Alesis NanoCompressor

let's see... You have a Threshold, and ratio dial. Threshold controls when compression will start and ratio controls how much compression will be applied. Then you have a hard/soft knee switch which basically controls how hard the compression will start. Then you have the RMS/Peak mode switch which controls the KIND of compression... i can't explain this part, I just know I like RMS better. When you're in RMS mode, you use the next two knobs: Attack and Release. Attack controls how quickly the compression will start and release is how long until the compression stops. Then you have an Input/Output switch which controls what the LED graph will show... your input or output level. Then the Comp/Bypass switch so you can do A/B comparisons of your level with and without compression. Output knob is last... controls how loud your final sound will be. Documentation is pretty good but compression is not easy to understand anyway.

Pretty damn good once you get the hang of it. Doesn't color your sound (unless you set it to extremes, see below)

Seems pretty reliable. Never heard anything bad about Alesis.

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What a value! For $99 you can't beat this quality. This is not a guitar stombox, it's a quality piece of rack gear. Compression is an interesting effect. It's not exactly as drastic as a lot of effects. it's mainly a volume control/suppression. However, used appropriately, it gives an interesting sound to Metal tones. You have to adjust it so it compresses all the time in RMS mode with the shortest attack and release times and it sounds killer. It's a very cool piece of equipment.

The manual is excellent, though anyone completley green cant expect to much. I did a lot of a/b comparisons when I went to get it and even compared to some really expensive stuff I felt it gave some good sounds very quickly.

I use it mainly for stereo mixes, often of digital sources onto cassette. It really can give you that on-the-radio energy if set up correctly. It slightly brightens material giving it almost and enhancer type "fizz", I like it but you cant turn it off! I also use it for processing sampled breaks and here peak mode and outrageous thresholds and ratios give good hip/hop squashed effects. Vocals sound nice and exciting as well. Noise is not a problem, though not having a gate means that heavy compression with coresponding gain make up, beefs up any noise on the signal going in, something people often mistake for compressor noise.

Build quality is excellent, in pictures it looks like a toy but I was surprised when I got a hold of one, its mainly metal and has a solid feel so gigging or taking it from studio to studio should be fine. I have not had it long enough to see if its ok electronically but I would bet on it being fine.

Have not had to deal with them yet, though the website is worth visiting if you want to know some more about compression before buying.

For the money this is a great little unit, its pretty much a risk free way of trying out and learning about compression. I love its peak mode and the energy and fizz it gives to stereo mixdowns. I would gladly have a couple but actually got the DBX minicomp to go with it just get a feel for differnt manufacturers while I am learning about compressors. The RMS auto mode on the alesis in comparison I found pretty useless since there is no slow or fast option and I found it hard to find a use for it, and I think the dbx handles bass a little better. If you are strapped for cash and are thinking about one or the other, get the Alesis if you want an exciting little unit and want to get creative, the dbx if you want a good hassle free smooth auto mode, However I cant really imagine anyone being dissapointed with the alesis for the money.

This is really easy to use, once you get past the technical terms such as "threshold" "ratio" "peak", "rms" "hard knee" and "soft knee". I found that was the hardest part -- understanding what those terms mean.
Hooking the thing up is a breeze however -- just following the appropraite inputs and output instructions and you're there.

I'm using it with a Gallien Krueger RB400, SWR Goliath Junior and a few active basses. I find it does a really good job of compressing the heck out of anything.
However, I do find that if the threshold is way down, forcing me to push the output way up, I get a lot of hissing -- this prevents me from maxing out on the compression the way I might like to sometimes.
I find it also does a good job when I use it to do the final mix in my home recording studio (using a Tascam 8 Track cassette recorder).

I can depend on it. It is totally reliable and has never failed me. I've dropped it, stepped on it, knocked it off my amplifier and carried it around in a knapsack for two weeks, and it still works great. I could gig without a backup compressor because I own this beautiful work of electrical engineering art.

Never dealt with Alesis.

I play slap bass, jazz bass and contemporary rock, however, I'm only an amateur. If it were stolen or lost, I'd buy another one immediately. I love it because it is a nice balance between control, and simplicity. It was the only one I could find in this price range, that gave me the control to set the amount and type of compression I wanted.
I wish it had an on/off button so I don't have to unplug the adaptor all the time, but otherwise, this one's a keeper.

The Nano compressor can be confusing to use at first but after about five minutes you get the picture.

I mainly use the nanocompressor for my bass rig,A Trace Elliot with a G&L Bass. I thought my setup was good before but using a nanocompressor on my amp gave it ungodly boooom! In a good way! It's a commpressor/limiter, So you have total control over the sound. and making a recording? It's somthing you gotta have!

The nanocompressor is bult like a car stereo so it can take a lot of abuse. a solid dependable unit.

never needed customer support. only heard good things about the company.

It's coolest thing since sliced bread.

Easy. Threshold, ratio, attack, release, and output level, a soft/hard knee button, peak/rms button, button to show input or output level on the meter, and bypass button. two sets of lights show input or output level, and gain reduction. Stereo in's/out's, and a sidechain jack for de-essing or ducking on the back.

Sounds as good as a compressor can in my experience.

We use it in our home studio for mix-down, and it works fine. I cant imagine it breaking down...

This seems to be all the compressor anyone would want. Although I will probably get another one, so I can have one doing some mild compression, and one set up for "brick-wall" limiting (for those times when you've had many beers and are not checking your input levels :). The hardest thing so far is finding another one. This product is apparently new and not everyone has them yet.