For those of you using the ProChannel CA-2A compressor on vocals - what are some typical settings that you use? How much gain (in db's) do you typically aim to reduce?

I often start with the gain around 45 to 50, and the peak reduction around 40 to 30.  It gives me a big, beefy signal with a little character.  Otherwise, let your ears be your guide.

It really does vary from track to track.  I know it's a well worn phrase on here, but I do use my ears. Basically start with "less" and increase 'til it sounds nice.
 
Playing around with the R37 screw can be good. Of all the compressors in Sonar, I think the Ca-2a is themost intuitive to set up.
 
With vocals, I like to put the PC76 first to catch any peaks, and then put the Ca-2a to generally level the signal and add character and warmth.

"With vocals, I like to put the PC76 first to catch any peaks, and then put the Ca-2a to generally level the signal and add character and warmth......"


I often do the same JB. Just a touch of the PC 76.

Similar to jb, except I use the concrete limiter instead of the PC76 to catch peaks.
 
How much gain reduction to use depends on how much the vocalist's level changes, and how good they are with mic technique. Someone who knows good mic technique will move in closer or back away further to create "manual compression." In that case you don't need to add as much electronic compression.
 
I often mic my voice really close to take advantage of the proximity effect. In that case, I need to add a lot more compression to even out volume levels. When I do background vocals, I don't close mic and use mic technique so I don't have to compress as much.

The CA2A pretty much only has two controls that affect how it sounds, the LF/HF dial thingy and the gain reduction. It should be pretty easy to find out if it works on your material or not.
The gain is just make up gain.

I also often use a PC-76 before the CA-2A, to smooth things out a touch and catch peaks that require a faster attack.  The PC-76's attack can be set faster than the CA-2A's fixed/automated value.
 
You may be surprised how much you can push the CA-2A (heavy gain reduction) and still have it sound sweet.
 
As for the R37 screw...first of all, I really wish this was a knob, or had an arrow/value-window so we can tell where it's pointing.  But to get back on track, I tend to keep this flat or toward the HF.  I'm interested to hear when others would use a lower-than-flat setting, as it's not well-documented.

P.S. Also curious if anybody ever uses the "Limit" mode, rather than Compress.

Good answers so far - let's hear more.

Lynn
I often start with the gain around 45 to 50, and the peak reduction around 40 to 30.  It gives me a big, beefy signal with a little character.  Otherwise, let your ears be your guide.

Wow. EXACTLY the settings I start with! I love boosting the gain on vocals to that same 45 to 50-mark, and then tweak the peak reduction so it's not performing a noticeable "squash."