Alesis NanoCompressor

Compression is not an intuitivly obvious effect to use, but this unit does a very good job for an affordable unit. The instructions give good settings to start out with, and with a little tweaking many more subtle effects can be achieved

I have used this compressor for work on recordings, and to add a more polished sound to my acoustic guitar and singing in live situations. I play a Guild D-25 acoustic through a Tech 21 Acoustic DI, then into the compressor and finally to my SWR California Blonde. The sonic quality is very clear and crisp. But DO NOT intend to use this unit as a boosting effect. For that you should go with a pedal style compressor, such as an MXR or Boss, for electic stage situations. As many of the other reviews have mentioned the nanoCompressor will clip in situations in which it is not intended to be used. For use in the studio and with acoustic music, i have found that using this unit has been a delight.

I would rely on this unit completely, as long as i was using it to add a polished more profesional sound to my live acoustic playing. I would not ever bring this unit along with my Marshall and Les Paul and try to crank insane solo's through it, it is simply not designed for that type of use, and cannot handle it.

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This compressor is a great match for an entry level compressor with many versitile high end features at avery affordable price. I have been playing for seven years, and this unit fits perfectly into my home studio. I have used it to compress vocals and acoustic guitars in live and recording situations and it hasn't disapointed me yet. In fact I am serously thinking about buying a second one so i can run my vocals and guitar each through their own when i play live. If it were lost or stolen i would buy another in a second. Compared to other similar products in this price range it is far and away the best. Just remember not to try to use it as a boost or sustain box, because it won't work.

It is relatively easy to use if you want to stay basic. If you select rms, then you disable your attack and release. For starters, I would suggest that you use the rms and set the threshold at 10:30 and the ratio at around 2:00. If you don't know much about compression then I would suggest you read some about it before you start messing with the attack/release functions. I use this compressor exclusively for guitar(unlike what others have said about it not being made for guitar) and have had only joy with it. However, since it is not your standard boss looking pedal (which gives you crappy tone sucking sound any way), it is not the easiest of pedals to start out with.

I play a PRS Hollowbody II through a Vox Wah, 2 TS-9 tubescreamers, and a Harmonizer into a Peavy Blues Deluxe. The beauty of this compressor is that the sound is very transparent and it allows the tone come out of your guitar. I rarely change the knobs on the compressor and I keep it on all the time. Even when I have all my other effects on or none on at all, it sounds extremely good and keeps the levels perfect. I am into jambands such as Phish, Dead, Widespread Panic and String Cheese Incident and it allows my guitar to show off its outstanding tone.

I have only had it for a few months but it looks like it would stand the test of time. My only concern is that the switches for rms and bypass may break although they have shown no signs of deterioration. I would and do use it without a back-up and feel very confident about it.

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If you have a nice guitar and want the sound of your beautiful axe to come out, I highly suggest that you pick yourself up one of these. They are inexpensive and the sound quality is unparalleled. This quiet piece of joy has improved my sound tremendously and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. If you have the means, I sincerely suggest it.

This unit allows enough user control to get a good sound for most any situation although someone who is not familiar with compressors, in general, may have some trouble setting it up properly.

The manual does a decent job of explaining each control but gives detailed hookup information for specific uses at the expense of more general setup examples such as limiting when recording stereo signals.

I have been testing this unit for spoken word recording and full mix limiting when recording to digital media. I was somewhat surprised at how well it performed in each situation even with extreme ratio settings.

The "rms" mode disables the "attack" and "release" controls and puts the unit into auto-detection mode which works quite well with the program material I have put through it.

I have read reviews on the net about this compressor that weren't favorable. Maybe it didn't work well for their particular use but I am quite pleased with its operation.

The nanocompressor has quite good build quality. Having designed and built many electronic units, I could hardly wait to take it out of the box and open it up to look at the components used. It uses ordinary carbon resistors and a TL084 quad opamp for some of the audio sigals. These parts are not that impressive but the TL084 is better than average and the unit is quiet.

The box in which the components reside is very well built and could probably take quite a bit of abuse.

I haven't used the Nanocompressor long enough to comment on its long term reliability but I've owned many Alesis products and have never had one fail.

I have never dealt with Alesis when needing customer support.

I am involved in all styles of music because I operate a music production service. I use a fairly extensive MIDI setup along with live recording when producing custom music for clients. I also record and edit live events. I use a Pro Tools system for multitrack work and Sound Designer II (Audiomedia card) for stereo editing and mastering.

