Alesis NanoCompressor

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.