Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter/Gate

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.

THIS UNIT IS VERY EASY TO USE. THE GATE/COMPRESSOR/LIMITER IS VERY WELL EXPLAINED IN THE USER MANUAL.

I AM RUNING A ROCKTRON GAINIC INTO A LEXICON MPX500 THAN I RUN ALL THAT INTO THE 3630. IT DOES A GOOD JOB MAKEING MY SETUP SOUND AT IT'S BEST.

I WOULD USE THIS UNIT IN ANY STAGE SETUP OR STUDIO PROJECT.

I HAVE NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH ANY SUPPORT TEAMS YET.

IF YOU WANT A GOOD COMPRESSSER/LIMITER/GATE THIS UNIT WILL DO THE JOB PERFECTLY.

This unit does it's job very well, for the price. The switchable input levels (+4 or -10) are nice for folks who have mostly balanced gear, but need the unbalanced option. The controls all make sense. I don't think I've ever read the manual.

Unlike a lot of other reviewers of this product, I haven't had a single instance of the clicking problem. I think that has to do with the setup and (especially) input level. It does what it's supposed to do, and I prefer it over my dbx 266xl. I've never used a high-priced compressor (not a hardware unit, anyway), so I can't make any comparisons there; however, for the price, it's not fair to put this unit up against a nice tube or optical compressor. But it is well worth the price.

I never really use the gates. I played with them a little when I first got it, enough to decide that yes, these are indeed noise gates. (I firmly believe the problems people report with the gates are due to improper input levels).

My first compressor was the Alesis Nanocompressor, which uses the SAME COMPRESSION CIRCUITRY as the 3630 (I say this as a clarification; the Nanocomp is really NOT a toy). I bought the 3630 based on the luck I had with the Nano.

I've had zero trouble with the unit. It's always ready and willing to do it's job whenever I need it.

I've never had to contact Alesis for any gear probs. The one time I did is when I needed to replace some buttons on my Studio 32 mixer (came form the factory with loose buttons). I got a full set of replacement buttons for the cost of shipping.

For a basic compression solution, this is a fine unit. There is a degree of high-end loss, but it's really not bad. I don't use it to master a mix, but for individual tracks (bass, vocals, drums, acoustic guitars) it's works well. I'd likely buy another one, and would recommend the 3630 as anyone's first compressor.

very user friendly......must be used at the correct impedence as sound quality is affected.

good sound quality for the money. ultimately it is slightly rounded at the extreem top end in effect mode, it does what it is supposed to do but when the sound is closely examined you will notice that it squashes the sound very slightly even in auto mode. the best thing i can say about it is i would'nt avoid using it because of its side affects: it always sounds pleasant which is credit to the unit because it now can be bought very cheaply. i would seriously consider whether it would be the right choice for an overall mix....you really need something special for this application,...unless of course youre not too fussy about the slight loss of air or youre after a low-fi sound. oh yes...it sounds quite nice on drum submixes if an obvious compression setting is used...perhaps due to the warmth of the extreem top!?

no promblems in about nine years or so! have used it in the studio, live p.a. and live recording.

no contact

if it was stolen i would try to go more upmarket but when i first started recording, sometimes everything would go through it and it didnt "hurt" the sound too much at all. for me now, for that kind of money, i think i would prefer it obviously effect the sound and use it as an obvious effect, instead i think it tries very hard to be pure sounding but ultimately isnt although it is very pleasant,tonally.

Well, within an hour or so a couple of us had pretty much figured out the basics of this unit without ever using a compressor before. We were mainly hoping to cut down on the overall "presence" of drums and other instruments and this unit seems to do the trick. I doubt very seriously though that we are utilizing the unit to its full extent though because we haven't even played with the settings since we first set it.

I really am impressed with the sound quality of the unit. The first use really seemed to cut back the volume of our band when drums and vocals entered, but with a minor adjustment that was corrected (we ran the drums through a channel by itself). Recently we recorded a demo with this unit and it made a great difference after recording without it for so long, when the drums or lead guitar came in it provided a smooth transition rather than the burst that we were used to.

So far so good with this unit (we've only had it a few months), but I suspect that it will hold us for quite some time. I've used it on a few gigs and it always works fine.

