[MetalDave]

I find outboard compressors to be a great tool for recording vocals and sometimes bass guitar. If the signal is always going from too quiet to peaking in a matter of a split second it comes in handy to keep the signal from being distorted when it is captured on to a hard drive. You really don't want to over use compression as it totally kills any dynamics the band may be trying to produce. I believe I use them more on the limitting side rather than squash the sound so much. It's noise gates I hate!!!! And yes I have done several hate crimes against Gates.....Thats all I want to say about that!