Hardware compressors around £400

[Scouser]

I am considering a hardware compressor for use with vocals and acoustic guitars, looking for something simple to use which may add a little colour analog feel to my recordings.
I have heard/read good things about the Golden Age units in this price range and just wondered what suggestions you may have.

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

[Drew Stephenson]

Are you thinking as something to use on the way in or something to use as a send/return? One or two channel?

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

Headaches!

[Sam Spoons]

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

Knobs...

[CS70]

If want to chose one, a bit depends on the genre and what you expect to achieve, and if it's only for you. A LA-3A is not a bad compromise as a do-it-all mono unit and the Golden Age one is well regarded and it's really easy to use.

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

The fact that you have knobs to turn.

[CS70]

Are you thinking as something to use on the way in or something to use as a send/return? One or two channel?

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

Headaches!

[Scouser]

If want to chose one, a bit depends on the genre and what you expect to achieve, and if it's only for you. A LA-3A is not a bad compromise as a do-it-all mono unit and the Golden Age one is well regarded and it's really easy to use.

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

The fact that you have knobs to turn.

Okay so the genre is acoustic-based music, i.e. acoustic guitars & vocals. Looking to use it on the way in, rather than send/return. As for what I expect, compression primarily, with a little added colour/analog. Which of the golden age products do you think would suit my needs.

Also I wondered what the noise floor is like on these units, as I have minimised this recently, with my mix pre-3mI sound devices that I am using.

[The Elf]

Keep your money in your pocket, mate. There are better things you can do with it.

But if you really must... take a look at the Klark Teknik KT-76.

...and keep the change in your pocket.

[Sam Spoons]

Okay so the genre is acoustic-based music, i.e. acoustic guitars & vocals. Looking to use it on the way in, rather than send/return. As for what I expect, compression primarily, with a little added colour/analog.

It is generally not the best idea to print eq, dynamics and/or fx to the track. If you do you have to be very confident that you have the sound you want and won't want to change it when you hear it in context. This came back to bite me on the bum with the track I have on the forum album where I recorded the bass through my new Headrush Gigboard, it sounds gorgeous in isolation but good in context only on a decent full range system, if I had recorded a dry version I could have re-amped it.

[Luke W]

Also wondered what hardware might bring that software doesn’t deliver ?

Most of the time I'm more bothered by what it takes away

But that's not really helpful, and there's some good suggestions here already. I never realised quite how cheap the KT-76 is!

[Drew Stephenson]

What are you wanting to achieve with your compressor(s)?

[Scouser]

What are you wanting to achieve with your compressor(s)?

Some nice transparent compression for tracking vocals & acoustic guitars mainly.

[Drew Stephenson]

Hmmm. I would have thought that would be easier and probably better done using software once you're in the box.