Noisy compressor

JKT · #1 12-27-2007, 07:39 AM

I'm hoping for some usable advice here. I have this old Alesis micro compressor. I used it quite alot in the late 80's and early 90's and then it went into storage. I recently pulled it out and installed in on my pedal board. I love the sound of this thing and the way it reacts. Really soft knee and it is very intuitive. Lots of adjustment options too.

But what I can't decide is: was this thing noisy all those years ago and I just didn't notice? Was my gear noisier back then and so it was hidden maybe? Are there things that will increase hiss without causing the unit to go down?

I'm running everything in-line between the basses and the amp input.

Any thoughts or advice?

JKT

ehque · #2 12-27-2007, 09:45 AM

Power supply? Have you tested it alone?

bongomania · #3 12-27-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKT

was this thing noisy all those years ago and I just didn't notice? Was my gear noisier back then and so it was hidden maybe? Are there things that will increase hiss without causing the unit to go down?

Possibly all of the above. Plus if your speakers back in the day had no tweeters, or not much extension on the high end, you wouldn't hear much noise. Also what the gain stage at the end of a compressor does is amplifies the existing noise floor- so possibly back in the day you had a quiet rig and an electrically-quiet room, so there wasn't so much noise for the comp to amplify; while possibly today your rig and/or room are noisier, and the comp amplifies it.

JKT · #4 12-28-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Possibly all of the above. Plus if your speakers back in the day had no tweeters, or not much extension on the high end, you wouldn't hear much noise. Also what the gain stage at the end of a compressor does is amplifies the existing noise floor- so possibly back in the day you had a quiet rig and an electrically-quiet room, so there wasn't so much noise for the comp to amplify; while possibly today your rig and/or room are noisier, and the comp amplifies it.

Thanks. Not sure what I want to do about this. I may be jumping ship and going to an all in one multi-effects in the next year or so, so I'm hesitant to invest in any more separate units right now. Thanks again for your input (was that a pun?)

JKT