Compressing Signals out of the MPC-60II.....

I excluded my first 2 channels - KD (kick) on channel 1 & SD (snare) on channel 2 from my snake cable and i'm trying to compress them using a dbx 166 compressor, so I connected them independently. I have the 2 channels from my MPC-60II going right into the compressor and then from the compressors out routed to the inputs of Channel 1 and 2 on my Tascam 1516 mixing console. When I press the Bypass button the compressor the signal comes through but when I depress it there is nothing. I can't get a signal to pass through. I'm curious to know if i'm doing something wrong before I go and complain about the darn thing being defective. Always trouble shoot first...right? But yeah, for some odd reason i'm not getting anything through the compressor. Is this because the signal coming out of the MPC-60II is weak to begin with? Do I need that +4db amplifier component installed in my MPC-60? Am I connecting my compressor the wrong way? Am I supposed to be using the SideChain to boost the signal? I'm not even sure how a SideChain works? Maybe this question should be answered by someone with hardware experience. Computers are non-existent in my setup - so somebody with a technical background in analog equipment may have the answer i'm looking for.

Also...I have a rack mounted digitech guitar effects processor and a foot pedal effects processor. I'd like to use one effect from each unit - delay and reverb. I know i connect them through the AUX 1 and 2 out to the processors and back out and into the SEND RETURNS of my mixing console. -----confusing....Anybody know where I can find an article or tips on connecting outboard effects gear to my console? I apologize if my questions
seem opaque.

Thanks so much-

D R U M A T ! C

Nah man, I do that all the time, mess with your compressor settings, ignore the sidechain input, and make sure you have nothing plugged into that jack.

you should set the threshhold low, ratio high, attack & release to zero, and turn up the gain knob on the compressor, make sure the stereo function is disabled. You should see it light up and then work from there.

I think the compressor is busted. Damn EBAY sellers auctioning off broken units.....When I hit bypass the signal comes through just dandy. As soon as the bypass is depressed the led lights up all the way showing maximum compression....which isn't what I want. I haven't used this compressor since I got it over a month ago. I know that the LED display should fluctuate depending on how much of the signal is compressing. It's all in the threshold setting. The 166 is not working. Do you have time to talk me through it this evening EL? I'll hit you up tonight around 10pm or so. Is that cool?

DRUMAT!C-1

It should be cool. gimmie a shout.