compression for cheapskates

  • Thread starter Thread starter tc4b
  • Start date Start date
tc4b

tc4b

Yeah I been drinkin, SO!?
What is the cheapest respectable outboard compressor, to be used for tracking and later to help master the whole mix? Has anyone tried the alesis 3630? I'm suspicious because it's so cheap, but does it work?
 
Believe it or not the Behri ones aren't too shabby for the price. The standard answer here would be to save a couple bux and get the FMR RNC.
 
if your new to compression the presonus blue max might be good because it has presets for you to use. It's 150 bucks.
 
I have two of the 3630's (my first compressors). Don't like 'em. They're not the easiest to use, the noise gate portion is worthless. They DO work...just not great. If you can get them really cheap, then that's the only reason to get them.

I also have a BlueMax. It's a bit more money, but much more user friendly and actually works pretty good! Wish I had more.

The FMR RNC is on my wish list. Never heard a bad thing about them.

There's other things available on eBay. Symetrix is pretty good stuff if you can find it. Maybe some of the DBX - but I'm not familiar enough with them to know which models.
 
RickW said:
I have two of the 3630's (my first compressors). Don't like 'em. They're not the easiest to use, the noise gate portion is worthless. They DO work...just not great. If you can get them really cheap, then that's the only reason to get them.
Click to expand...

I've used the 3630's too... At the time, I guess, since that's all I had, they were Ok... BUT, I got an RNC and I'll have to agree that was a huge step-up... Hard not to like the RNC for the price...
 
Do some searches on this board for recommendations, and then hit up eBay.
 
The FMR RNC is a great cheap compressor. If you can find one used - they typically go for @$125 or so. I've got 2, one bought new and one bought used. I bought a third one used, but I sold it to a friend for what I paid for it. They are cheap, work well and sound good. They are stereo, but can't be used as two mono channels.

Older Symetrix units are very good as well for cheap compressors. Not quite as smooth as the RNC in super nice mode IMHO, but very useful. The 501 (single channel) and 525 (stereo) are very good, especially for bass. I have a 501 that I use just for bass. The older 501s with the toggle power switch are allegedly better than the newer ones with the push button power switch due to having different components. 501s go for @$100-140 on e-bay. 501s are linkable for stereo use. Also quite decent are the older Symetrix SX206 (single channel multi-processor) and SX208 (stereo compressor limiter) units (I have both). These can go pretty cheap on e-bay -- @$60-75 or so. I think they are quite nice and they are built like tanks. They do use a wallwart which Symetrix still sells (expensive though - you can buy generic Tamura ones for a fraction of the price -- I bought a half dozen of them because people will often sell the unit without the power supply or send you the wrong power supply). You can check out the stats and manuals for some of these here:

It used to be more accessible, but they still have downloadable documentation for a number of their discontinued products.

http://support.symetrixaudio.com/cgi-bin/symetrix.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

I think that any of the units mentioned above are better and more usable than a 3630 or a DBX 266 (another widely available cheap compressor). I own a 266 as well but only use it in my guitar live rack - as an effect.
 
tc4b said:
What is the cheapest respectable outboard compressor, to be used for tracking and later to help master the whole mix? Has anyone tried the alesis 3630? I'm suspicious because it's so cheap, but does it work?
Click to expand...

You might be better off getting a compressor and considering it a tracking and mixing compressor only. Anything in the price range of 3630 is going to be inappropriate for mastering the mix. For that you'd be a lot better off buying a plugin limiter, something like an L2 style limiter.

So my suggestion is to get a compressor for tracking and mixing, and a limiter plugin for mastering.
 
If my only two choices were a Behringer or a $99 3630, I'd take the 3630 every time.
 
Limiter Plugin?

Wow, RNC seems to be a popular unit, and so cheap. What's the downside, if any?

Also, thanks for the tip about mastering using a limiter. Can you reccommend a few? I'm using an older verson of protools LE, 5.4 or something like that, I can't check right now I'm away from my studio. Might I be able to get something cheap because my version of protools is older? I think it might come with a limiter/compressor too, but in my experience the included digi plugins are not too great.
 
FMR RNC is an excellent compressor.
Wow, RNC seems to be a popular unit, and so cheap. What's the downside, if any?
Click to expand...

i'm not sure. i think it's an unbalanced design . someone can probably chime in here.
the alesis 3630 has a pretty shabby gate , don't rely on it for fast stuff.
compression is lackluster but suitable for some stuff when used lightly.
there are some good mods ( look them up ) for the 3630 that really turns it on.
 
Downside for me is bass, but I have other comps for that. Being unbalanced hasn't affected its performance for me.
 
I suppose the only reason I dont notice all the zits and boils on the 3630 sound is because I've never had anything else. I bought it a long time ago and it has done everything I've tried to do just fine since. But I dont really push it very hard either. I'd rather spend 3 days tweaking my amp than mess with the comp for an hour.

Maybe some day when I can afford a better one I'll wonder why I ever bought the 3630.......but it's all I have for now.
 
mono?

Would I be able to use the RNC for mono inputs, like a mic or an instrument?
 
The RNC has one set of controls for both channels, so no, dual mono doesn't work on it.

Limiter plugins. I like the WaveArts FinalPlug a lot.
 
The RNC is unbalanced in and out (which really isn't a problem). If your preamp or board has inserts, you can use it there quite handily. You can use it for single mono, but not dual mono as both channels are operated by one set of controls.
 
soundchaser59 said:
I suppose the only reason I dont notice all the zits and boils on the 3630 sound is because I've never had anything else. I bought it a long time ago and it has done everything I've tried to do just fine since.
Click to expand...

well i was gunna say the same thing you cant use alot of it .I liked using the RMS setting automatic :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top