What is and do I need: (Fill in the blank)?

[Johnny Baker]

I suppose it's actually 3 different questions but here it is in a nutshell: What is a compressor, a limiter, a gate, and what do I need? If I needed any of these devices, what's the best position in the signal chain to place them. Here's what I have so far: I have a Goodyear Matchbox plugged right into my guitar, my volume pedal, my Peavey Deltafex, and then my Nashvill 400 amp. Any advice to improve my signal chain is also appreciated. Not looking to be professional but improvement never hurts.

Thanks so much for any and all advice.

Johnny

PS: I wish all of you a safe, happy and wonderful Easter weekend.

[Dave Mudgett]

For clean pedal steel into VP into and effect like the Deltafex into a Nashville 400, you don't need any of these. Strictly optional, depending on the situation.

A compressor is an effect that tends to amplify weak signals more than strong ones. This tends to level out, or 'squash', the dynamic range your signal. Pretty much the exact opposite of what an experienced pedal steel player does with the volume pedal. A good compressor gives you significant control over how this is done. They can be useful in some situations.

A limiter sets a peak level above which your signal will not go. A good limiter will react a bit gradually as you approach the limit - ideally, you would have some control over how this limiting happens. The Nashville 400 has a limiter built in.

A 'gate' applies some effect above or below some pre-determined limit. A good gate will give you significant control over how/when this happens. The most common gate is a 'noise gate', which lowers the gain of your input chain as your signal drops. The idea is to mask the noise in your system, which becomes more noticable as your guitar signal level goes down. A volume pedal is a good 'manual noise gate'.

[Johnny Baker]

Thanks for the input. I deeply appreciate it.

[Dave Grafe]

What David said

[Johnny Baker]

Thanks to you too. I'm not real experienced in audio equipment and just never understood them but I have seen many people use them.

[Georg Sørtun]

Will just add that there is what can be called a "gray area" between compressors and limiters, in that a unit may be called a limiter while it really acts more like a compressor, and the other way round.
Gates may also cross into the above, although most are simple noise gates.

[Johnny Baker]

Thanks, I appreciate that.

[Ian Rae]

When I first started playing I used a compressor/limiter because I was familiar with their use and thought it might help, but I don't bother any more now that my volume pedal technique has improved.

[Johnny Baker]

The point of the replies is to work on my pedal technique. I will do so. Thanks all, I appreciate it all.