have you used the 3630?? then please HELP ME!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter countparkula
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3630-shudder

I've used a 3630 without complaint, but have nothing to comapre it to. Keep in mind that any compressor will color the sound unless the sound source is ruler flat. A compressor will suppress any boosted frequencies in your e.q.s, which will appear to color the sound.
All compressors will amplify any ambient noise that may be on the signal especially if used as a limiter, especially during quiet passages. I had always thought that this was why it is so common for manufacturers to include a noise gate function with thier compressors.
One respondant complained of signal loss through the 3630. Be aware that the output levels on the 3630 are selectable between +4db and -10db (on each channel). If your gear is at +4 but the 3630 is set at -10 there will be signal loss, your fault not the units.
Maybe there are some bad units out there, but I've seen these units used in major studios.
 
Thank you! I picked up mine after seeing a rack of 'em in a studio years ago and talking with the chief engineer about the unit. I think a lot of what we're seeing is, as you suggested, operator error...and maybe a few bad units. But it has sure become the compressor everyone loves to hate!
 
er... no... personally - I know a thing or two about engineering, and I can assure you my experiences with the unit in the past were not "operator error." :rolleyes:

The unit is NOT worth the effort... and is not value for your money - you can do MUCH better for the same amount.

Bruce
 
Apologies, Bruce. I didn't mean my last post to sound as insulting as it may have. Obviously, an opinion from someone with the experience you appear to have should be taken into account, especially by someone in the market for a budget compressor. My original point was to be critical and make your own choices. Your views will, I'm sure, help others in that respect.

I'd be interested to hear where you think Alesis screwed up with this compressor and why. I noticed you have some Alesis gear in your studio, so, I take it you're not disillusioned with their entire product line. Why wouldn't a company catering to budget musicians and studio owners take more pains to come up with a better compressor? And is it possible that the early ones were better than the more recent units?
 
I had one of these things years ago - in my guitar rig. Even in a live situation I noticed the problems....

As I noted above already - ... sonic artifacts and coloration of the source (even when the unit is in bypass), unstable circuitry prone to chaos - especially at +4dbU.... when you do actually engage the compressor, you get noise, pops, clicks galore...

I beleiev Ed when he says the Behringer does better... and the RNC outperforms anything at this price point (although it is ONLY a compressor - no gate, no "extras")

Like many manufacturers, Alesis makes some good products - they also make some very bad products!

Bruce
 
So Bruce, does this mean that my recordings have " sonic artifacts and coloration of the source (even when the unit is in bypass), unstable circuitry prone to chaos - especially at +4dbU.... when you do actually engage the compressor, you get noise, pops, clicks galore... "?

Please, have you been holding back on negative comments about my mp3's? Come now, I can handle the truth!

I guess I am deaf, and don't possess such fine hearing!

I pronounce this thread mostly bullshit!!!


By a proud 3630 owner....

Ed
 
I know you said you use it Ed... and I've heard yours and others' examples who have used it successfully - so obviously, it can be used....

But in my own personal experience with a few of them (both live and recording situations), the units have exhibited artifacts (pops and clicks) when set to anything more than mild or moderate settings. I had one a long while ago in the studio, and I couldn't get it to work cleanly on a bass track (at +4) no matter what I tried... I clicked BYPASS - problem still... took it out of the chain - the bass was fine... dumbed the signal down to -10dbv and switched it at the comp and the problem cleared up significantly but I was left with audible popping depending on the attack setting...

I beleive it can be made to work - for others, apparently -- for me, a number of units I've tried never have - so I would NEVER recommend it from my point of view!

Obviously, I can only speak of my own experiences with the gear, and so I do!!

Bruce
 
Well, we got Bruce to say "I believe it can be made to work..." . And on the price-point issue, the only other unit there is the Behringer; the RNC is about $75 more, so for someone on a serious budget (i.e., looking for a comp around $100) there are really only those choices.
 
I've been into the cheap compressors (Composer, ART Levelar) for a while. My dark, dirty secret is that I use the Alesis Micro Limiter often when recording vocal tracks. In A/B testing, it sounded much better than the other stuff I have. Its a musical sounding unit that you can probably pick up for a song. It does a great job for what it is. You can't get different ratios, attack and release times with it, but its such a no brainer to use, you ought to try one.
 
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