Never dealt with the company, but I doubt that it'll be needed.

We play pretty much every type of music on this unit and it works great for what we've needed. Basically it seems to pull the whole band together and not allow one instrument or voice to overpower everything else. I'd certainly buy another one, but I'll bet I could find a much better price. I'd really like to play around with it a little more, but it's so hard to get practice time as it is!

Took some time to set the dials, similiar to most compressors. I owned a nanocompressor and a dbx 266XL. Hard to get a good sound as compared to the other 2 compressors.

I used it primarily for smoothing out mic'ed acoustic guitars. It adds a boomy "sound" to the low end and kills the presence. Makes the sound very dull. I put a BBE sonic maximizer after the 3630 and that helped a lot. Then I took out the 3630 and the BBE and it sounds natural and good again. Therefore, I did not need it. The noise gate was very unnatural in the way it turned off and on even when the rate was maxed.

Rack mounted

e-mailed them about a software upgrade for a Midiverb a year ago and no response.

For mixdowns it changes the sound too much. I recommend anybody on a budget to save for a higher quality compressor like the 166 or a Composer pro (a little better). For individual instruments it is pretty bad. I don't play bass or drums so I don't know those. But for acoustic or electric guitars and mixdowns it is definatley not the best choice. I like the cheaper Nanocompressor more, which is not dual mono but sounds better with less discoloration. But it is real pretty looking if your into cool lights and such. I sold it and am saving for something better...not quite sure if I will get another compressor since I just use keyboards and guitars...

Cet appareil n'est pas tres complique a utiliser. Cependant, il est preferable d'avoir deja utilise un compresseur auparavant, d'autant plus que cet appareil s'adresse aussi aux professionnels.
Le "Noise Gate" tres simple d'utilisation (2 reglages). Donc, pour les connaisseurs, No Problemo.

Je n'ai fait qu'essayer cet appareil. Je suis guitariste et je joue sur une Ibanez S-1540FM et un ampli PEAVY ULTRA PLUS. Celui-ci me permet d'utiliser le 3630 en boucle d'effet.
Mon objectif etait d'accroitre le sustain et le niveau d'attack de ma distortion (Canal Ultra du Peavy Ultra Plus, distortion tres Metal).
j'ai essaye tous les reglages possibles et imaginables, je n'ai pas pu obtenir le moindre soupcon de compression.
En utilisant la touche Bypass, j'ai compare le son original avec celui traite : !!! AUCUNE DIFFERENCE !!! Meme avec le Limiter !!!
J'ai malgre tout obtenu quelque chose avec le NOISE GATE, qui permet de supprimer totalement les bruits de fond et les Larsens. Mais si c'est pour que le Noise Gate fonctionne tout seul, autant acheter un Noise Gate a part...
Donc en resume : COMPRESSOR/LIMITOR = 1/10
NOISE GATE = 9/10
J'attribuerai donc 5 points a cet appareil, uniquement pour son Noise Gate. It's Noise Gate is awesome but it's compressor/Limiter sucks !!!
LE 3630 N'EST PAS FAIT POUR LES GUITARISTES...

J'ai juste essaye cet appareil. Mais la personne chez qui je l'ai essaye l'utilise au moins depuis 8 ans. Il utilise le 3630 en rack dans son Home Studio pour les voix. A ce qui parait, ca marche du tonnerre. Et c'est solide aussi. Mais de mon point de vue de guitariste, ca m'est egal, puisque je n'acheterai pas le 3630.

Je n'en sait rien. Je ne connais aucun utilisateur ayant eu des problemes de services apres-vente.

Je fais de la guitare depuis 10 ans. Je joue principalement du Neo-metal en groupe (Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Deftones, Coal Chamber, Fear Factory, ...). Mais aussi du Blues et des solos comme les Guitar-Heroes (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, ...).
En Neo-Metal, j'utilise la distortion de mon ampli (PEAVY ULTRA PLUS).
C'est une distortion chaude et tres aggressive !!! Mais j'ai toujours senti qu'il manquait quelque chose, car j'ai un son tres "brut".
Il y a quelques temps, j'ai essaye une multi-effets (KORG A2) en boucle d'effets. J'ai essaye le compresseur : je n'avais jamais entendu ca !!! Ma distortion etait metamorphosee !!! Le niveau d'attack au maximum... ma distortion etait plus aggressive et mon jeu le plus aggressif du monde !!! Ca ressemblait comme deux goutes d'eau au son des DEFTONES sur AROUND THE FUR !!!
j'ai malheureusement du me separer de cet appareil (KORG A2). Depuis, je cherche un compresseur qui puisse remplir a nouveau cette fonction.
Et ce n'est surement pas le 3630 qui pourrait le faire...

