Compressor and Limiter - ACP 88

[siddharthsekhsaria]

I am planning to buy a Presonus Firepod.

People have suggested that buying 8 channel compressor limit gate like ACP88 by presonus is essential for good recording. How true is that...?

My problem is that i have a constraint on the budget. Buying ACP 88 which costs for than Firepod itself would be difficult.

Are there any cheaper options available ?


Siddharth

[Andrew07]

Not worth the money dude. You'll be fine starting out with the stock compressors and limiters in your sequencer. I don't think I ever use a gate. If noise is in the track, cut it out with the mouse.

Generally you get what you pay for with recording and $900 for 8-channels= $100 per channel. But then each channel is divvied into compressor, limiter, gate...so that's less than $100 for each.

[siddharthsekhsaria]

Thanks for your reply

But i am new to the whole recording thing.

What are stock compressors and limitors that you talked about..

What are other options that i have...

I am going to record a drum kit so how essential is compressor and limitor?

As u said controlling with the mouse , is that done on the control console or the software like Cubase SX3 which i am planning to purchase

[brandondrury]

People have suggested that buying 8 channel compressor limit gate like ACP88 by presonus is essential for good recording. How true is that...?

I bought a Presonus ACP88 about 5 years ago. I used it a few times back when I didn't know what I was doing. I quit using it for a long time. Then, about 6 months ago I tried it. I didn't like it. The compression sounded...too obvious. I, generally, don't want to hear the compressor working. I was much happier with my Waves plugins.

I would say that compression is required on any modern pop/rock mix. I use compression on just about every track. Not everyone does this, but I do.

By "stock" compressor plugins, he means the compressor that comes with your recording software which are probably more than adequate (and still probably better than the ACP88 (at least in my opinion)).

You can always get fancier compressor plugins later.

I have used a gate on a handful of occassions, but never for reducing noise. I use it to reduce bleed in tom tracks and things of that sort. I never use 100% on / off gate. I like the gates where I can knock 5, 10, or 20dB off a track when the signal is below a given threshold. It usually sounds a lot more natural to my ears than just completely muting the signal.

I'd say gates are sometimes a useful tool, but probably the last thing I would think about. If I have great drum tracks, I don't need a gate for anything that I can think of. (Maybe Phil Colins snare drum sounds).

Brandon