Compressor

Compressor pedals reduce dynamic range by turning louder peaks down and raising or sustaining the average level. Attack and release determine whether the pick transient stays sharp; ratio, threshold, blend and output gain decide whether the result is discreet control or an obvious effect. Compression can add sustain, tighten bass and even out clean picking, but it can also raise noise and reduce touch contrast. Check the gain structure and placement before setting the amount of compression.