is cheap compressor better than none???

[spunkadellic]

I have good mics, and good pres, but not a good compressor yet

i have an old cheap alesis 3630

is it better to use the compressor while tracking, or just use plugins after for compression needs

[daverich]

if you're recording at 24bit then a plugin compressor will do fine,- and won't add any noise :)

Kind regards

Dave Rich

[Resonant Alien]

Well, there are really two reasons to use a compressor: 1) to level out transients while tracking so that you can print levels as hot as possible without overloading and 2) to add character/color/(insert fav adjective here) to your track.

A cheap compressor (IMO) will not achieve 2), unless you are going for a particular lo-fi type sound that said cheap comp gives you.

A cheap compressor may be able to achieve 1), however, what are you doing to your signal in the process?? i.e. great mic, great pre, then into a cheap comp...probably undoing a lot of goodness that the mic and pre gave you.

I would say you are better of tracking without a comp, just watch your levels closely so as not to overload. Going into digital, "hot levels" are not as important as they were with analog. Then you can use plugins to get whatever color you want. Save up until you can get a decent comp - I have wasted a lot of money in the past buying cheaper gear - your better off holding out until you can get what you want (within reason of course)

RA

[river]

You're better off with plugins afterwards. Another reason to wait is that if you print compression, you can't unprint it later....you're limited to what result you get. Plenty of dynamic range in digital, just leave enough headroom when you track.

[aussie_techie]

having nothing is better than having crap. you may find what you have can give a particular sound but it wouldn't be something to use everyday.

just record 6db or so quieter and use plug-ins. good plug-ins blow cheap compressors out of the water while being cheaper and can be more versatile as you can automate them.

[Snatchman]

I 've found in my experience, cheap plug in compressors can sound just as bad as cheap outboard compressors. I think I would take my chances with a cheap RNC or VLA befor a cheap plug in compressor. YMMV

[aussie_techie]

it depends what plug-in you are comparing to, there are certainly plenty of crap plug-ins around but good plug-ins are just as readily available.

[daverich]

Originally Posted by Snatchman

I 've found in my experience, cheap plug in compressors can sound just as bad as cheap outboard compressors. I think I would take my chances with a cheap RNC or VLA befor a cheap plug in compressor. YMMV

err that's just silly.

A bad compressor plug is easily removed....


Kind regards

Dave Rich

[theblue1]

I think folks have covered the bases, here, but I'll just reiterate what I think are key points:

• compression can't be gracefully undone once it has affected a signal (either compressing your analog signal or doing a destructive ['permanent'] modification to a file with a software compressor)
• in the typical non-destructive DAW/plug-in environment, you can refine your use of effects and get it right --
  • it's much easier to get compression right once you're dealing with a signal that's already been tracked. Setting a compressor with, say, a live vocalist can be a pain because they never do everything exactly the same
  • if you're applying compression to something previously recorded you can use a combination of automation and compression to work around dynamic issues -- you can even use plug automation to change your plug settings through the course of the track to help correct bad mic/dynamic technique or mis-matched punch ins
• compression is a non-linear process that arguably is better suited to analog processing but...
  • cheap compressors are not necessarily really great compressors (although I have a 3630, and, for the money, mine's a tolerable unit; but I haven't used it in several years)
  • cheap/free plugs are not necessarily the greatest soft plugs, either -- but there are some well liked ones -- and some reasonably priced compressor plugs that are very well liked; good software is cheaper than good hardware, for the most part

Hmmm... I think that covers most of my pre-coffee thoughts...

[Snatchman]

Originally Posted by daverich

err that's just silly.

A bad compressor plug is easily removed....


Kind regards

Dave Rich

err..Not really silly. If it sounds bad, it sounds bad. A hardware compressor can be removed also. ( like if you don't like what you are hearing "Before" you commit..

[Bradahman]

Originally Posted by Snatchman

err..Not really silly. If it sounds bad, it sounds bad. A hardware compressor can be removed also. ( like if you don't like what you are hearing "Before" you commit..

But, once you commit to it in tracking, that's your sound. No going back.

[nickolo]

That is such a general,subjective question.You can control gain structure and peaks with a mid-less cheap decent RNC or DBX or Aphex.But depends why and for what.Sometimes that nasty-cheap compressor works..An example is the talkback comp on the old SSL console.It was found to be usefull and nasty for recording which was not its design goal.
Try stuff out but compressing for the hell of it is silly.It is a weird one and hard to work out,compression in general i mean.Its an area of sound- sound fx i often struggle with.
I know a good unit can be had for 300 ish uk pounds or less.[by good,i mean a compressor that is flexible and looks after the original tone,but compresses etc..]
But a cheapo pedal comp or whatever can be a great help for certain things.Those silver beringer things are ok too!! DBX and Drawmer have great tools for the price.

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by Bradahman

But, once you commit to it in tracking, that's your sound. No going back.

And... when you're trying to set compression levels for a live artist in front of a mic, you're aiming for a moving target...

[bike guy]

If there's one thing I've learned here at GS :

Don't track with a cheap compressor. Take advantage of the clean headroom available to you and record at 6 db lower. If using cheapo outboard compression, use it during mixdown. Sheeesh!

[James Meeker]

I'd rather have no hardware compressor than a bad one. There are always plugins.

The Alesis 3630 is... really bad.

[Ironklad Audio]

good hardware comp > good plugin comp > crap hardware comp

'nuff said

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by James Meeker

I'd rather have no hardware compressor than a bad one. There are always plugins.

The Alesis 3630 is... really bad.

Compared to what?

They typically cost $100-$120. New.


Now, I've had mine for years, but even then I picked it up new for about that. The build quality, of course, may have slid. Alesis has been through a lot of changes over not that many years.

