Alesis Compressor 3630

[Drummingfreak]

JUST BOUGHT ONE LAST NIGHT AT GUITAR CENTER. DID I MAKE A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE PRICE AND WHERE WILL I SEE THE MOST RESULTS: VOCALS, DRUMS, GUITAR, BASS????

[christiaan]

You don't need caps to be heard..

You should posts questions like that before you buy.
Never used a 3630 myself but most people on this board who have hate it.

[Drummingfreak]

I can still take it back. I guess it was a bit of an impulse buy at only $99.

Is there a better compression unit for around the same price??

[Blue Bear Sound]

Do a search on the site -- you'll get an answer fairly quickly...

Also - post before you buy! Saves you a lot of hassles avoiding junk....!!

[Wireneck]

you can pick up a behringer composer pro for 80-89 bucks new. Thats the mdx2200 i think? Theres a newer model that cost a little bit more. If you look on ebay you can get a used one for 40-50 bucks.

[Drummingfreak]

THANKS guys, I found the Behringer on musiciansfriend. There's also two different 4 channel Behringers. One at $129 and the other $199. Anyone know much about either. I'll probably take back the Alesis for one of them.

Is external compression better for recording drums then just using the sofware's compression?? How many channels would I need to record drums correctly??

[Wireneck]

i dont use software so i can't really say about the software compression. I always add compression after tracking so im sure your software compression could handle this task. I usually compress the kick and snare when it comes to drums.

[Drummingfreak]

so kick and snare would be the highest priority to compress if i could only do 2 channels.

[Kryogh]

a few years ago, I had a MDX2100 and a 3630. Honestly, I hate the 3630. The Behringer compressor arent the best, but they work very fine.

I recently needed a multicompressor.. so I bought a Multicom. No regrets. Good compressor for the buck, no doubt.

[sweetnubs]

some single channel compressors can cost well over $2000 and you see a four channel compressor for under $200? do the math.

[jiffy feet]

Just felt like posting to say that the reply above mine, from "sweetnubs", is about the worst reply ever given on this forum. If cost was a determining factor, you wouldn't hear so many people around here raving about the RNC.

Also, it is probably safe to assume the guy isn't planning on spending $2,000, so what's the point of telling him the $2,000 model is superior to the $200 one?

[sweetnubs]

well I have used the RNC and it is usable but in my not so humble opinion RNC is an acronymn for "real nasty crap." I'm not so easily fooled by marketing hype. some well known engineers say they like the RNC but well, you know . . . ask yourself this simple question: Are you recording just for fun/learning the process, or are you serious about your audio? If you answer yes to the first part then the 3630 and the RNC are equally good, if you answered yes to the second part then neither is really worth it.

[hrn]

When it's discussed. Somewhere I saw something about a modification to the 3630 but I cannot remember where. It was about replacing a part making it much better.

Someone?

Hans

[jiffy feet]

Originally posted by sweetnubs
Are you recording just for fun/learning the process, or are you serious about your audio?

I did not realize these two things were mutually exclusive. My eyes don't roll back in my head far enough for this post.

My point remains that your original post had no merit whatsoever. Perhaps your opinions should be discounted in most every thread, unless it is about a very expensive piece of equipment. Obviously serious engineers like yourself will have only had experience with the highest quality, and therefore most expensive, gear.

[sweetnubs]

No merit to the fact that I own compressors with transformers that cost more than an entire RNC? hmmm. . . .

[hrn]

sweetnubs,
So if you had to choose just one to bring to the never-come-back island studio, which one would it be?
Hans

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally posted by sweetnubs
well I have used the RNC and it is usable but in my not so humble opinion RNC is an acronymn for "real nasty crap." I'm not so easily fooled by marketing hype. some well known engineers say they like the RNC but well, you know . . . ask yourself this simple question: Are you recording just for fun/learning the process, or are you serious about your audio? If you answer yes to the first part then the 3630 and the RNC are equally good, if you answered yes to the second part then neither is really worth it.

I don't know how you're judging the RNC, but I don't know of too many compressors out there that have flat response from 5 Hz to beyond 200,000 Hz, with 6 dB of compression applied, with less than .01% THD, do you?

When the RNC came out, I bought one of the first units, and I measured it with the Neutrik A2 Audio Test Station, and posted my findings (and the results of my measurements) on rec.audio.pro.

Putting aside your "not so humble opinion" and your being "not so easily fooled by marketing hype", please explain exactly how you reached your conclusion about the RNC not delivering exactly what it claims to deliver.

And what compressors do you own, or find better, based on actual long term usage?

[Recording Engineer]

No merit to the fact that regardless of what sweetnubs posts, no one takes his comments seriously...

[jslator]

Originally posted by sweetnubs
No merit to the fact that I own compressors with transformers that cost more than an entire RNC? hmmm. . . .

Ha! That's nothing! I own compressors with volume knobs that cost more than your transformers! With XLR jacks that cost more than your car! And with VU meters that cost more than your house! I'm truly serious about my audio! So there! I win!

[jiffy feet]

Originally posted by sweetnubs
No merit to the fact that I own compressors with transformers that cost more than an entire RNC? hmmm. . . .

Nobody cares how much your equipment costs, buddy. A good engineer would find a way to make that RNC sound great while you were out shopping for some new really expensive gear.

[hrn]

or a 3630...

Hans

[sweetnubs]

dessert island compressor? the distressor. the frequency response of the RNC or its THD specs mean nothing to me. the RNC has a much better frequency response and harmonic distortion specs than an 1176, so what does that mean? would I want to compromise such great frequency response with my 24 track 2"? what about my very long cable runs into a unbalanced peice of equipment? Annoying little inaccurate knobs? I said the RNC was usable, it just ain't the shit and I wouldn't plug one in unless I had too.

[Kryogh]

Originally posted by sweetnubs
some single channel compressors can cost well over $2000 and you see a four channel compressor for under $200? do the math.

I tought this forum was called "HOMErecording.com"

If you have the chance to work with the best gear... good for you.
Do you think that if I could afford a 2000$ compressor, I would go for the behringer?

...dont just do the math, use your brain for something else.



I dont want to offense anybody here. Sorry if its what I just did.

[hrn]

sweetnubs,
I've only heard got stuff about the Distressor.

For a coffee break I bring two early songs recorded by me made with this:

Fostex 8-track analogue

Fostex 12 ch mixer

...the 3630 both as tracking and mastering comp

The bass was DI'd through the 3630

Drums had one dynamic mic as OH, and 3 more mics for the rest

Vocals was made through a cheap AT mic

Background vocals through the same, singing at the same time listening through the "monitors"....second hand in which one had a broken treble speaker.

The room was an old photo studio, very small. We just managed to get the stuff into it.

It was mixed there too. It doesn't sound so good, BUT, we used what we had....

http://www.hig.se/~hrn/music/rise_up.mp3

http://www.hig.se/~hrn/music/screwface.mp3

(The band was called Kemo's Lion Dub and I played the bass)

Hans

[scottboyher]

I would take the 3630 over nubbys knobs any day..