If it were stolen or lost I would probably get another one because it offers a lot of control and metering options when compared to other units in this price range. Guitar Center blew them out at $49 new so I can't imagine getting anything close to this for that price. If it had been up in the $200 range I probably wouldn't have even looked at it.

I love its sound, functionality and metering.

There's nothing I really hate about it.

My favorite features are the ability to switch between "rms" or "peak" detection and "hard" or "soft" knee operation.

I didn't really compare it to other products before I bought it because the price was so ridiculously low for a new unit. I compared it to two other compressors I already owned after I brought it home-a dbx mono unit and a Yamaha stereo unit. I will still probably end up using the dbx compressor for vocals and spoken word recording. The Nanocompressor isn't bad for these uses but I just like the way the dbx unit handles some things. The Nanocompressor does a much better job at brick wall limiting than the Yamaha.

The only complaint I have is that it is set up for nominal -10dB operation. If I'm recording directly into any of my digital units this is not a problem because they operate at that level also. I have an Ebtech Line Level Shifter that can deal with the input to the compressor from my +4dB mixer. But, if I want to to use this unit in the mix inserts of my main mixer, this becomes a problem. It is also a problem when using my external A/D converter which expects a hot +4dB nominal signal. The output of the Nanocompressor can be turned way up to compensate for this but that constitutes poor gain-staging.

This unit is fairly easy to use. It has all the typical compression box features that have been adequately covered on other reviews. It is easy to dial up the compression that you want, and adjust the attack and release to get the pinpoint of the cut. The problem with this uit is that IT IS NOT MADE FOR USE WITH GUITAR. I will explain this in the overall rating block.

The sound and compression quality of this unit is really good. It would be very suitable for compression of vocals or keyboards. It is really quiet, and doesnt really need to have a gate on it.

After taking one look at this thing, you can tell its gonna last you a while. Its small, compact, sturdy, and built out of a some hard A$$ stuff. Unfortunately I cannot depend on it though, because it does not fit my needs.

Ok. For those of you out there who are looking for a lower price alternative to getting great compression for your guitar.....look elsewhere. I have a set of Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups in the bridge position of my guitar. Naturally the output from my guitar is high, because I have some roaring pickups. The Nanocompressor cannot handle this high of a guitar output. It CONSTANTLY clips. The input monitor on the unit is in the RED zone 99% of the time while im playing. This distorts your signal, and has potential to damage your amplifier. I personally called Alesis, and a representative told me flat out. "The Nanocompressor was not constructed with the guitar in mind. It is not for use with guitar". The impedance levels on this unit are too low, and the output of a good guitar is just too high. They do not mix. Bottom line is......unless you want this thing to clip and stay in the red zone with every note you hit, do not buy the Alesis Nanocompressor.

I just set to where the manual told me for bass guitar and just varied the threshold according to how much I wanted to dump

This is my beef. It started out OK then it soon developed this buzzy hum that I first thought was the AC at this gig, but it happened everywhere and it sounded like crap, unusable. What really pissed me off is that the people I bought it from (new) claimed they couldn't trace the receipt, so I emailed Alesis and asked if they would help me out. They never even replied to my email, so this piece of junk is going in the basement and I'll replace it with the ART Levelar and never buy Alesis again.

I can't use it live any more and recording would be impossible

Never replied to my email. Even Casio replied to my emails

Worked alright for a while then crapped out on me on stage

Very easy to use, but getting a "good" sound out of it requires a lot of tweaking. Standard attack release, threshold ratio stuff..

POOR! My unit clicks terribly when ever the "reduction" leds light. To get around this the only thing I can do is make sure that the leds do not illuminate, and, whats the point if you are not compressing anything.. For really busy, dirty, tracks you might be able to get away with this unit.. The clicks can fit into the groove..

Never broke, I don't gig..

Never dealt with Alesis..

Noisy and clicky.. This thing might be good for non-profesional, playing that the local bar, type stuff. I absolutly refused to use it on my tracks and have since sold it--I now have a focusrite.

The unit has four knobs: Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, and Output. There are two sets of lights: One set displays the input and output levels and is switch selectable. The other set of lights shows the amount of compression in dB. There are also four switches. The first two affect the compression: Hard/Soft, Peak/RMS. Another switch selects either input or output to be displayed in the level meter. Another switch puts the unit in bypass mode. The manual clearly explains the functions of all the controls and gives examples for different applications. Compressors, in general, are more challenging to use. This unit, like any other, requires you to do plenty of experimentaion. However, many sounds are possible from this unit. Because the manual is clearly written and the controls work as expected, I'll give this a 10.

