For a little over $200 you can get an Alesis3630 w/the Blacklion audio mods....I hear it makes it a damn decent compressor.

FMR's RNC is a nice one... Pretty transparent and very usable.

Art's Pro VLA is a sweet tube opto unit - Gentle when you need it, and "a little hair" when you want it.

FMR has a new el-op version of the RNC as well ... something that may be worthwhile.

I like my ART Pro VLA alot for just about everything. Streets at $299.

which would you consider the better unit

1. FMR's RNC
2. Art's Pro VLA
3. Alesis3630

and im also open for more units...

you can't go wrong with the RNC, it's cheap and good sounding, plus it's a stereo comp

if im tracking mono for vocals is it ok to have a stereo comp

if you want to use the RNC mono, just use the left channel. I never tried the ART, but the RNC beat out the crap of a 3630.

Where I live I know some "pro" studios (analog 2" with API, Neve boards...) who use really expensive comp and the RNC !

You can get hold of a used Drawmer TS2 (tube jobbie). With luck, you could also get it with a digital module. I quite like mine.