While it's been a long time since I used mine, I thought it was an entirely decent compressor compared to other super-affordable units. Yes, I'd rather have some others for a little more -- but the 3630 gives a full range of control in including gating and the ability to de-yoke the two sides. And for the money (assuming they're still the same as mine) it has great metering.

Of course, I'm pretty aware that full control compressors seem to confuse a lot of folks who seem to prefer two big, simple knobs. (Not you, mind you, James, I ain't saying that. )

Again, I'm not saying it's a great unit. I'm just saying that, for the money, it's hard to get anything better or even with as many features.

[Chaellus]

honestly it depends on which cheap compressor your talking about , there are a couple of good ok ones and alot of bad ones... and it also highley depends on your knowledge and ablity to use a compressor right...even a high end compresser can suck out the life of your music in bad way if you dont what the hell your doing...

[dpasch]

I alway thought of a 3630 as an effect more than a compressor.
It truly damages audio. Even the tinnest of ear can hear it.
ANY currently produced plug-in compressor will be better.

This is from a guy who compresses EVERYTHING going in.
I loves me the crushin'!


OR better yet, have fun playing around and use your ears.


Good luck.


D

[Chaellus]

i also compress well going in as well and again at mixingb ut there are other compressers in the budget range that will do better...alesis 3630 isnt one of them

[A LaMere]

Originally Posted by Chaellus

i also compress well going in as well and again at mixingb ut there are other compressers in the budget range that will do better...alesis 3630 isnt one of them

Agreed, I'll buck against the trend and say that THE RIGHT cheap compressor will still beat out the sound and depth that you can get from all but the ABSOLUTE BEST of the plugin world.

I've got a couple of RNC's and I use them on the way in all the time... not that they're the best comp out there of course, but they do work to give me the desired gain staging going into my PT rig. I then use compressors to give me what I'd consider the final touches... essentially layering amounts of compression on the way in and inside of the box to establish depth in a mix... it's a technique I've figured out only in the last month or so... but I do believe it's made my mixes that much better.

Would I do the same with a 3630? probably not....

But I certainly would with an Ashly CLX52 and that isn't a tremendously expensive comp either...

[Snatchman]

Originally Posted by A LaMere

Agreed, I'll buck against the trend and say that THE RIGHT cheap compressor will still beat out the sound and depth that you can get from all but the ABSOLUTE BEST of the plugin world.

I've got a couple of RNC's and I use them on the way in all the time... not that they're the best comp out there of course, but they do work to give me the desired gain staging going into my PT rig. I then use compressors to give me what I'd consider the final touches... essentially layering amounts of compression on the way in and inside of the box to establish depth in a mix... it's a technique I've figured out only in the last month or so... but I do believe it's made my mixes that much better.

Would I do the same with a 3630? probably not....

But I certainly would with an Ashly CLX52 and that isn't a tremendously expensive comp either...

Agreed..!....

[thestranger]

I don't think there is much of an excuse for bad compressors, regardless of hardware or software... not when an RNC or RNLA can be had for less than $200, and the Waves R Compressor can be purchased as part of the Musicians bundle for $150.

Neither of these options are exactly "high end", but some pretty great results can come from the skilled use of these compressors.

Hardware or Software, $200 can get you started.

[lblstudio]

Track it straight and ride the fader. Riding the fader is free.

[James Meeker]

Originally Posted by lblstudio

Track it straight and ride the fader. Riding the fader is free.

Hee... not to the client!

[PureFluke]

For my 2 cents, I'm not a big fan of using a cheap compressor to alter the signals sound. However, I do use my dbx on a lot of tracks in the roll of limiter! Digital signals are so quiet these days, getting the head room isn't as important as it was. However, how much does it suck to have a perfect take ruined by just one clip?! (especially in live recordings). So, maybe try running your signal through mic>preamp>compressor (w/ high ratio, and threshold set just below clipping)> A/D. This, hopefully, won't color your sound to much, but will act as a safety, if levels get too high for a second. Might work for you, might not, that's the fun of experimenting with recording!

[cdog]

"i have an old cheap alesis 3630 "

throw that out use plugins

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by dpasch

I alway thought of a 3630 as an effect more than a compressor.
It truly damages audio. Even the tinnest of ear can hear it.
ANY currently produced plug-in compressor will be better.

This is from a guy who compresses EVERYTHING going in.
I loves me the crushin'!


OR better yet, have fun playing around and use your ears.


Good luck.


D

I hate to tell you -- but compression is an effect.




Everyone's welcome to their own opinions -- and like I said, I haven't used my 3630 in years. It is quite likely the most full featured compressor for anywhere close to the money. It's also one of the best selling compressors ever.

Here's a review from someone who put some time into evaluating a 3630:
GuitarGearHeads - Gear Up Your Sound - 3630 Compressor by Alesis - Effects - Gear News & Reviews

Here's an aggregation of 52 user reviews from Harmony Central: Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter/Gate: Harmony Central User Reviews
Ease of Use 8.6 (52 responses)
Sound Quality 7.7 (51 responses)
Reliability 9.3 (41 responses)
Customer Support 6.8 (13 responses)
Overall Rating 7.8 (51 responses)

Not stellar ratings, to be sure -- but maybe not too bad for $100 or so.

[Ironklad Audio]

yea, but how much can you trust HC reviews of a cheap piece of gear?

most of the people who pick up the 3630 have probably never used another comp. before...and if they have, it was most likely another cheap POS comp.

if you took all the people who gave it decent reviews, and let them play around with some distressors or LA-2A's or something for a couple days, they'd probably trash the 3630 to no end.

[DeeDrive]

Here's an easy solution.

Sell your 3630 for $69 and buy this:

High-end plug-ins for Pro Tools

3630 is really, really bad.