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!

3777 comments

dthrdh

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/pelisplus-ver-spy-x-family-codigo-blanco-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/ver-spy-x-family-codigo-blanco-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/pelisplus-ver-la-idea-de-tenerte-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/ver-la-idea-de-tenerte-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/pelisplus-ver-rivales-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/ver-rivales-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/pelisplus-ver-abigail-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/ver-abigail-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/pelisplus-ver-sting-arana-asesina-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cuevanaespanol/ver-sting-arana-asesina-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/pelisplus-ver-marisol-llamame-pepa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/ver-marisol-llamame-pepa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/pelisplus-ver-cazafantasmas-imperio-helado-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/ver-cazafantasmas-imperio-helado-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/pelisplus-ver-sangre-en-los-labios-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/ver-sangre-en-los-labios-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/pelisplus-ver-la-primera-profecia-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/ver-la-primera-profecia-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/pelisplus-ver-civil-war-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/pelisplushdpelicula/ver-civil-war-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino-cuevana-3

https://www.forexagone.com/forum/questions-debutants/dtrhrge5yhue5hed-116745

https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/61187-fthfdth5trsdf

https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/gukfgthbr5ty

https://click4r.com/posts/g/16741635/ghujdrg5tsdrf

https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_gujkdgd5t,66261111.html

https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/f8MfxH

https://www.scoop.it/topic/bfdrtg4t5sef

https://pastelink.net/u18k3l45

https://paiza.io/projects/J9dnN0f4Hjf9eg_8zvpWyQ

https://telegra.ph/BFTADRGrsfgrds-05-10

https://yamcode.com/vddrsgf4saeda

https://pastebin.com/ySzjtxs5

https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/c6738ee5

https://paste.ee/p/EbQFw

https://hackmd.io/@turuuu45/SkIfge3fA

https://jsbin.com/lazigayagi/edit?html,output

https://baskadia.com/post/7j7yn

https://jsfiddle.net/dsyqgwb5/

https://tempaste.com/P8afFLsJcRX

https://snippet.host/zbecru

https://bitbin.it/OrdlB1yq/

https://binshare.net/ZYDbBN3exwJhsE9xKrzW

https://www.pastery.net/uutcyr/

ftdhftdh

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376513/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376545/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376708/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376115/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376160/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376129/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376366/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376671/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376224/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376294/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376427/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545376487/ 

https://www.forexagone.com/forum/questions-debutants/dfthdthsrte5ryg-116695

https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_segsgseg,66253235.html

https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/61120-ftydthfthj65yhud5r

https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/fyjdfthdg5edyh

https://click4r.com/posts/g/16739057/fthjaftdhd5rygh5dr

https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/Jb4nrW

https://www.scoop.it/topic/ftyhnjdtgb5yrgh

https://pastelink.net/xganco1u

https://paiza.io/projects/nRaSzJRGYYDLN3xG9dGFSg

https://telegra.ph/nhfgDRHdrhdrsh-05-10

https://yamcode.com/btdfdthdrgyhdr5gy

https://pastebin.com/jtHBsmHZ

https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/5b9f9324

https://paste.ee/p/LJ8XJ

https://hackmd.io/@turuuu45/HJVYScoMA

https://jsbin.com/juxinaligi/edit?html,output

https://baskadia.com/post/7j1h2

https://jsfiddle.net/w7ucdmzv/

https://tempaste.com/R5mL2btgwOh

https://snippet.host/wfbmwf

https://bitbin.it/B8mBnRjL/

https://binshare.net/OJ2YGzbBSr6xeXKYXcBB

https://www.pastery.net/cdrvxt/

EFE

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304188/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304389/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304643/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304284/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304437/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304487/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304913/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304811/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545304884/

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls545309041/

https://www.forexagone.com/forum/questions-debutants/fyjhr6yhdfhtf-116619

https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_fyhjdth5s5yg,66239933.html

https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/60789-fyjdthsrygh5serg

https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/thrhgsdryh5srg

https://click4r.com/posts/g/16733428/tdjhdrhs45yr

https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/aOP3e6

https://www.scoop.it/topic/ftyjhdthd5ysrg

https://pastelink.net/f608i4ss

https://paiza.io/projects/Fwcqk8CCaLiBfchB3xfGhg?language=php

https://telegra.ph/THdthDYU5DH-05-09

https://yamcode.com/fhgndthdtjhfyt6j

https://pastebin.com/HYF4zL6F

https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/66b81d3c

https://paste.ee/p/d9Hg5

https://hackmd.io/@turuuu45/rJ-UH05MC

https://jsbin.com/kibegopafu/edit?html,output

https://baskadia.com/post/7ieul

https://jsfiddle.net/pmuc08eo/

https://tempaste.com/8tHmxLpzPpk

https://snippet.host/ddfifv

https://bitbin.it/lFXwJ0ww/

https://binshare.net/svFU8lpLtvP2Ppb0djcd

https://www.pastery.net/tbwhzx/

drgrdg

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/zeusmaxwin/2024-hd-1080p

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/zeusmaxwin/2024-1080p

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/zeusmaxwin/2024-1080p-tw-zh-hd

