtYg
https://bitbin.it/Lp1ZnLTm/
https://paste.intergen.online/view/1ef5e37c
https://paste.ee/p/qfmJ1
https://rentry.co/46rcbpqz
https://onlinegdb.com/KWQNoJp6s
https://dictanote.co/n/1070177/
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/93cd5371
https://rextester.com/GUK12366
https://rom.curseforge.com/paste/49a57eaa
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/606363e7
https://www.wowace.com/paste/36580fac
https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/a80a543a
https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/3b57e748
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/e77d2634
https://dotnetfiddle.net/8ukUYu

fgrtgd

https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299987/posts/32426486
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299987/posts/32426490
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299987/posts/32426493
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299987/posts/32426498
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299987/posts/32426500
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299989/posts/32426560
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299989/posts/32426563
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299989/posts/32426567
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299989/posts/32426570
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299989/posts/32426573
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299991/posts/32426704
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299991/posts/32426705
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299991/posts/32426707
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299991/posts/32426709
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299991/posts/32426711
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299999/posts/32426787
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299999/posts/32426790
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299999/posts/32426792
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299999/posts/32426794
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299999/posts/32426783
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300002/posts/32426857
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300002/posts/32426859
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300002/posts/32426861
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300002/posts/32426864
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300002/posts/32426863
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300011/posts/32426948
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300011/posts/32426950
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300011/posts/32426951
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300011/posts/32426953
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300011/posts/32426954
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300016/posts/32427021
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300016/posts/32427023
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300016/posts/32427025
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300016/posts/32427027
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300016/posts/32427032
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300022/posts/32427122
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300022/posts/32427125
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300022/posts/32427127
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300022/posts/32427129
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300022/posts/32427132
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300028/posts/32427175
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300028/posts/32427176
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300028/posts/32427178
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300028/posts/32427179
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300028/posts/32427182
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300032/posts/32427260
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300032/posts/32427262
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300032/posts/32427264
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300032/posts/32427267
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300032/posts/32427270
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300036/posts/32427325
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300036/posts/32427326
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300036/posts/32427350
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300036/posts/32427352
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300036/posts/32427353
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300044/posts/32427419
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300044/posts/32427421
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300044/posts/32427423
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300044/posts/32427427
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300044/posts/32427428
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300048/posts/32427506
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300048/posts/32427509
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300048/posts/32427512
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300048/posts/32427498
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300048/posts/32427502
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300048/posts/32427529

fgrtgd

https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407768
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407803
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407840
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407853
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407864
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407936
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407950
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407966
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407980
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407998
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408134
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408168
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408179
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408197
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408211
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408230
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299229/posts/32408290
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299229/posts/32408307
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299229/posts/32408333

Leave a comment