I gave my previous review already, so I'll say what I haven't said yet. I found a third one in dead mint condition for $85 Canadian whcih was an excellent deal. The guy who owned it before me kept it in a clean studio environment. Very easy to use and I've just discovered
the joys of its noise gate.

I am starting to lreally like this units sound quality due to it being very quiet and the wondefull noise gate. Yeah, some may say that this is a cheap econo compressor but I say it is awesome and kicks the ass
of many other compressors that I have tried.

I have used mine quite a bit and not a problem with them breaking down. No tubes to worry about. The only component I don't like is that
damn wallwart power supply. Oh well.

I have never had the need to use them so I cannot say. I do notice two things about Alesis. They stick with a successful product and not dump it for the new flavor of the month. BAD POINT: Once a product is discontinued it is abandoned, so if you need help with it Alesis will
have no info on it. I won't give a rating because I have never tried
to get tech help from them. I love this compressor more and more.

A wonderful unit that works well. I would like to add how incredibly useful the noise gate is. Some of my effects use a lot of noise. With the gate, when I am not playing or singing all is quiet. How awesome is that. This noise gate is super quiet. I am very happy with Alesis'
quality of parts and the price.

Would I buy another one at this low price??? Absolutely! The price is fair. I have seen solid state compressors go for way more. To me this doesn't make sense because SS technology is so cheap to make. I can understand tube Compressors to be expensive because of the components, but not Solid State ones. Unless the companies include a free BJ from a model with every purchase. Yeah, I'm being crude.
Is anyone laughing??

I won't rate my value a ten because the deal I got was incredibly rare. The normal price is an excellent value, but then again no complamentary model to go with it. He he he!

I would suggest this compressor to anyone looking for a great solid state unit. My ideal compressor: "Something with a lot of tubes in it and ceramic tube holders."

Simple to use. Very straight-forward. 14 knobs, 9 switches, no presets. I read the manual for the first time after using it for 2 weeks it's that simple. Reading the manual gave me a couple little insights on making the sound that I wanted more accurate.

Everything works wonderfully. No added noise to the sound being processed. I'm currently running either a Novation Drumstation or a Juno-106 through it and they both sound wonderful.

I've only had it for a month. But it seems to be a pretty solid rack unit. I'd gig with it, no questions asked. It's way too useful to not bring with you.

I love it! I'm working on some hardcore techno stuff and the fact that it's a dual compressor means I can get ultra compression on my 909 bass drums. I got it for $150 new but it's not too hard to find used for around $100 (look around locally). I'd definitely buy this unit again if it disappeared, it's wonderful, easy to use, and just looks neat (lots of LED's :). I've only used pedal compressors before and they just don't compare. The Peak/RMS and Hard/Soft Knee don't seem to do anything, at least I can't hear a difference with my ears. If you want a really nice compressor I believe this unit to be the best available. Go buy one. :)

All of the controls are well marked, ordered, and calibrated. If you know how a compressor works you should easily be able to set this one up.
The manual is fine, but I like to experiment any way. Alesis also has more info on compressing on their web site.

The before and after sound quality is untouched. As far as high frequency response goes, regular compressors give a perceived loss of high frequencies. It's nothing irregular. A little twist of the eq knob for some 12kHz or higher can help balance the small loss of high frequencies. Some devices add a brightner or enhancer to restore the presence. I use the "air" eq on my Mackie 24-4's sub busses.
I've always used it in the insert jack of sound boards and have never experienced any clicks. The proper placement in the signal chain and implementation of any processing device is paramount to its proper operation and effect on sound. This one gives you the option of two voltage levels.

