Alesis 3630 Compressor/Limiter/Gate

Everyone who complains about clicking either:

A - Cannot use a noise gate (Gates that click! Whoooh! Never heard that one before!)

or:

B - Is overdriving an unbalanced insert return at the +4dB output level (your input meter on the mixer will still look green though!)

They should learn to use the gear properly! Its EASY to use with BIG meters.

If you like French House music you will have heard the 3630 on LOADS of records pumping up the drum samples.

These records have had sales success without people noting the 'rubbish compressor sound' as other people have here. It sounds fine. It doesn't sound expensive but has a character to its processing.

If you make the 3630 sound bad, it is probably YOUR fault, not the machines.

Does not weigh enough to worry about transport damage. Its fine. If it breaks buy another one. They are CHEAP.

Nothing wrong with this one. Someone else noted its a CHIP based device, but Alesis know what they are doing.

Some of these are really old now and still seem to be going so have fun using it and don't worry.

If using a 3630 is make or break for your music, your music must be rubbish in the first place.

Simple and straight foward, if you cant figure this out idk what to tell you...

This guy down here is hating on this thing. This thing makes house/electro/hip hop tracks sound great... hes just an elitist who obviously has access to overly-expensive equipment.

If you make any kind of electronic music using synths, or samplers i highly reccomend this piece. its $100, and does a nice job on a variety of sounds, i love running my drums thru this thing it adds a nice punchyness and teh fact it cut some frequencies is a good thing when you want that lo-fi type sound.

never failed me yet, in 2 years. i have 2 of them!

never had to deal with them

great for hip hop/house/electronic type of music! makes drums punchy and crunchy, love how my synth sound thru it... a great addition to any studio and beats any compressor ive ever used. This is for us, teh home studio type of guy who dont need/want $1500 compressors, you know how much equipment id rather buy!?

hello ... i ve been a sound engineer for thirteen years i have tweaked a lot of the different stuff out there (compressors) from a drawmer and manley all the way down to compressors like the dbx 166 and 266 etc ... and there is nothing nothing like an alesis compressor ... see there is no way you can achieve any kind of professional quality with this ... some of the reviews i just read make me a litte upset because i can belive that people actually recomend stuff like this this thins is really a pice of crap .. one of this reviews says that after all our ears are not that sensitive to dyamic change ... WHAT ? hahahahahah you have got to be kidding me if our ears were not that sensitive everybody would buy alesis compressors and not draxmers or manleys costing above 4,000 dlls !!!!!!!

the sound quality is very poor the dynamics are just not handle buy this compressor all it does is cut out everything and it does not even cut the sound on all the frequencies !!!!!

NO no never go to a show or a live performance or recording expecting this thing is going to help the best thing you can do is spend the 100 dlls you are going to spend on this compressor on burgers for the musicians !!!!

i ve never dealt with the company

i record all kinds of music from maricahi music, rock, salsa, cumbia, norteno, classic, jazz etc ... and that's exactly my point this is good for nothing a good compressor is something that is adaptable to any style of music because its a dynamics contoller nos destoyer .... dont get me wrong any compressor will destroy your music if you dont know how to use it ..... but there is not a single point where this compressor will perform or deliver any kind of quality if you have a couple of hundred bucks go get yourself a dbx !

I would say hard to set up to get sounding 'good', if indeed possible at all.
And yes, the colour scheme on the front panel makes it very hard to read what you are trying to adjust.

I find it loses some top end / high frequency of the sound running through it.

Haven't had it long, so can't really say.

No experience.

I bought this recently partly on the strength of the quite 'rosy' reviews here.
However, after about a week I have to conclude this is a very poor budget compressor for my uses, which is mainly running a radio type mix thorough it featuring speech and music. It also only really seems to perform acceptably at mild to moderate compression.

You can try your best to set it up to handle 'generic' music and you might get it sounding okayish some of the time, then you will suddenly hear unattractive 'clicking' or 'pumping' if the beats per minute or EQ of the track aren't to the 3630's liking.
Might be ok for compressing individual instruments as part of a mix if you set it up very carefully each time.

I would say, save a 100 or so more notes and buy a better compressor. Generally I would suggest don't consider the 3630 even if you are quite desperate for a compressor.

