Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter/Gate

Knobs and plenty of LEDs to tell you what the unit is doing. If you know how a compressor works, they don't get any more intuitive than this.

Works well on vocals, we use it live in a club. Too much leakage to use the gate, so no comment. Since I started using the 3630 in the inserts of the vocal channels, the monitors have been clearer with almost zero feedback and almost no complaints from the singers.

I tried using bass guitar on the 3630 - doesn't work well, even in peak mode. The Furman compressor sounded better with bass guitar. The 3630 didn't work well on program material either - the FMR RNC worked better. Haven't tried it with drums or percussion.

The 3630 isn't the highest fidelity compressor nor does it add much coloration - thus it's good for vocals. If you want compression for coloring the sound/dynamics of bass guitars, drums, percussion, and vocals then go for the tube compressors.

Zero problems so far.

Make sure you have the 10VAC wallwart, not the 9VAC wallwart. A lot of clubs have poor AC wiring and they're less than 120VAC - I found some that are 90VAC (thank you Furman for the PL-Plus!!!). The 3630 can "brownout" and wreak havoc because 9VAC is barely enough when the line voltage starts dipping below 120VAC.

Useable but no one compressor does everything.

I like the LEDs, I can glance at it quickly and tell it the settings are set right. In a dark club it's easy to use.

BTW, I'm using with an Allen & Heath board which is +4dBu and the 3630 works fine. Remember, get the 10VAC wallwart.

I have several of these and they are fairly easy if you know how to use a manual compressor. OTOH if you are a novice to compressors they may take a bit of figuring out but are really no better or worse than any other manual compressor on the market

I use these as inserts on the FOH board usually on vocals and the 3630 certainly keeps things under control. I have not experienced any clicks/pops or other noises often attributed to them (without trying hard to make the thing pop) and suspect that most of the problems attributed to them are by people who have a bit of trouble using a manual compressor

If it were not for the wall warts I would be able to say I had never had a problem with them. The cable from the wall warts can be prone to failure however since I have them Racked and plugged into a power board in the rack I have had no problems - except for when a guitar player borrowed my spare plugpack without my knowledge and pluugged it into a boss fx pedal......

They work very well and IMO tend to be under rated however were I to buy a compressor today I woulld probably go with the DBX266 at around the same price but if the 3630 were cheaper I would stick with it

Easy enough, read the manual. i like peak mode, but i use it for bass rack.

Well i never noticed the click playing out, which is the only place i use my rack, but after a period of time at home i certainly here a click as the compressor kicks in. it doesnt do it in bypass mode. overall if it didnt click id be quite happy. but i worry that it gets to the board at times. i put headphones on and checked the direct out. with out a lot of post eq highs the click is barely dicernable. but i would prefer it not be there at all . by the way i have an early model 1993ish i bouhgt it new. maybe the newer ones sound cleaner. basicaly on the ampeg i dont hear much , on the swr its really noticable.

in the rack for almost 10 years of constant use. no problems.

never called.

well im still using it, but if i get an extra couple of hundred ill replace it, like i said its fine without a lot of high end in the amp , i play all kinds of music. and use a minimal compression (2:1) to smooth things out. i dont like the rms mode too much for bass. really the ampeg probably doesnt need compression. but i hate to send something to the board and have them kill the sound by really clamping me down. id be interested in hearing how others have approached the click problem.

Very easy to use...I would fault it for one thing though. The writing on the face is dark gray on a black background. Thats fine but it can be hard to see in less than well lit situations. Other than that it is beyond simple to use. Manuals are available (free) on the Alesis site.

I use it with my custome Strat and my Taylor 510 for finger style work. Sound quality is GREAT. All the reviews with clicks and pops and stray noises DO NOT reflect my experiance at all. This thing has worked, worked WELl, sounded great and been noise free!!

Yes I depend on it...great unit!

Never called them but their web site provides manuals and thats all good!!

This is a great unit. If you're looking for a great compressor/gate/limiter don't hesitate to buy it. They run $149 new and about $80 on e-bay...great compressor for the money

very easy to use, bought used without manual, the knobs and layout are pretty streight foward.

not as tranparent of a compressor, but what more can you ask for at this price range,

this unit has taken all my abuse in stride

haven't had to use their consumer support

my style of music is brash electronic dance music and for me it works wonders. i also own a samson s com 4 and the 3630 is a better unit when it comes to performance, i am planing on buying a second one for use in combination with other units

I bought this bad boy new about 2 years ago, and haven't had a single problem with it!