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/zeusmaxwin/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2024-1080p

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/zeusmaxwin/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2024-1080p-834015684

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/maxjeprut/2024-1080p-china-full-verison

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/trenssmasdrgka/1080p

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/trenssmasdrgka/2024-1080p-hd

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/trenssmasdrgka/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-2024

https://bento.me/godzilla-y-kongel-nuevo-imperio-en-espanol

https://bento.me/vergodzillaxkong-thenewempire-enespanol

https://bento.me/ver-godzilla-y-kongel-nuevo-imperio-pelicula-hd

https://bento.me/the-roundup-punishment-ko

https://www.forexagone.com/forum/questions-debutants/fthdrghdrhr56ye-116607

https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_ftyjdfthd5y,66238279.html

https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/60784-dthdrge45ysef

https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/ftyhdfthr6udrg

https://click4r.com/posts/g/16732517/yfjdthdyhe5hy

https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/vkvivW

https://www.scoop.it/topic/dthdghr56ysrg

https://pastelink.net/0zkhernl

https://paiza.io/projects/3lgW3ED-1e0qZbiXI1ERxA

https://telegra.ph/FTHfhu6ruhas-05-09

https://yamcode.com/dthdfbr6thyaf

https://pastebin.com/hvJEzF8T

https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/34f23e0c

https://paste.ee/p/6gO6P

https://hackmd.io/@turuuu45/SyW39i9zA

https://jsbin.com/janekicujo/edit?html,output

https://baskadia.com/post/7ibqj

https://jsfiddle.net/62t8Lwc1/

https://tempaste.com/mzZkRwP0Bs3

https://snippet.host/ezkrva

https://bitbin.it/pIiS2cYg/

https://binshare.net/dVgNqkNYSVHTg8koXf0D

https://www.pastery.net/rzedmu/

drRGwfa

https://bento.me/challengers-film-online-romana

https://bento.me/dragonkeeper-film-online-romana

https://bento.me/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-film-online-romana

https://bento.me/bolshoe-puteshestvie-spetsialnaya-dostavka-film-online-romana

https://bento.me/furiosa-a-mad-max-saga-film-online-romana

https://bento.me/civil-war-film-online-romana

https://bento.me/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-pelicula-online-espanol

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/alocinefrstreaming/voir-le-deuxieme-acte-2024-en-streaming-gratuit-vf-vo-films-complet-vostfr

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/alocinefrstreaming/voir-la-planete-des-singes-le-nouveau-royaume-2024-en-streaming-gratuit-vf-vo-films-complet-vostfr

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/alocinefrstreaming/pelisplus-ver-arthur-una-amistad-sin-limites-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/alocinefrstreaming/pelisplus-ver-garfield-fuera-de-casa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/alocinefrstreaming/pelisplus-ver-jugaremos-en-el-bosque-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/alocinefrstreaming/pelisplus-ver-profesion-peligro-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/exhumafullversion/2024-korea-hd

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/exhumafullversion/2024

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/exhumafullversion/exhuma-2024-zoom-hd

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/exhumafullversion/exhuma-2024-full-hd

https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/exhumafullversion/1080p-korea

https://www.forexagone.com/forum/questions-debutants/dfthfthdtghdtyhd45tdrgdrg-116575

https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_fhfthdrgsef,66229221.html

https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/60740-fyhdrtg4trseseffthftyhtgh

https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/fthfthr56ysrfsrf

https://click4r.com/posts/g/16730453/fghjgyujfyhfy56ydrgdthg

https://pastelink.net/9zeted23

https://paiza.io/projects/TgjFfjgJg9P-rFk7TFWgCg

https://telegra.ph/GUYJftyh6ryudrgfdrg-05-09

https://yamcode.com/thgdtghf6ysefsefsf

https://pastebin.com/dG8J5epC

https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/63e8a956

https://paste.ee/p/GMNZu

https://hackmd.io/@turuuu45/r1dioB9GR

https://jsbin.com/litucalube/edit?html,output

https://baskadia.com/post/7i78t

https://jsfiddle.net/0ojm1Lbk/

https://tempaste.com/5ERXBbg3BBI

https://snippet.host/sikqre

https://bitbin.it/nD0gnHRa/

https://binshare.net/J2hERdNRZ0DKhtwyKMcu

https://www.pastery.net/mgvebu/

Leave a comment