This is my first real compressor, and I figured it out right away. I've been playing for about 15 years but still.

It makes my old weak quiet guitars roar like little lions, it does more than what I thought it would. I'm using it with a 1957 Framus hollowbody and a 1959 Fender Bassman.

I just got it so I have no idea...

I think that any guitar player or musician who really wants to sound like a professional needs to understand how valuable compressors are and also how often they're used on albums that they love, even the filthiest Misfits albums use them. They allow me to focus my tone to do exactly what I want it to do. It allows my Fender Blender to still sound completely out of control but not hurt my ears. I'm a vintage gear collector so it helps to give me an overall more consistent sound.

Its dark grey small letters on a black front make it loose some points here, apart from that it 'll be up and running in no time if you know what you're doing

Got this unit second hand. actually got two of them fo 100 Euro; that's practicly giving them away. I've used them mostly live and they are extremely good at keeping the dynamics within a certain range. I've even managed to go up to 5/1 ratio's on a laney wedge monitor without feedback although, this required a lot of tweaking with an EQ and the built in gate. (place the eq behind the compressor in the chain unless you're sidechaining) this alowed both whispered as well as shouted vocals to neatly sit in the mix. exactly what i was looking for. actually bought it for the gates to use on drums but I ended up using it on vocals. that just about says it all. If you're going to extremes with it you might experience squeeqs and clicks and feedback upon opening and closing of the gates (in live applications) and also when reducing dynamics you might also bring up the noise floor but you can't really blame this unit as it's just a consequence of pushing down peaks and bringing the average levels up to extreme. these extremes can't usualy be achieved with the more costly vintage compressors so I can't see it as as real flaw. Just don't exagerate (although it IS fun I must admit) Don 't forget that our hearing isn't at all that sensitive to changes in dynamics.

I got them second hand, but the storeowner still said i'd get my money back if they 'd fail me the first year. the ones i got seem to to have been used a lot; still they work is if they were new. since it 's an electronic unit without easily breakable parts (like valves or so) I don 't expect any problems. but since I have 2 I 'm not at all concerned about one breaking down.

Don't know if alesis still exists as a brand, as i've heard they're now in a third party's hands...

haven't contacted them yet, but they keep a nice website, and manuals and info are ready for download

Hope they discontinue this product... so that in a couple of years it 'll become one of those vintage thingies of it's own. OK it's not a tube or opto compressor, but it's got an inherent quality i like a lot. it also got sensible knobs, all with a function and it's verry tweakable (even more than most of the genuine vintage units) I'm happy with the unit as it is even if its not flawless.

really easy to use if you know how to use a compressor... i haven't read the manual. no click type pots - all smooth makes tweaking easy.

great sounding compressor... really warms up vocals and brings them to the front of the mix. the gate is very good - you can easily tell when it's open/closed.

i bought it off of ebay... no idea how old it is. works great.

great compressor with all the features you need for a great price. great for live anything - i haven't used it for recording. I'm definitely going to buy another 2 or 3 of these babies!

I use the 3630 live and agree with an earlier review in saying that the lettering is too dark, and due to the fact i havent got around to buying a rack light, makes it difficult for me to execute compression effectively enough, however other than this the 3630 is the best compressor in it's rang, no doubt.

Great sound quality, however, as i engineer metal bands 80% of the time, im dealing with alot of guitar signal, which, in my opinion the 3630 doesnt enjoy, so iv'e started using the old 300G rocktron for them.
No problem with anything else.
Impressive gates conisering the minimal controls aswell!

Geat reliability, i always keep the behringer on standby, but don't feel i'l ever need to use it.

Overall, a great tool to have in the live sound rack, if the gate had more control, this would possibly be the best comp ive used under ??1,500.
Dare i say its better than any drawmer or dbx i've used in the last 5 years.

Same as any other compressor but lettering on the face is way too dark and you can't see what you're doing in darker enviroment.

Not really made to record with. While it does sound much better than it's more expensive competitor DBX 266XL it does have serious issues with clicking when compression engages. This can be heard most with the bass guitar which in fact this unit can't handle at all as it also distorts the bass. Ok for vocals if always in red. Vorks well in live situation for PA or instruments which I guess is what it is made for. All this said, you can still get a decent studio recordings out of it if used carefully and for my money it is the best compressor in it's price range and still better than some more expensive ones.
If you're looking for serious studio work don't expect anything decent under $1000 and that's it. I had many below that price and none qualified eccept for some of the vintage ones.