This unit is VERY transparent. It does not change the tone of my guitar at all. Nor does it add any noise to my signal chain. It's totally quiet, which is unusual compared to other compressor pedals that I tried. I do notice that it does roll off high frequencies a little, but every compressor that I tried does. This is not a big deal to me, though. I use this unit as a limiter, to squash my signal a little when I strum the strings on my electric guitar too hard. It balances my output very well and gives my electric guitar a fuller sound.

I have not had this unit very long. It is built with a metal case. The controls feel firm and sturdy. It doesn't feel "cheap" like other pedals I've tried. I would gig with this without a backup. If you treat unit well, it should last you a long time.

I have never dealt with Alesis before. However, my dealer, Sweetest Sounds, is ALWAYS helpful.

I compared this unit to the BOSS CS-3 and the Tech21 Comptortion. The BOSS CS-3 seemed a little too "un-natural" to me. The Tech21 sounded a bit better, but didn't have the sound I was looking for. The NanoCompressor has the sound I've been looking for. I set it to limit my signal so that it sounds more even. It makes my solid-state amp sound naturally compressed, like a tube amp. I would definitely buy this unit again.

I like the fact that it comes with an AC adapter, it has two channels, and it could be used for a variety of applications. I especially like the fact that it is quiet and doesn't add noise to my signal chain. I only wish Alesis made this unit as a stomp box so I can bypass it with a footswitch. But, usually, I just set it and forget it. So, since it's so good, leave it as it is.

This is the first real compressor that I've owned. It took reading the manual and then messing around for about 10 minutes to get a quality sound. The manual is detailed enough for a beginner, but leaves it open so you can find the best settings for yourself.

I use this with my Dean Q5 bass and a P-bass copy. There is a little tweaking when switching between them, but that's OK. From either I go through a DOD Digital Delay, DOD Bass Stereo Chorus, DOD Equalizer, then the compressor. I play through a Crate BXH-220 into a custom 1X15 cab. I'm saving for the matching 2X10. When the gain is high on both the amp and comp, you start to hear the hiss, but I have a hunch it's my effects more than the comp. I play mostly rock, with a little slap mixed in. The comp. does it's job grest. You can see the reduction and output volumes in the LED's.

I haven't had it for very long, but it look tough and is rackmountable, so any drops are your own fault.

Never dealt with them, but Alesis is well known.

This has been well-documented by my predecessors - definitely not your "bare minimum" controls like most guitar stomp-box compressors, but so much easier to use than "serious" studio compressors like the Ural 1176. Even my singer knows how to use it!

Again, my predecessors have well-documented this one. I do wish it included a gate of some sort, but for $100 and a 1/3 rack size, what d'ya want? No detectable "breathing" like on most "cheap" compressors. Sounded so good on the mains thhat I bought another one for our monitors (where a gate REALLY would've helped!!) It does lose a little high-end, but what compressor doesn't?

Have owned one for a year and a half, the other for a month. Never a problem with either of them. (And yes, I have dropped one on a cement floor)

My only dealings with them were thru e-mail, and they did take their sweet time getting back to me. Otherwise, no need to call them.

We are a "mainstream rock" covers band based in Philadelphia. Our PA is minimal, a Mackie 1604, Alesis QuadraVerb, 2 NanoCompressors, Mackie 1200 amp (mains), some 600 watt amp (mon's), 4 Studiocraft monitors (go and laugh - THEY WORK!) and 2 EV cabinets for mains. Whether we are doing Alice in Chains, Live or Kiss, these compressors please the ear and the wallet, and it beats hell out of having to replace $70 hi-drivers due to hi-end spikes. Would recommend this little guy for everything!!!

Read the manual and you will know how to use it, but like anything else it takes a little bit of toying around.

I play bass i have both active LTD(9v&18v) and passive Epiphone basses, and i have also tryed using it in my GK's effects loops, but it still sucks ASS!! It pumps and breaths like no other and even gives out a funny harmonic-like ringing at times. It mite be that i put to much current through it, but i don't know. I have had experiences with much better compressers for bass, such as the dbx 266 (great peice of equipment); so i do know what i am doing and i have had this for a while and it just sucks. But, it is noiseless, i will give it that, but it sounds better when you just don't play through it.

I wouldnt use it. but it has been consently crapy.

don't know

go figure, crapy