I'm trying to understand the whole ProChannel thing, that was introduced to Studio with the X3 release, and is therefore new to me.
 
In my ProChannel strip for my busses is the PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor module. 
 
Questions about this module:
 
1) The ratio button seems to be disabled. The values listed on the button are 2, 4, and 10, but I can't move the button. It's stuck on 2. Is this by design?
2) Is this a decent compressor? How does it compare with other popular compressors?
 
Also, while I'm at it, the Tube Saturation Module is in the same ProChannel strip. Is it good practice to use that in conjunction with the PC4K S-Type Compressor? Is it a decent module?
 
And one more question: If I'm using three modules, EQ, Compressor, Tube saturation, what's the best order? I have:
1) EQ
2) Compressor
3) Tube
 
Thanks,
Mike
 
 

1. The ratio knob is not broken or stuck on mine.  In fact this is my favorite compresser of the bunch.  To move it left click and hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse.
 
2.  Tube saturation in my opinion is a personal preference...some times it can add a little "warmth" to the track.
 
I think the "standard" signal flow for these modules would be what you listed...although depending on what you are tracking you might try...
1) Compressor
2) EQ
3) Tube
 

1) no, you should be able to move it. Mine moves, I'm pretty sure.
2) use your ears :p
I believe it was generally received favorably. It's modeled after the SSL 4000 series mixing desk bus compressor, which is very famous. I think I liked the version that Waves did a lot better, but that may also be what I'm used to. To be honest I don't use the ProChannel one a whole lot as it's rather too coloring for my taste. But that's entirely subjective and sometimes (or often) you may want a lot of color from your compressor. It's all so relative, really. So; use your ears. Seriously.

3) you could write whole books on this. A compressor, by nature, brings out the softer elements in your track (it compresses the dynamics). So if you cut or boost a lot of frequencies before the compressor, the compression will make some of it undone. Logically, it then makes most sense to EQ after the compressor. But sometimes it sounds better to do it the other way around. Experiment a lot with both, and try to understand the difference in sound that you get. It's so easy in modern DAWs to do this. Just drag the module.
As for the tube, again entirely up to taste. It colors the sound. Do you want get that color and then EQ it? Or do you want to get an EQd sound and then add the color. There are really no set rules for this. The standard ProChannel chain is a sensible one but by no means meant to be set in stone.

Thank you both for your replies. I realized that I'm able to adjust the ratio in the compressor. However, I'm not able to get the compressor to work. I turn the power button on (the blue on/off button on the upper right), but it has no effect. For one thing, the VU meter does not respond when I send audio through the bus that has the compressor in the PC. I tried fiddling with the controls (Thresh, Attack, Release, Make Up, Ratio, Dry/Wet) while playing something, and it has no effect on the sound. Am I missing something?
 
Thanks,
Mike

I might be answering my own question here: 
 
I'm guessing that the compressor does not come with X3 Studio, but is showing in the bus as a fluke. For one thing, when I right-click and select insert module, the compressor is not listed -- only FX chain and Saturation Knob are listed. Can someone please confirm this?
 
Thanks,
Mike

The PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor is not included with X3 Studio here is the feature list for X3.
http://www.cakewalk.com/p..cts/sonar/versions.aspx