3630: What's the Beef Cheif?

[Jack Russell]

I just bought a 3630 compressor on ebay, which is in the mail now. But now it looks like a bum deal. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with the 3630?

[acorec]

Originally Posted by Jack Russell

I just bought a 3630 compressor on ebay, which is in the mail now. But now it looks like a bum deal. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with the 3630?

Everything. There is no one thing that I can pinpoint. It was just a poorly designed product in most every aspect. It does consume power from the wall, and it does pass *some* kind of audio signal, so they got some things right.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally Posted by acorec

It does consume power from the wall, and it does pass *some* kind of audio signal, so they got some things right.

ROFLMAO

[Son of Mixerman]

You can fix the 3630 with some pretty simple mods available on the internet.. So don't worry. Getting a cheap 3630 and modding it for around $100 max will give you something pretty usable at a low cost. Most of the problems with the 3630 were poor budget choices. If you had known better you could have picked up DBX 166 for under $150 that would kick all over it from Ebay.

SoMm

[shockingcandy]

I've never understood why people are so anti-3630. I've had one for about 5 years and am perfectly happy with it.

[dicblack]

There nothing wrong with the 3630 at all!
I have had mine since day one and never had a problem.
You will surely notice the improvement when using it.
All you need are some good settings for your application and your good2go!
dont listen to haters

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally Posted by dicblack

There nothing wrong with the 3630 at all!
I have had mine since day one and never had a problem.
You will surely notice the improvement when using it.
All you need are some good settings for your application and your good2go!
dont listen to haters

Judging from this comment, I gather that you're not too critical of the sound quality in general....................

[boingoman]

Me no likey. I would rather do 4,000 fader moves in a two minute song than use a 3630.


They do bad things just being in the chain, with the threshold up all the way or the bypass on, IMO.

[Jack Russell]

Originally Posted by Son of Mixerman

You can fix the 3630 with some pretty simple mods available on the internet.. So don't worry. Getting a cheap 3630 and modding it for around $100 max will give you something pretty usable at a low cost. Most of the problems with the 3630 were poor budget choices. If you had known better you could have picked up DBX 166 for under $150 that would kick all over it from Ebay.

SoMm

Thanks for the tip. Where would I go to have it modified and how?

[eh91311]

Check here for the 3630 mod: http://www.blacklionaudio.com/black_lion.htm

[dicblack]

WOW thanks for the link!

[HangDawg]

Seems kind of stupid to buy something for $100, put another $110 into it when you can just buy something better for less to start with. Whatever you're into I guess.

[Son of Mixerman]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

Seems kind of stupid to buy something for $100, put another $110 into it when you can just buy something better for less to start with. Whatever you're into I guess.

The secret is getting one for around $35 of of E-Bay and then spending the $110. Then what you end up with is something in the $400 to $600 range as far as sound quality and character. People are always figuring out how to make something better than what it is. The PRo VLA gets some pretty mods... One thing about mods is that you have to pick and choose what mods will fix known problems. Its alot cheaper to find a IC that costs you only $10 more than its is for a manufacturer who has to buy 100,000 ten dollar increases. The 3630 isn't bad design but a collection of bad components.

SoMm

[Massive Master]

I use mine as a gain control between my television's analog variable outs to the integrated amp's inputs.

It's the only place I've ever liked it... And still, only "so" much...

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by Son of Mixerman

The secret is getting one for around $35 of of E-Bay and then spending the $110. Then what you end up with is something in the $400 to $600 range as far as sound quality and character. People are always figuring out how to make something better than what it is. The PRo VLA gets some pretty mods... One thing about mods is that you have to pick and choose what mods will fix known problems. Its alot cheaper to find a IC that costs you only $10 more than its is for a manufacturer who has to buy 100,000 ten dollar increases. The 3630 isn't bad design but a collection of bad components.

SoMm

I'd go along with the modding of the VLA because it's already a nice piece of equipment. But are you really going to make the 3630 into a comp worth $400-$600? Just asking cause it's hard to believe.

[jgourd]

I use mine the squish the shit out of the Jamfest live feed before sending it out over the net. I got it used for $60 so I really don't care how good it souunds

[jgourd]

Originally Posted by Massive Master

I use mine as a gain control between my television's analog variable outs to the integrated amp's inputs.

It's the only place I've ever liked it... And still, only "so" much...

I use an old DBX 117 for that. Bedroom TV is much better when you compress the hell out it.

[Treeline]

Originally Posted by jgourd

I use an old DBX 117 for that. Bedroom TV is much better when you compress the hell out it.

But then how can you see with that itty bitty screen?