“When my “Using Effects Effectively Part 2″� article about compressors, limiters, and gates came out, I received quit a few E-mails from people at the Guitar Alliance and people that received the Musicians Friend newsletter. These E-mails revolved mostly around what setting should be used on a compressor and what is the best compressor to buy. These are very difficult questions to answer. First off, there is no perfect way to set a compressor that will work for everyone. If there was there would not be any knobs on the compressor unit. They would be hard wired at one setting only. There is however a unit you can buy that will make your compressor setting problems go away. This unit is called the COMP16 and is manufactured by a company called PreSonus. Go to www.presonus.com and check out the COMP16 and the other high quality products that PreSonus offers. Chad Kelly from PreSonus was good enough to send me a COMP16 to review for you.

Before we get to the COMP16, I like to give you a little history on the companies that make the equipment that I am reviewing. Rick Naqvi from PreSonus shared a little of the history of the company with me and I would like to pass it on to you.

PreSonus was founded by Jim Odom. At the age of 19 Jim won a contest put on by Downbeat magazine for the best up and coming jazz guitar player. ‘Downbeat magazine gave him a scholarship to the Berkley School of Music’�. When he finished school he joined a band on the CBS label called Leroux. After recording and touring with them for several years he settled in Southern California to begin a career as an engineer and producer. During his time as a producer and engineer he had two platinum records to his credit. One was the ‘Dirty Dancing Soundtrack’�, and the other was Cinderella’s ‘Heartbreak Station’�. He also worked on many other TV and movie soundtracks including writing and playing of the ‘National Lampoon’s European Vacation’� soundtrack. He then went to work in his fathers hydrographic design company, where he designed under water sonar equipment for the military, but he always felt his heart being pulled back to music and audio. He did what each of us should do and followed his heart. He started PreSonus in 1995 with a commitment to creating innovative, and quality equipment for studio and touring applications. Next year will mark the ten year anniversary of great PreSonus audio products.”

Check out this and other Presonus products on instrumentpro.com