yet another 3630 ?

[flamin-gitaur]

I have recently started a home recording studio, and I want to use an external compressor on some of my projects. I have a 3630 that I have been using in a guitar rig for ages. I know they are not regaurded as "the compressor to have" but since it is the only one that I have ever used, I don't really know the big difference between the 3630 and one that "really works". What is it that makes the "other" brands so much better? It seems that every time I try to get a straight answer, all I get is a remark about how bad the 3630 is. I really would like to have a good quality comp., but I need to know what makes a 3630 so inferior to a so called high quality comp.

 

[tourettes5139]

Higher quality parts, less noise, the actual construction is sturdier, the compression is better, and the other stuff is not a 3630. The 3630 just doesn't sound all that great, IMO.

 

[pikingrin]

It might not sound good, but for a beginner, the 3630 is a good learning tool. Relatively easy to use, and it's controls are simple enough. FWIW, anything would be a step up...

 

[Harvey Gerst]

The main problems with the 3630 is that it add coloration, even in bypass mode; you can't use much compression before it sounds very intrusive, and the noise gate chatters at its open/close point.

On the plus side, it has a lot of features, is dual mono, and the led meters make it look very impressive.