If you have a High Pass Filter and compressor in your chain, I'm curious whether you place the HPF before or after your compressor.
Please share your logic.
Please share your logic.
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HPF before or after compressor
- Thread starter scubaduba
- Start date
Mine is always at the end of my pedalboard when I use it. I've actually stopped using it since getting a dual band compressor. Not sure why
I wouldn't want to do either without some sort of parallel wet/dry mix capabilities, and then I could make either work.
It depends on how the compressor deals with the effects of low frequency dynamics. If the low end dynamic peaks made it difficult to get an even compression (causing it to "pump", for example), then I'd put the HPF in front of it and increase the HPF frequency until the negative compression artifacts are minimized or usable.
OTOH, if your compressed sound is good-to-go but you simply want to filter some sub-freqs (for whatever reason) en route to the next destination in the signal path, then HPF post would work better since it won't impact the good things the comp is doing.
The real answer IMHO is to get a compressor that sounds good from the get-go, and if you need down-stream HPF for some reason, do it after the comp.
It depends on how the compressor deals with the effects of low frequency dynamics. If the low end dynamic peaks made it difficult to get an even compression (causing it to "pump", for example), then I'd put the HPF in front of it and increase the HPF frequency until the negative compression artifacts are minimized or usable.
OTOH, if your compressed sound is good-to-go but you simply want to filter some sub-freqs (for whatever reason) en route to the next destination in the signal path, then HPF post would work better since it won't impact the good things the comp is doing.
The real answer IMHO is to get a compressor that sounds good from the get-go, and if you need down-stream HPF for some reason, do it after the comp.
Before the compressor(s)...I use either a Diamond or Empress. In theory, it prevents the lower freq's from slamming the threshold. In an Empress thread, we dinked around with using an Fdeck HPF in the comp's sidechain, not in the signal path. It worked but, overall, we liked the HPF in the signal path better.
Riis
I’d put it after the comp. the logic being the Hp filter would have less effect before the comp
1) the HP filter is a shelf filter.
2) the comp would limit above a threshold.
If your HP filter had -12 dB per octave @ 100 Hz, and Comp threshold set at -10 dB. And you played a note at -6 dB.
1) for HP before Comp, the -6 dB would go down to -18 dB @ 100 Hz. The Comp would not effect the tone.
2) for Comp before HP, the -6 dB would be compressed to -10 (for hard limiting comp, or whatever comp level was set), then the HP would drop the note @ 100 Hz to -22 dB
So, if my math is correct, your HP filter would have more impact after the comp.
1) the HP filter is a shelf filter.
2) the comp would limit above a threshold.
If your HP filter had -12 dB per octave @ 100 Hz, and Comp threshold set at -10 dB. And you played a note at -6 dB.
1) for HP before Comp, the -6 dB would go down to -18 dB @ 100 Hz. The Comp would not effect the tone.
2) for Comp before HP, the -6 dB would be compressed to -10 (for hard limiting comp, or whatever comp level was set), then the HP would drop the note @ 100 Hz to -22 dB
So, if my math is correct, your HP filter would have more impact after the comp.
Generally I like HPF first in the chain, before other effects like compression and distortion, because the pedals that come after seem more "even" across the strings; the effect does not "fart out" when I play loud, low notes.
However my latest compressor acquisition (Cali 76B) features a side-chain HPF. So I'm still experimenting to see how that synergizes with the other pedals.
However my latest compressor acquisition (Cali 76B) features a side-chain HPF. So I'm still experimenting to see how that synergizes with the other pedals.
HPF after all effects, right before preamp so it can do its thing before getting to the amp.
Plus, my compressor...Darkglass Hyper Luminal...has its own HPF built into the side chain so I can adjust how much low end the comp comps.
Plus, my compressor...Darkglass Hyper Luminal...has its own HPF built into the side chain so I can adjust how much low end the comp comps.
In the studio, I usually go EQ out into comp; although the reasons are not consistent with bass guitar use
If I know I'm going to use a HPF:
The way I see it is that if there are any huge low freq peaks, I want to remove / smooth them out before the compression so that the compressor is not driven purely off of low freq spikes.
Also, the signal would potentially us less compression overall.
If I know I'm going to use a HPF:
The way I see it is that if there are any huge low freq peaks, I want to remove / smooth them out before the compression so that the compressor is not driven purely off of low freq spikes.
Also, the signal would potentially us less compression overall.
Before. Less total volume to deal with. You don’t need to compress what you’re throwing out any way. Fewer artifacts for the same total compression.
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I'm about to start playing with both: HPF at the start of the chain to remove the subsonic frequencies below ~30hz before any pedal amplifies/pushes them worse, and HPF/LPF at the end to remove any subsonic frequecies introduced by an octaver and I like to cut off a bit of the higher ends.
I have my HPF and LPF right after my Keeley Bassist compressor limiter, so its second in line works great for me.
bongomania
Commercial User
As others have mentioned, putting the HPF first means your compressor will not be excessively engaged by non-musical ultra-low peaks. You get more musically useful responsiveness from the compressor.
The only reason I can see to put an HPF after the comp is if you just "like it" for your own subjective tastes, not based on planning.
The only reason I can see to put an HPF after the comp is if you just "like it" for your own subjective tastes, not based on planning.
I started off by using mine post everything, now I’m running in before compression. Both are good, but very different results. I use a pretty squishy comp (Boss CS3) and depending on if I want that classic “freight train through the eye of a needle” signal the CS3 does so well, I’ll place it last. I’ve been experimenting with it before and find that depending on where I set the HPF, I can tailor the gooey-ness better. Both have their uses, but for live playing I tend to run post pedal board as the HPF becomes less of a tone shaper and more of a sonic utility.
I've always had my HPF at the end of the signal chain, but now I'm going to try it before my comp.
Always at the beginning of the chain. That’s my clean, unadulterated signal; so that’s what I’m going to feed everything else in line. Why would I make my effects process a bunch of uber-low end signal, then dump all of it at the very end anyway?
I tried mine at the beginning for awhile. But my envelope filter didn’t seem to respond as well to what I was playing.
I A/B’d the HPF/LPF before and after the compresser using a looper pedal, both through my rig and with a set of good headphones, and preferred the latter. Like I said that could change the next time I’m in a mood to tinker. I did the same thing with the compressor and just found that every effect I use sounds better running into compression than they do the other way around.
I A/B’d the HPF/LPF before and after the compresser using a looper pedal, both through my rig and with a set of good headphones, and preferred the latter. Like I said that could change the next time I’m in a mood to tinker. I did the same thing with the compressor and just found that every effect I use sounds better running into compression than they do the other way around.
I tried mine at the front too. Nope! Back to the end for me. To me, effects need to process the full signal to work correctly. If an effect can't handle a bass signal, then its junk and gets dumped. Besides, HP Filters are generally built into the amp and that's as far from the front of the chain you can get.
