3630 compressor

[buryher17]

i have one, and i also have a bbe sound enhancer a lexicon mx200 and a midiverb3

all of this is in my rack and my mic is going through a studio projects vtb1 pre amp for my vocal tracks


now does anyone have a suggestion on how should set the knobs for doing screaming vocals. highs and lows.

i do MANY screaming vocals, group vocals, and metal/rock vocals.

i'll just admit, i dont know much about the 3630 compressor... kinda sad too.. its said to be so good, and im not even sure how to use it exactly [other than the setting i found for my guitar live]

thanks guys

[mrT]

whoever told you that the 3630 was a good compressor was lying out their ass... It's pretty shitty. As far as how to set it, that might be better suited for the Newb forum.

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles3.htm

This should answer any questions about compression in general and some suggestions about how to use it.

[phaqu]

The best setting for the 3630 would be, setting it in the closet.

its said to be so good

You sure it didnt say "no good"?
No really, it is a comp, just not that good of one. I would use a cheap dbx over the 3630.
Anyway, you just got to fuck around with it to see what it does. Thats how you learn. And yeah, read the link above.

[breeeeza]

its said its good on most reviews from customers actually. god knows why. But i can get reasonably good results from mine (£26 EBAY) you just have to experiment alot and some people say it clicks when it 'activates' but i have had no trouble with mine at all. even if the threshold is quite low.

[buryher17]

thanks guys. i appreciate it.

that sucks though... i need a good compressor, and i got this one thinking it was good form reveiws and shit :-\

what si your guys' favorite compressor? maybe go with an ART compressor? or stick with a DBX?

[soundchaser59]

After looking at your gear listing, I think you will be disappointed if you go buying a new compressor just because some guys always cry "Shit" when the 3630 is mentioned....

I personally dont like the dbx comps. I think they are harsh and too colorful. But I dont call them "shit" because they are good for some people some of the time. With your gear, I think you will get a "better" compressor and you wont hear a ton of difference.....assuming you use it correctly. Then you will wonder why you spent more money before you even learned how to use the one you have. If I were going to upgrade from a 3630 I'd probably go shopping for FMR. I personally had bad experiences with ART gear, so I dont buy them. Are they "shit"?? Maybe not, they just were not good to me.......but they did sound good when they worked right. I've had a lot of bad experiences with Alesis gear, but the 3630 has not been one of those bad experiences. The problems people say they have with it are problems I've never had with mine. Nobody ever listens to my tunes and says, "Man, why'd you use that shitty 3630 in there??" Nobody knows what compressor I have if I dont tell them.

So dont fret it. Use the 3630 to learn what the darn things do. For 90% of your stuff it will work just fine. I dont do any screaming vox, but just guessing, if you forced me to guess, I'd start with these settings:

threshold = -10
ratio = 2:1 or 4:1
attack = 100 or 150ms
release = 500ms (full cw, I think)
output = 0 or maybe +5 if it doesn't overdrive the next thing in the chain.
set the buttons for Peak Soft.

Or use the RMS mode and let the compressor automatically ride the attack and release settings, in which case I would set the buttons for RMS Soft.

However, all that being said, ideally I would set up my signal chain so that I dont have to compress at all during recording (unless you are deliberately wanting the "compressor effect"). If you have the option, it's better to record at lower levels (maybe -20 to -10) and then compress on playback.

[mrT]

If the 3630 existed in a vaccum it would not be a bad piece of equiptment... but in the real world it is that cheap for a reason. Is it useable, of course, but it definately is one of the worst sounding least flexible stand-alone compressors you can buy. But if you can make it sound good then go ahead and do what you do.

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by mrT

If the 3630 existed in a vaccum it would not be a bad piece of equiptment... but in the real world it is that cheap for a reason. Is it useable, of course, but it definately is one of the worst sounding least flexible stand-alone compressors you can buy. But if you can make it sound good then go ahead and do what you do.

Good point! Well stated.

I have to admit, if I had money for compressors right now, I would not buy the 3630 again. But I got my 3630 so long ago, the price was right and I had no clue that all the other stuff even existed. A lot of it probably didn't exist back then, at least not at a price that would have allowed me to find out about it. Over the last 15 years, the 3630 has stood still while all the others have excelled beyond. Just the things I've learned from these forums is enough to keep me from buying another 3630.

But I have it and I use it and nobody complains......I'm just extremely careful how and when I use it. I think it's ok for learning about compressors, and for learning what you don't want in a compressor. Then go buy something better down the road.....

[buryher17]

Originally Posted by soundchaser59

After looking at your gear listing, I think you will be disappointed if you go buying a new compressor just because some guys always cry "Shit" when the 3630 is mentioned....

I personally dont like the dbx comps. I think they are harsh and too colorful. But I dont call them "shit" because they are good for some people some of the time. With your gear, I think you will get a "better" compressor and you wont hear a ton of difference.....assuming you use it correctly. Then you will wonder why you spent more money before you even learned how to use the one you have. If I were going to upgrade from a 3630 I'd probably go shopping for FMR. I personally had bad experiences with ART gear, so I dont buy them. Are they "shit"?? Maybe not, they just were not good to me.......but they did sound good when they worked right. I've had a lot of bad experiences with Alesis gear, but the 3630 has not been one of those bad experiences. The problems people say they have with it are problems I've never had with mine. Nobody ever listens to my tunes and says, "Man, why'd you use that shitty 3630 in there??" Nobody knows what compressor I have if I dont tell them.

So dont fret it. Use the 3630 to learn what the darn things do. For 90% of your stuff it will work just fine. I dont do any screaming vox, but just guessing, if you forced me to guess, I'd start with these settings:

threshold = -10
ratio = 2:1 or 4:1
attack = 100 or 150ms
release = 500ms (full cw, I think)
output = 0 or maybe +5 if it doesn't overdrive the next thing in the chain.
set the buttons for Peak Soft.

Or use the RMS mode and let the compressor automatically ride the attack and release settings, in which case I would set the buttons for RMS Soft.

However, all that being said, ideally I would set up my signal chain so that I dont have to compress at all during recording (unless you are deliberately wanting the "compressor effect"). If you have the option, it's better to record at lower levels (maybe -20 to -10) and then compress on playback.

thank you so much. i will definately try that. i have never had a problem with this compressor before, it actually serves me well for my guitar playing live, i am just ebing honest, i need to play aorund wiht it more to truly understand eveyrthing about it, and when it comes to vox i'm having such a hard time recording them... it's driving me nuts. i have the equipment needed but i just cant get it to mix well

thanks though. i will definately use those settings and tyr it out