I wonder about quality control, simply because of the comments made by some other users about "clicking" and weird noises. I have experienced none of these problems- nuless I crank up the limiting on this boy. But thats what its SUPPOSED to do at higher settings- BECOME AUDIBLE!!!

Luckily, since I have years of stage and studio under my belt, I was able to figure this this out without a manual (even though I had one). It currently resides in my bass guitar rig.

As I mentioned above, if you set the controls to the highest settings (max. compression), then you will get those mentioned noises. I don't use that type of setting, even in my bass guitsr rig, so I don't have problems.

One thing I am not convinced on totally (although I do use it) is the noise gate. Regardless of decay setting, it can be audible at times. Just a little annoying, thats all

Since I've never had a problem with it, I can't think of another comp/lim. that I'd want in my rig- except maybe a vintage DBX or Urei!
I've lugged this damn box around most of Canada with me and have NEVER had a problem. I keep my Ibanez TC-999 tube comp. stomp box around just in case...

Never had to deal with Alesis ever (online or vox) so I can't comment on this.

Since my playing style incorporates so many types of music (Alt-rock/top40), I had many memorized (in my head at least!) settings for different tones before I got this box.

Most people screw around with their FX until the cows come home, but I pretty much found a setting and stuck to it. Now I don't even bother touching it, except to turn it on and check levels at soundcheck!

While it IS easy to use - the artifacts and circuit instability makes it virtually unusable.

- Compression artifacts (clicks/pops/assorted noises) abound - even at light settings.
- Affects sound quality of orignal signal even in BYPASS mode.
- Cannot handle signals at the +4dbU gain structure (although it has settings for both).

It is dependable from the fact that it is a consistently poor performer.

Alesis customer service is quite good, for the most part.

Pass on this one - you can do MUCH better for the same amount of money. Look at the RNC at this price point. Even Behringer comps outperform this loser....

Very easy. This was the first compressor unit I ever bought, and I learned all about compression by using this unit.

I have used this for recording every type of instrument and voice imaginable. I've used it for tracking and mixing. I have since collected many other units with more "musical" sound quality, but I still use the Alesis unit on a regular basis. I really love the noise gate. Sometimes I use the gate from this unit with the compressor from a different unit.

Super reliable. I've had it over 6 years with no problems.

don't know.

It's a great deal, it's solid, works like it's supposed to, and I still use it. I would buy it again. I like it better than the DBX 266XL and Behringer MDX4400, but not as much as the Bellari RP583. I guess you really get what you pay for when it comes to compressors.

Very straightforward, manual was adequate, but not great. Anyone with a basic knowledge of compression will have no trouble using this unit.

I use this in my home studio for a variety of compression applications. I have several other compressors, including ones by Presonus, DBX, and ART. For some uses I prefer this one over the others. Clean, very little coloration if used properly. The sidechain is especially useful for de-essing vocals when used with an EQ.

Very reliable. Two years of heavy use and not one problem...

I have a home/project studio where I record myself and many different styled local bands and individual artists. For some reason people trash the 3630 compressor, which I have never understood. I personally feel it is the best compressor in it's price range, and a great value for the money. Very "user-friendly" and versatile. EVERY compressor colors the sound a little, and the 3630 is no exception. However if you take the time to figure out how to use it properly, you'll find it's a great little compressor. The noise gate feature is the best and easiest one to use I have seen on ANY compressor.

a non tube sound. ok.

the manual made it very easy to use.

the Prosonus line is better then this though

Well on the scale of compressors this is chip based and not tube. So it is a chip sound. really a sound of crunch compression. much like a microphone tube is best and chip. . well is chip sounding. and this is that.

it is very easy to use. it is not as warm as i would want but what do you want for 100 bucks?

pretty realiable.

sure gig it. it is the cheep man stable compressor.

N/A never had to use it.

if you are looking for an electronic NON warm compressor this is it.
I have been playing since i was 13 (now 25) but using compression since 1996 and only have delt with alesis and prosonus. prosonus bluemax and apc 88 are much warmer to use and better features. for the bang for the buck get a prosonus blue max.