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!

4639 comments

srthsrthrsth

https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301154/posts/32454622
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301154/posts/32454624
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301154/posts/32454626
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301154/posts/32454638
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455097
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455099
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455101
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455106
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455362
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455365
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455368
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455441
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455443
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301189/posts/32455445
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455740
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455742
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455744
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455874
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455875
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455878
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301219/posts/32455905
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301231/posts/32456169
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301231/posts/32456172
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301231/posts/32456177
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301231/posts/32456179
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301249/posts/32456546
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301249/posts/32456592
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301249/posts/32456613
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301249/posts/32456653
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301249/posts/32456669

fgrtgd

https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621571592257537/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621575371325441/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621577900523520/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621579582504961/
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454294
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454301
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454309
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454316
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454342
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454363
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454432
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454441
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454452
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454462
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454469
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454498
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454561
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454572
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454585
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454596
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454625
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454651
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454669
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454683
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454732
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454744
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454752
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454763
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454772
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454786
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454804
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301178/posts/32454873
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301178/posts/32454886
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301178/posts/32454896

fgrtgd

https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621571592257537/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621575371325441/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621577900523520/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621579582504961/
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454294
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454301
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454309
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454316
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454342
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301136/posts/32454363
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454432
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454441
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454452
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454462
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454469
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301151/posts/32454498
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454561
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454572
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454585
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454596
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454625
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454651
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454669
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301158/posts/32454683
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454732
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454744
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454752
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454763
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454772
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454786
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301171/posts/32454804
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301178/posts/32454873
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301178/posts/32454886
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301178/posts/32454896

fgrtgd

https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300994/posts/32451584
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300994/posts/32451587
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300998/posts/32451640
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300998/posts/32451642
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300998/posts/32451651
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300998/posts/32451652
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301001/posts/32451698
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301001/posts/32451694
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301001/posts/32451703
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301001/posts/32451704
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301009/posts/32451771
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301009/posts/32451772
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301009/posts/32451779
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301009/posts/32451781
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301013/posts/32451820
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301013/posts/32451823
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301013/posts/32451826
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301013/posts/32451827
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301017/posts/32451859
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301017/posts/32451858
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301017/posts/32451869
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301017/posts/32451868
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301020/posts/32451903
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301020/posts/32451902
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301020/posts/32451914
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301020/posts/32451916
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301023/posts/32451945
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301023/posts/32451946
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301023/posts/32451953
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301023/posts/32451956
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301025/posts/32451998
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301025/posts/32451999
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301025/posts/32452006
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301025/posts/32452007
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301030/posts/32452036
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301030/posts/32452038
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301030/posts/32452048
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301030/posts/32452049
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301033/posts/32452083
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301033/posts/32452082
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301033/posts/32452093
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301033/posts/32452094
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301036/posts/32452142
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301036/posts/32452140
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301036/posts/32452155
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301036/posts/32452150
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301045/posts/32452236
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301045/posts/32452239
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301045/posts/32452244
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1301045/posts/32452245

fgrtgd

https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300945/posts/32450671
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300945/posts/32450673
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300945/posts/32450677
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300945/posts/32450678
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300953/posts/32450735
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300953/posts/32450739
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300953/posts/32450745
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300953/posts/32450747
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300958/posts/32450822
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300958/posts/32450816
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300958/posts/32450836
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300958/posts/32450838
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300964/posts/32450950
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300964/posts/32450951
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300964/posts/32450952
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300964/posts/32450954
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300970/posts/32451006
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300970/posts/32451007
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300970/posts/32451013
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300970/posts/32451015
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300972/posts/32451072
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300972/posts/32451073
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300972/posts/32451079
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300972/posts/32451080
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300974/posts/32451123
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300974/posts/32451125
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300974/posts/32451129
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300974/posts/32451131
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300978/posts/32451214
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300978/posts/32451215
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300978/posts/32451216
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300978/posts/32451217
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300984/posts/32451283
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300984/posts/32451284
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300984/posts/32451286
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300984/posts/32451287
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300986/posts/32451352
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300986/posts/32451351
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300986/posts/32451361
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300986/posts/32451359
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300988/posts/32451411
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300988/posts/32451413
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300988/posts/32451424
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300988/posts/32451426
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300990/posts/32451483
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300990/posts/32451484
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300990/posts/32451500
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300990/posts/32451504
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300994/posts/32451562
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1300994/posts/32451564

Leave a comment