No problems

No reply to my clicking queries.

Good compressor for the money. Adds a bit of 70's tone when used for track recordings which I like but you might not, does not have true bypass which makes it pain disconnecting it when I don't want it inline because it does alter sound to a degree in it's bypass mode and adds a little hiss too.

Basic compressor unit, no auto features. Easy to use if you know how to use compressors. Bad thisnk is that box is blac and function lettering is in dark grey - can't see where is what when room is dark. For this I give it lower rating because it shits me specially when in rack with bunch of other gear.

Sound quality is good if used for recording tracks. Has somewhat subtle 70's sound to it. I am happy with it "now". I bought it a year ego and thought I could do better so bought DBX266XL. For next six months I could figure out why my I can't get my mix and masters sounding right. It was the crappy 266XL, it brickwalls even at minimum settings and adds too much thin top. Alesis doesn't brick wall if you don't want it to, it's pretty gentle. So anyway I dumped the DBX and use this Alesis and music sounds good again. I can't buy much better for this money infact for less than $1000 so it's fine enough.

Stil works fine.

Good, answered all my questions ok.

Good basic very usable compressor for very good price.

This 3630 is fairly easy to use, you can get a great sound out of it in no time at all. Gating is especially easy once beginners figure it out.

I use the alesis 3630 when mixing vocals and guitars in my recording studio. Anyone who has said that the sound quality is lacking or it clicks has set it up wrong. (which is almost impossible to do if you know what you're doing) It gives great warmth and depth to anything especially vocals. With the right technique and a good ear you can easily have this making perfect sounding music.

I do not use this compressor for live applications so i do not know how rugged it may be on consisten moving and such, i usually keep it in my rack at all times for studio use. I have owned for a little over a year now and it is still going strong.

never had to deal with any

I record almost anything from rock to hip hop to metal and blues, this compressor does it all and makes it sound awesome. Bringing vocals to life, it pretty much keeps you from compressing tracks after the recording and using up your resources. For the price that you pay for it, it is definately worth buying! Get you a good preamp and mixer and a fast computer and you'll be making great sounding music in no time. The only thing i wish the compressor would have would be some kind of lighting on the face panel, although the leds are nice, the knobs are hard to see in low light, which is how i like to record.

If you would like to hear tracks i've used with this mixer, visit me at www.myspace.com/substance1 and check it out for yourselves!

For novice users a great machine, for me a little to much, lots of knobs, my beringer has less.

The compressors were used in a club and for recording my MD's.
For working in the club, these are not suitable, too much sounds, pops and clicks for this application.
For recording MD's they did do it well, but not superb, my behringer is so much better.
We tried to use them for a small radiostation, but they failed the test. Sound quality is not great but good enough for home use.

Have them for 6 years, stacked up in a rack and never had a faillure.

Never had to call or sending mail to them

A great piece for beginners, but for broadcasting, mixing or clubs too poor. There are better compressor/limiter/gates.

About a ssimple to use as any other compressor, only problem is it has the function descriptions in dark grey color on black background. Impossible to see at low light what knob I am at! Takes a litle while to get familiar and remember the knobs layout. When you have 20+ units in the rack it's not easy to rmember where each knob is.
Apart from the all controls are well responsive.

I guess athtis lower price range I can only compare it to DBX (266xl whuch by the still cost more). The DBX has much better sound quality, it's cleaner an crisper. But that's where it ends because of other problems it has which you can read reviews on other pages.
The 3630 sounds a bit flat, without dept to it, is slightly cut on top end and has some hiss to it if was I compare to the DBX 266xl which is much better in that respect. The clicking.....yes it has some but less than the DBX. Still a pain though! Controls response is better and also has better metering than the DBX. Gate is good. Sometimes I use other compressor but use this Alesis for gating only.

1 year, still works the same.

