What are your favorite of each, for maybe around $100 each? I don't have a problem with Behringer and I don't want to go too crazy especially because I'll be having this in my dorm room.

I already have -> Firepod, SM57, and AT2020 for microphones. I want just one more mic and a vocal compressor so I can play + sing at the same time and have a more leveled out vocal track.

I recently purchased a digi 002, and am working towards creating a small demo quality home studio. What mic preamps and compressors are out there that yield the most bang for the buck?

Compressors without threshold knobs ("fixed threshold").

Discuss.

Personally, they piss me off. I don't "get it". First, why would any manufacturer be so lazy as to omit one knob; whats their motivation? Secondly, why would any consumer of said gear want to use it this way on purpose?

What, if any, is the advantage of this design?

i run my snake into a Mackie 24/4 vlz pro mixer and use the insert TRS to send out into my preamp and then to compressor and then out to my multitrack interface (MOTU 24i). on the first two channels i run board/preamp/compressor. on the others i run board/compressors with no external pre. am i running everything in the correct order?

One of the big questions I always find myself stuck on is how to set attack/release so the layers of compressors in my mixes/masters work best.

Eg. DRUMS:

1) Compression at track level (bass drum, snare, etc.)
2) Compression at drum bus level
3) Compression at master level

What exactly are they and what should I look for?

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I am going to be looking into adding a compressor to my home recording rig upon advice recieved from this forum and other reading.

Remembering I am on a budjet and a newbie, so be gentle;

1. What features should I be looking for?

2. suggested brands/models?

Guzzy :-?

Anyone tried one?