what are the differences between 'opto', 'electro', and 'soft knee' compression?

How do I do it and what do I need?

just wanted to find out what you guys and gals tend to compress before it hits tape (or a bunch of 1's and 0's )

i usually leave all compression for the mix...

just a quick question for all you guys that know a lot more than i do. i've been a home recordist for about 2 years, and i'm using pro tools le, just in case you need to know.

I've read what seems like 50 different ways of compressing the room mics. I'll start by saying I'm definitely going for a John Bonham(no, we don't have him for a drummer, but someone who plays similar) type sound.

I'm just looking for what some of the others here put into their drum submix out to a compressor.

I'm going for as much as a Bonham sound(I know, what a shocker. I know, you need John Bonham) as I can get.

I know this has most likely been brought up 2 billion times but can someone give me some links to some

compression/limiting/maximizing tutorials on the internet

hey, i'm working with a band with a sound similar to that of story of the year or matchbook romance, and i'm reviewing those band's records to get some ideas and what not. listening to story of the year's "page avenue" i'm hearing a ton of compression on the vocals, but it adds kind of a cool effect in some parts. ive tried messing around with some ideas, but can't quite identify it.

after software compression? I've been compressing but not using the compressor make up gain to add db's---i've been using the fader..does that make a sonic difference?

what is your guys most common chain order for the geetar, i usually compress and then eq. but i do most my equing why tracking through my pre's anyone wan to add.