What I like about it that it is a decent compressor for the money and it is quiet usable for input recording but forget it for mastering. It'll just"brick wall" the music too much like the DBX 266xl. For mastering get a real vintage DBX or spend more at least a grand for something new because under that price the'll be always some damn compromise.
I don't like the clicking but it's not as bad and can be worked around. I wish it had a true bypass and also
wish it had more top end to it, that way one could cut the top down to lower the hiss.
Overall it is better than other units that cost even more. I do have better sounding compressosr, not particularly better functioning ones
but still use this one often. It's pretty much a general compressor that'll do it all ok without being crappy in some ways.
If I'd lost it I'll buy it again unless I want to spend a lot more money for something better.

Great device! Works almost with all kinds of music and instuments. Used it for guitar, bass, vocals and DJ mixer limiting, it does the job!!
Very easy to get the right setting in a few seconds.

For such a cheap comp it sounds great, don't expect BSS or TC quality though.
I use it with Midas Verona and Sound Projects FOH system. (www.soundprojects.com).
4 cabinets with 2" + 2x12" and 4 cabinets with 2x15", all self powered.
This is a great sounding system and for budget reasons I cut down on the compressors and effects.
The two 3630's are a addition to 4 DBX 1066 comps.
They sound better of course, but the 3630's come damn close.

Have them for 2 years now and use them twice a week. Had no problems yet.

No experience.

Great machines, perfect for live aplications with any source.

As easy to use as any other compressor with the same functions. Plus for nice metering.

The 3630 sounds pretty bad. It makes most sounds dull and lifeless (nope, I didn't set it wrong) even considering the price. I still use it on occasion when I need that last 2 channels of compression, but never more than 3-4 dB reduction and always on background instrument in a mix. Gate is decent.

Metering has been broke since I bought it.

Good for beginners, so they can learn the function of sidechain and layots of controls that might be new to them (Threshold, ratio etc). If you like it now, you're gonna want to step up sooner or later. Either by dropping this piece on the bottom of the river, or as I did, leave it in one of the racks for that moment when a bad compressor is better than none, and all your other compressors are hooked up for the moment.

Manual isn't needed but is well written and easy to understand.
The unit is fairly easy to use and at any setting it is difficult to actually get a bad sound out of it. I use it for recording "in", it's somewhat foolproof for this application. The led display is accurate and easy to read. The only thing I don't like about it is that the unit box isn't deep enough. I don't use racks and normally stack my rack equipment on the top of the other. Not being deep, I can't stack anything on top of it but off course this has nothing to do with it's performance which is great. Another "personal" think I didn't like when I started using it was the grey lettering. In darker studio it was hard to see where the Treshold etc buttons are located till I got used to the unit. No big deal but with lots of gear things can get confusing in the dark specially if things get moved around from time to time.

It is easy to get a good sound out of it even with settings that might not be appropriate. For example using settings for drum mix to record vocals will still come out sounding quiet good. It is hard to go wrong with it specially if RMS and Soft Knee is used. Very forgiving unit.
It is the best ever compressor I've used for recording "in", sound is clear and crisp. I have also tried it for mastering. While it doesn't do a bad job, I do prefer my DBX for this application. I must stress that I do rock music. After a quick trial I feel that the Alesis might be more suitable for mastering of cleaner sounding music such us dance or even country music to get the "middle of the road" sound without adding it's own sound like DBX does. It's mainly personal preference when it comes to the final sound color.
About the pops and crackling, I did have crackling at first time of use but than I found there is a switch at the rear for -10db and +4db. Once I've set it to +4db to suit my tube preamp, there's not more crackling. So check yours if you got problems.
Just a word about wall wart power supply which lot of people don't like. I a studio azpplication the wall wart is much better choice than a power cord because it keeps the mains out of the way of the equipment which in turn means minimizing interferance such us hum. So I much prefer the wall wart for the studio but can see that simple power cord would be less cumbersome for live setups where interferance isn't as critical.

Had for couple of months so far but can't see anything that would indicate weakness in design.

Great! I've emailed the regarding the crackling and they responded fast and even send me suggested settings I've also asked for.

