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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250 |
Hi friends Hope you are all having a great Christmas. One of Santa's "Presents" this year is a Boss CS-3 Compressor pedal. Very pretty - very blue! For all my recording work and Live gigging I have relied on the presets on the amp and/or software but now I have 4 real knobs to play with. Trouble is that one knob is marked "Attack" which does not appear on my amp or on my old DAW software. It has a Min and a Max (and anything in between of course) but what does it actually DO and what should a guitar be - Min or Max - and WHY? So many questions - so little brain  Ian
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Enviualize a little sound engineer inside the Compressor who can move at near the speed of light.
He is looking at two VU meters and has his hands on two Volume Faders.
One VU meter shows him your signal level at the Input and the other meter shows him that level at the Output.
When you set the Attack control, you are telling the tiny sound engineer who moves at near the speed of light at what point on that Input meter you want him to adjust the fader. In other words, should he start turning the signal level up or down to suit what he's reading a bit sooner, or a bit later as regards the VU meter reading.
The little guy is also monitoring the Output VU meter, turning the other fader up or down to suit where you have set the Threshold control.
So, if your guitar note is dying out, the little guy can make it seem to last longer at the same volume level by simply moving the output fader higher as the signal dies out. Voila, you have increased your Sustain of each note.
Lighter settings can be used as a Limiter, to better control overall volume levels, say, when chord comping.
Ideally, in the Guitar signal chain, the Compressor pedal should be the FIRST effect/accessory in the chain, right after the pickup and patchcord.
--Mac
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250 |
Excellent anology, Mac. Merry Christmas, by the way.
The other knob is "Sustain" - I thought that did the job of making the sound last longer.
Ian
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
They just labeled the knob to suit what Guitar players know, Merry Christmas back atcha.
--Mac
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,648
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Joined: Apr 2009
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This may help as a starting point: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compressionCompressor attack is the speed at which the compressor begins to reduce the gain of a signal once it has passed the threshold set by the user. As a signal rises from zero, assume a linear rise like a slope on a hillside.... a threshold is set at some point up that hillside. Once the signal reaches and passes that point, the compressor starts to shut it down to keep it from rising more. How fast that shutdown or clamping is beginning to occur is the attack. Fast attack is used more as a limiter to prevent large spikes from getting through. Fast attacks are very noticeable in the sound under some conditions and are not desired to be heard. Therefore, a slower attack is used to "round off" the signal according to a ratio set by the user. Side story: I was in a band with a substantially large and powerful PA system. I had bought a compressor/limiter for the PA gear rack. Our band had a major flashpot explosion. It was as if someone dropped a frag grenade on the stage. Without going into details, the blast was immense. It literally ripped every speaker from it's basket in all the open back cabinets. It was picked up by 2 vocal mics not 10 feet away and run into the PA system. It went through the board and out to the monitors and through the gear rack to the main PA. The new limiter/compressor had a fast attack and clamped the signal going to the main PA. We only lost 1 15" speaker in the main PA. In the monitors, we lost every single speaker since the signal in the monitors did not have the limiter. Explosions, dropped mics, plosives, bumped mics, all create the spikes that are destructive to gear and not wanted in recordings. There is also a release which on some compressors is totally under the control of the user. Some guitar compressors don't have them. With an improperly set attack/release/threshold, it's possible to get the compressor "pumping" as it works to quell the spikes from things like kick drums and snares.... if the compressor is on the mix as a whole, this results in an audible and noticeable volume pumping. A compressor is a valuable tool but not knowing what it does or how it should be working can result in that tool being abused. It's probably the most abused tool in the audio world and it is so essential to a good mix. pictures: Light compression...taming just the spikes  A higher level of compression, still allows some room for dynamics. This level of compression is used on most songs these days. Retains good levels of dynamics but also has nice volume levels through out.  Over ambitious levels of compression. Pumping is likely to be heard on such a mix. I did this mix simply to illustrate a point. Although, it is a common way to use compression on many hard rock songs these days. There is NO dynamics left in this mix..... listening to this sort of mix will fatigue the ears quickly since it stays at full volume through out the song. 
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
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Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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