Well... you generally won't find too many good feelings about the 3630 'round here. It's good for someone just starting out, perhaps, but it won't make anything sound pro unless you use it to raise your Avalon 737 up one rack space.
As for manuals, its controls are very basic and work like any other compressor. Just do a search for any compressor's manual. There's probably something here:
Dave I have the same compressor and asked a similiar question in the rack section check out "compression on vocals thread?" I got some good replys (although I do agree that making it sound pro with this device may be reaching a little higher than it is capable)
I find the ONLY useful purpose of the 3630 is providing wierd efx for bass when over ratio & thresh are set hi during comp'ing or "HISS" control on drum machines!
I don't see what the problem is. Maybe cuz I don't use mine for vocals? I mainly use my 3630 for pa, and instruments. Is that why I don't know it sucks?
Well if you don't mind exceptional noise, very noticeable artifacts with the compressor engaged, circuits that go chaotic when even slightly pushed, and a noticeable dimming of sound quality with the unit in a signal path even when byapssed!
Hmm... I use the 3630 on my bass rig and it seems to do what I need it to as far as keeping the peaks from blowing my speakers, but I never really evaluated the difference from it connected or disconnected as far as sound dimming goes. Gotta look into that... I got it almost free.
I know it's not studio-quality.
The last studio I was in had an ANCIENT dbx unit along with some nice Avalons and they all seemed to be the shiznit. There was more lights and buttons than I've ever seen, that's for sure.