This is not a toy like the rest of the compressor in it price range , I'd rather not mention brands but you know should what they are anyway if you've been doing music for a while. It is a real, full on proper working compressor that can be used at any level of "professionalism". Sure the price doesn't suggest that but this unit has been in a production for years and in the early days it used cost a bundle. At it's price nothing else comes even close.
Oddly enough many music shops here in Australia (or at least Sydney)don't bother stocking the 3630, instead they have their shelves stacked up with crap that makes them 100%+ profit. And they won't even tell you about the 3630 unless you ask, ...sad really. When I was shopping around for the 3630 some of these SCUMBAGS quoted me prices near double of what I payed for it till I've found a decent shop. Sure they all need to make profit but some take it to the extreme hoping that you're not-knowing idiot.
Just ring around and make them an offer (for anything musical you're buying), eventually you'll find a shop that is willing to negotiate a reasonable price suitable for both you and them.

This was my first compression unit and I had no problem using the 3630 after giving the manaul a quick glance. The manual was very helpful in many ways. Generally speaking I think this is the easiest to use noise gate I have ever seen and it can be used to create some interesting drum effects if heavily used.

I think the sound quality is great if used properlly. I have not had any probelms with clicks at all after a year of use. I run it through a tube preamp and into my Delta 1010 and it works all the time to get me a more focused and crisp sound that is superior to what it would sound like without it being in my rack. For the money it can't be beat.

It has never failed me after a year plus use.

I liked the manual but haven't needed any customer support.

I think this is a great budget compressor thaT sounds very good and is easy to use. The rating I have used keep its very low price in mind. This is not a top[ of the line 10 compressor. It is simply great for those who can't shell out thousands of dollars.

I bought this product for the noise gae function. I needed a noise gate to go with my insanely distorted Peavey ultra plus half stacks. I knew nothing of how compression works.. It took about an hour of playing with the 3630 and about 10 minutes of reading the instruction book to fully understand how this thing worked. Which is not so bad.

It seemed to bring out the mids in my sound.. not very much though. I havnt heard any "clicking" or anything such as this.. The noise gate works well. I cant really compare this to any other gate/compressor since this is my first. I am running out to buy an EQ to take the mids down.

Im sure most rack mounts are reliable.. I wasnt worried when i bought it and it hasnt stopped workin yet =)

N/A

Once agaion, I use this as a pretty lookin noise gate to impress my band and keep my feedback down.. I use a gibson SG standard and those gibson pickups are noisy.. I also have an SG with an EMG system going thru it.. works well with both guitar setups.

The Alesis 3630 is very easy to use, if you need to tame it, sustain it, limit it, you will find it in the 3630 it's that simple.

The Alesis 3630 is very quiet absolulty emmits no electrical noise whatsoever. Everthing works like Alesis intended it to work, Compresses Limits and kills noise like 60 cycle hum or any kind of electric or ground induced static.

Will last forever unless your one of the idiots who insist on droping and abusing every peice of equipment they have.

Alesis is known for making quality products for the Pro or Novice in a price range that suits every budget. It's your money you could pay more for something else but you would just be paying more for the same quality.

Very simple and logical control layout!

Now, this machine is definately one of the best when it comes to pumping upp electronical/beat type music. The sound quality is not equal to that of a, let's say, Neve or SSL circuit. But for around $100 u couldn't expect it to be.

Haven't called alesis....don't need to :)

If you are wondering how to compliment anything from your analogue multitrack setup to your desktop digital productionsystem don't hesitate to get this compressor! As soon as you plug it in, it sounds great and adds a little extra 'funk' to your beats. TRUST ME!

The easiest divice ever

The thing I love about this gear, it tames the vild dynamics, without coloring the sound

Sofar no probs, 3years

I have a project studio, but use this with my effect rack. Dont care much for using outboard gear thru AD/DA. But as I said I use this in the signal chain in the live rack, my effects there are digital and I have to keep the levels down to some degree, otherwise the digigear would start distorting on me(and the listeners).
I've seen people flaming the 3630,as being essentially a box of lights etc etc. For those people, if you dont hear this thing working, you have no business in the music business. It does exactly what it's supposed to and it can even go to extreeme without pumping. Pumping is for disco or something, not music.
Of corse you can get better comps, but for a helllot of more money.

Easy to use.

Might be OK live. But DO NOT BUY this to record with. It's much to noisy and there are many better units at this price.

Had it for about 6 months. No problems.

Alesis had great support before they were bought out. I'm not sure about now.

