Compressor How 2 help

[Atipp]

I 'm slowly building up my Home studio, and I started with the 2 FX that seem most recomended (for good reason), A 15x2 Graphic EQ, and a compressor/limiter. My compressor is a NADY CL-5000. I'm laying down my first bass track with it, and frankly I can't hear a difference with it in or out (bypass?). Ive read things about setting your threshhold and ratio, and then setting the Attack and release to "Breath" with the tempo, but I can't even hear this "breathing".
It is a dual channel with the following controls;
Threshhold(expander/gate), Threshold(compressor), Ratio, attack, release, Output, and process. Could someone recomend a recipie for good, punchy, yet dynamic control of the bass?

Also, the 1/4" inputs and outouts are balanced (tip,ring, and sleeve like headphones), labeled detector loop. I just use 1/4" guitar plugs, Is this making a difference

this should be posted to the rack section
Thanks a million
Adam T.
adtsks@citlink.net

[TexRoadkill]

To really hear a difference turn the threshold to a very low DB setting and the ratio to about 2- 1. Turn the attack to very fast and the decay very slow. You will definately hear a difference now.

Turn the ratio higher to expand the total dynamic range and raise the threshold to until your just boosting the stuff you want to hear.

Raise the attack time if you want to de-emphasize the attack of the note and decrease the decay time until you have cut down to the amount of sustain that you want.

Fast attack and release for quick punch.
Fast attack and slow release for intial punch and increased sustain.

The lower the ratio the more compression you are using.

[cominginsecond]

You have to apply an awful lot of compression for the breathing effect to start happening.

The fact that you can't hear compression, in most cases, is a good thing.

[rtzstudios]

Here ya go...

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