The 1/4" jacks are connected to the chassis and the knobs are bolted to the aluminum front panel. It is only 4" deep and weighs a few pounds; its compact size helps to make it more resistant to breakage.
It's internal construction is good, but I wish it had a built in transformer/power supply (thus the nine rating). That it probably the area a problem will arise at.

Have never dealt with them.

There are some things a compressor like this should be used for and some things it shouldn't. It's good on drums, overall mixes, and other dynamic sources.
I love the LED displays for input/output and gain reduction. It almost makes it worth the price for them alone.
The gate is an extra little feature. With an adjustable fade to gate time, a smooth in/out can be obtained. Again, a gate might be good for drums, but probably not vocals.
I got this one cheap ($70) and in excellent condition. I would still get another since they are cheap brand new. It is a simple, straight forward, clean, efficient... all around good device to have that won't break your checkbook or your back.

Very easy to use thanks to the simple and straightforward manual, the beginner can leave it in RMS mode and the 3630 automatically sets the attack and release rates. It takes a few days to get a feel for the range and characteristics of the effect but overall its quite simple.

I think the sound quality is outstanding on every level and is as "transparent" as you want it to be...the gate is great! very quiet almost noiseless operation, contrary to what others have said- its simply a matter of adjusting it for the material being played through it- can be used as a great effect for drums etc I use it with an Alesis RA100, alesis MEQ230 and behringer ultrafexii sound processor, I am very happy with my Alesis products- always very good sounding.

Very reliable and well built, large knobs with good resistance- no problems yet.

A fantastic value- everyone should get one- comparable to more expensive products that do the exact same thing, learn how to use it and you will have no regrets yet If were lost or stolen I might get a dbx compressor instead- I think it is better to have a range of gear from different manufacturers rather than sticking to one company

This unit is extremely easy to use and this is my first compression unit.
There are no real good sounds or bad sounds with this unit, since it
is a compressor. There is a slight colouration of the signal with some
loss of very high(close to 20,000HZ) sound. If this were a tube product, I think everyone would be saying what a warm sound it has.
But since this unit is solid-state, people usually see any colouration of the signal as just bad.
There aren't any editing patches aside from the usual analog
controls. The manual is great and very extensive on its explaination
of this compressor. The only thing the manual could really use is
a better explaination of where exactly this unit should go and
shouldn't go in an effects chain.

I use these units(I have two) at the very first stage of both my
bass and guitar rackmount systems. I did consider putting the compressor after the per-amp and before the power amp but
here are the reasons I did not do that:

1) I don't always like going through a compressor since it always
changes the sound. I can use it or not. If it is between my pre-amp
and power amp, then the signal has to go through it or I have to
always rehook my patch cables when I want to change something.

2) It is solid state, so I want as few solid state stages as possible. Basically, I only use the compressor when I absolutely need it
(rythym guitar, funk bass).

3) In guitar or bass playing, everyone I know and read about always
puts the compressor pedal or unit before the input of the amp.

I am using this amp with my rackmount Marshall set-up and my rackmount Ampeg/SWR/Peavey set-up.

I have read about some people saying that this compressor makes a click. I have had that happen, but only when it is placed after the pre-amp. Maybe some units have a disposition to this, but mine don't.
I just think I had the settings(exp. the noise gate and threshhold)
set wrongly.

Good unit and good compression. No it is not a Meek or TL Audio
compressor, but most of us are musicians and not studios.

Sure. It is very dependable and very cool even after hours of use.
I would perform with it without a backup if I brought my rackmount
gear to gigs. The only thing I hate is that damn wall wart. It's
just so cheap to have that for a compressor. I guess that is part of the
reason the cost on these units are so low.

I am one of the people that doesn't like Alesis' customer support. There is none. They only have downloadable manuals from their
current units, but you are screwed blued, and tattoed if you need
help or info from an older unit. At least, this is what I find.

Never had to get either one repaired and I probably never will.
These are durable little rackmounts. If mine broke, I would try to
fix it myself, but if I couldn't then I would buy another one. Repair
bills would be too much compaired to the cost of this compressor.