I most engineer Pop, R&B and Jazz records. I had this unit for about 6 months before I sold it. It's probably it OK unit for live work but it's much too noisy to be used anywhere in the recording chain...

To be honest, it's been so long since I bought the thing, I have no recollection of the manual. But it's a compressor...you either know what it does or not.

Regarding this "clicking" thing, this seems to be a possible problem for any lower end compressor. Reviews of dbx's units make this case. Gotta wonder if it's the incoming signal.

I use the 3630 in a bass rack. GK pre to the 3630-->BBE 462---> back to the GK. I use the gain control on the GK to get the signal up to around unity (using the input LED's), and THEN set the remaining controls. Anything less and I gotta wonder why even bother compressing. I will say it is difficult to get this unit to increase sustain much, or to pump (if you want that effect) compared to dbx's units. I've never noticed any noise, and the gate is very usable for me. Got me out of some potentially embarassing 60Hz situations.

Reliablity seems good. The power switch on mine screwed up a few years ago. Takes repeated attempts to power up if it's ever shut off (my kids like to push buttons). I just leave the thing on so when my rack powers up, it's already on.

No experience with Alesis customer support.

I think this is a good unit to have in an instrument rack. I see these things in LOTS of project studios, but they are usually only used for bass or drum leveling.
Overall, good for bass/guitar/drums...probably not for mixing.

Using this compressor is a breeze; it's no different from any other compressor. If one you can't use it, it's because you don't know how to use a compressor. The input/output meter is a big plus for a compressor in this range. My only major complaint is the lack of a sidechain bypass switch. With my current arrangement with these units permanently racked, the sidechain feature is completely unuseable because the it is activated by the presence of a 1/4" plug in the sidechain jack. Not ideal for ducking or triggering effects.

I have two of these boxes that I use in my project studio. I just bought it, but have already used it on bass, vocals, and a DX7 all with good results. I find that for a compressor of this price range, the compression is really gentle. The gate is actually useable too. The attack is preset, but sounds ok. The threshold and decay settings are actually enough to make it acceptable. As far as sound quality, though, I do have some gripes. While it does operate at +4 and -10 dB, it's I/O is unbalanced. With a 15 foot round trip from my board, to the patchbay, to the 3630 and back, this does add some noise. Also, as another reviewer noted, the piece does not really handle anything close to 0 dB full scale while in +4dB mode. It just seems sort of strange. The I/O meter only goes to +6 dB, where as 0 dB fullscale is actually 18-20 dB. However, you can very easily workaround this by adjusting the incoming level while watching the input meter. I can usually even achive close to true +4 dB by adjusting at the output. Anyway, despite all of these reservations, I am very pleased with these units for the price. By the way, Alesis 3630 totally stomps on the DBX 266 XL. The 266XL DEFINITELY clicks. However, I'm not sure if it did it at first. But, in any case, despite what another reviewer had stated, I can't here any adible click when the compression kicks in on the 3630.

When I bought these two units, they were both completely dead. I was able to fix them by replacing the two 1000uF 16V capacitors on the power supply (on the mainboard, not the wall wort). I suspect the failure of these caps was due to the units being left turned on for 9 years straight. Anyway, since the repair, both units have worked very well.

Never had to deal with Alesis, but I hear they filed for bankruptcy. I would expect that might negatively affect customer service. But, I don't really have any personal experienc.

I am a studio owner with no particular allegance to any genre. But, for all of the rock, folk, rap, metal, punk, etc. that I've used the 3630 on, it has exceeded my expectations, though low they may be. I'm not going to put this unit up against an 1176, but honestly, it really is a steal for this kind of bread (especially used). It definitely sounds better than equivalently priced DBX crap. Don't get me wrong; DBX has some good stuff, but their bottom end isn't too great. To compare the 3630 to the 266 XL, the XL has no I/O meter (which is a major drag); the XL is "clicky"; the XL has envelope settings labeled "slow" to "fast" (what in the hell does that meen?), as apposed the the 3630's use of ms; the gate on the XL is worthless because it has no envelope settings; the 3630 has both rms AND peak detection (nice perk for such a bottom shelf piece). The only distiction that the 266 XL has over the 3630 is its balanced I/O. All in all, I would have to give the 3630 a positive review.

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.

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...