i see this alot.. but then i see people's reviews and say its great etc etc..
I don't doubt that for a second, but It's still personal preference, and I still don't see the point.
In my opinion, unless that unit has a particular sound that is desirable, or you have serious hardware limitations (tracking to tape or something), you're really just investing in an inconvenience, or a restriction.
Think about it. If you record your vocals and get that gold take, but the eq was wrong, you're gona 'fix' it with software eq right? So, just use a software one from the start.
If you realise the compressor was underdoing it, the same as above applies, and if the comrpressor was overdoing it, you have to re record the whole damn thing.
For me, outboard hardware on the way in is for the guys who know exactly what everything sounds like (instrument, room, performer, preamp, outboard gear), and know exactly what to do to get the sound perfect, or for guys who are tracking to a hard medium where effects need to be on the way in.
Plugins let you spend as long as you want learning why you would have got it wrong with hardware.
If that doesn't apply to you, please don't take it thick, but that's how I see it, generally speaking.
I consider myself to be quite good at this stuff, but I wouldn't touch a hardware comp.
That's not to say I couldn't use it, but why would I take the chance?