I HATE THE WALL WART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought my two units because they were in mint condition(and still are) and inexpensive
compared to every other compressor and even new Alesis 3630s.
They were both owned by a radio station in Kelowna, B.C., Canada
so I knew they weren't used in smokey bars.

The 3630's really help me with my music. They keep all levels
of sound where I want the sounds to be at. And since I put the
3630 I was using for vocals into my bass set-up. I am really missing
it. If I find a good deal on a nother one, I'm sure I'll buy it.

I am happy I bought them and I probably have them be a permanent
part of my rackmount systems. There is nothing out there within
that price range that can do what they can do.

Pretty easy to use if you are familiar with compressors. I think the interface is nicer than the Beringhers and the DBXs. I like the way I can switch the meter between input and output. The RMS setting is great for vocals and instruments, use the peak setting for drums and such.

I have used the unit in studio recording and sound reinforcement applications and always liked the sound quality. I have not heard the click mentioned in previous reviews. I have always sent it a line-level signal, which is what it wants. Another reviewer mentioned plugging in his bass guitar so he could isolate the clicks. If you plug a bass guitar directly into the input, you are sending a instrument or low line level signal to it, which is naturally closer to the noise floor. If you then amplify this signal, I would expect you to hear noise with this product or any. To properly compress bass guitar, use this as an insert into the mixer, or place it in the signal chain after a preamp. Send it a line level signal, folks.

It is probably not the most transparent compressor in the world. But for the home or project studio, or sound reinforcement, it is a nice little compressor with good sound quality and I would buy it again.

It's about as rugged as any rack unit. That is to say, put it in a rack for protection and don't abuse it and it should be fine. Of course, it doesn't have the brushed aluminum faceplate that the beringhers do, so maybe it is a little less rugged than they are, but I don't expect any problems.

They got all the manuals on the web page. Never dealt with them directly.

For the project studio it is great. Good sound, nice interface. Not the best compressor in the world, but then it only cost about $200.

Somewhat difficult to tweak the settings perfectly but overall it's easy to see how it changes your tone. It can really bring out the sustain of my distorted guitar through a 60W tube combo. Makes it sing. Very noticable upgrade in recording quality as well, in my guitar tracks and keyboard/electronic drums. It really separates each sound so you hear them each individually in the mix.

Overall, a very nice price for this unit indeed. Stereo dual-channel operation, a cool LED display so you know the dang thing is working, and a handful of comp options make this a deal, even if the actual compression isn't the absolute crystal-clearest in the entire world. But what's important to this working musician is that it works, and works good, freeing up my budget for more essential items, like a killer amp for the foundation of great tone you need to start with anyway.

Reliable as anything. Works great.

Overall, I'm very pleased. With the side chain options, noise gate (hey it may not be the best but it's there, and that's the important thing...I don't use it much anyway) This is an essential piece of gear if you want to clean up your tone and package it nice and neat within a mix, either in a band or on a tape. It can increase sustain very well, which is mainly what I use it for. It's hard to slag such an essential item at this price when it does so much so well.

Bad coloration of the signal. Used for home recording. The gates are terrible, and the overall sound quality is dismal.

Like a kindergarten version of gear--kind of does the job, but nothing really well.

straight ahead.

I've used a lot of very expensive compressors, this one is ok for the money, but sucks a little life out of the program material. Maybe its transient response. I'm not delighted.

So far so good.

I'm seriously thinking about taking it back and spending a little more money on something a little better (Cleaner). On the other hand, for the money it probably can't be beat. Good features. I've love to hear from somebody who has put it side by side with a composer.

It's a compressor... if you know how to use them, it's easy... I just think their RMS and PEAK mode are weird... the gate sucks...

I'm using it to record tracks in my studio (compression before going digital)... it's good for that... I mean, I don't compress alot at this stage... just prevent from clipping... not quite transparent but anyway...
The gate is shit! I wish it was an expander... no real use for a gate in a studio imho... Once I tried the compressor in a live situation, the threshold couldnt go hi enough so the gate was always opened (drums and monitors too loud in the vocal mic)... so the gate was useless AGAIN... anyway, don'T buy this for the gate! :)

It's reliable... nothing bad happened so far

never had to deal with them

Imho, get a Berhinger Composer or a DBX166a for about the same price... they're 10000 times better...