using compression on distorted guitar?

[ManuelMateus]

i think that I have to use compression on my distorted guitar, I have 2 mono tracks, should I use the compressor on each track separated or should I pass the 2 tracks on a stereo group and compress the stereo track group, and EQ the EQ the stereo group, or each track, what is the standard?
and what kind of setings for the compression to give more crunch to the sound.
thanks

 

[Chainsaw Calligraphy]

There isn't really any need to compress distorted guitars as the distortion process takes all of the dynamic range out of them anyway. Most people seem to agree that compressing distorted guitars makes them sound worse.

 

[JeffTD]

I use CLA3A on my gtr bus.

 

[bryan_kilco]

If any, I may do very very light compression on guitars.....I've never tried it, but there may be some benefit in bussing guitars and bass down and compressing it all together for glue?

 

[Uros]

Using a compressor on distorted guitars for envelope manipulation (so, not for altering dynamics) can sometimes yield really good results, depending on a project.

 

[colonel kurtz]

I've never tried it, but there may be some benefit in bussing guitars and bass down and compressing it all together for glue?

i usually like to send all the rythym guitars to a stereo track and compress them a little bit for the glue factor

i'd stay away from compressing the bass along with them, though

 

[smy1]

I often parallel-limit my guitars ultra-hard and then bring them up slightly underneath. Like parallel compression on drums, just harsher. Adds a nice grit and fullness.

 

[bryan_kilco]

i usually like to send all the rythym guitars to a stereo track and compress them a little bit for the glue factor

i'd stay away from compressing the bass along with them, though

What DAW you using these days?

 

[colonel kurtz]

still fuckin' with cubase!

 

[Kohugaly]

Usually I compress guitars.... Andy sneap preset C4 usually... to get chords and palm mutes to same volume... If i don't palm mutes peak 3db higher than chords and that makes the guitar uneven... sometimes usual compression do the trick...

 

[Machinated]

Try out compression on guitars. I love it a lot of the time, sometimes it doesn't work.

A lot of people say that 'distorted guitars are already compressed' but if using a compressor on top sounds good, do it. I tend to like la3a kind of compression, vintage warmer can be cool too.

 

[Kohugaly]

they are not compressed as one would think.. check the chain.... distortion evens out all peaks (so the sound is compressed no matter on the input), after that it gets trough EQ so some frequencies are boosted/atenuated, than the same with the cab and the room, and mic.... so in the end amplitude changes as the frequency contend changes.... just compare the amplitude of palm mutes (with main frequencies around 100Hz) and chords... might get around 3-5db difference...

 

[Ermz]

Can't decide whether I like compression on rhythms for metal or not. I've experimented with it on and off, and while the sculpting control of the compressor can be beneficial, there are always negative spectral results. Usually the harsher frequencies become more present, harder to dial out. If you're using EMGs, forget it. Those pickups already distort, compress and suck the life out of the tone by default so adding a compressor on top only compounds the issue.

The only time I've 'really' felt that rhythm guitar compression worked was with outboard, and even then only in a rock context. In metal I only ever seem to do it in order to salvage a poor performance. Usually find that saturation and other more transparent methods for dynamic leveling tend to work better.

 

[Tommy Evans]

i usually like to send all the rythym guitars to a stereo track and compress them a little bit for the glue factor

i'd stay away from compressing the bass along with them, though

Y U NO compress guitars/bass together? I do SOMETIMES for glue.

 

[colonel kurtz]

just never found a way to make it work for me...i usually use different attack/release times for guitars and bass, so comp'ing them together just doesn't cut it

 

[Tommy Evans]

^^^ fair enough.

 

[tempe]

I use a limiter on the back end of my chain, maybe not even doing 1 dB. I find it just keeps the guitars where I want them and adds a little bit of presence.

 

[C_F_H_13]

... Usually find that saturation and other more transparent methods for dynamic leveling tend to work better.

THIS. However, in the rare times that compression does work for me....

I tend to like la3a kind of compression, vintage warmer can be cool too.

THIS.

Compression on heavy guitars is kind of weird. 95% of the time it doesn't work, but the other 5% it can really do something incredible. Still havn't really figured it out.

 

[TheWinterSnow]

I have always had quite an opposite opinion about compressing high gain guitars. Personally I love it, my current mixes up on the net do not have compression on them only because compressing for dynamic musicality is a new thing that I have just gotten the hand of. I always plug Colin Richardson for his work with trivium and Slipknot as the end all say all result of good compression, Ola in his guitar tutorial plugged in the same idea. Set the threshold so that static strumming is not being compressed, but as soon as any palm muting has taken place, the extra volume ducks the whole signal. With slow attack and fast release, you get this pumping sound that exaggerates tube sag and makes the guitars sound as if they are coming out of the speakers to strangle you and also making it sound as if the amp is giving out in the pure stress of cranking it up. It sounds like everything is being pushed beyond the limit, breaking, and super fucking pissed.

I don't use compression for killing dynamic, I use it to increase dynamic. And to the OP, no you cannot use compression to add crunch to your tone, you need to go back to the drawing board buddy.

 

[Darren "Jenk" Jenkins]

I rarely use compression on distorted guitars. Sometimes just to capture the peaks or to add character, especially when working with outboard. At the end of the day trust your ears, if it sounds better... do it!