Topic: Good starting point for compressor settings for string quintet?

[nolonemo]

I wonder if someone could give me good starting settings for threshold/ratio for applying compression to a recording of a string quintet (actually a quartet plus bass).  I just want to decrease the dynamic range a little so that the quiet parts won't get too soft in a normal home listening situation (I am NOT compressing for listening in noisy environments like a car).  I've adjusted the volume on the audio bus so that the crescendos are peaking at around -0.5, I want to bring the quiet passages (around -24 db to -18db) up a little.  I'm pretty new at this, and my ear undeveloped ear could use some help....

I'm using Sony Vegas 8, BTW.

Thanks

[EDIT]

I just imported a commercial string quarted CD into Vegas, and the dynamic range is fairly similar, so perhaps I don't need to compress at all....  Still interested in what chamber music recordists have to say.

[boojum]

I do not compress classical.  Those dynamic ranges were put in there by the composer and interpreted by the conductor and the musicians.  I trust them more than I do my own ideas about "how it should sound."  If you look at the really good classical labels like Telarc, Delos and so on you will find that they compress not at all or very, very little.  You could also check at gearslutz.com which has a section devoted to remote and acoustic recording and a lot of pro classical recordists.

[live2496]

I have been around some guys that record a symphony orchestra regularly.

You don't compress classical as a rule. The only time they use a compressor is to avoid digital overs going hot to the CD recorder. (They record 24-bit and 16-bit).

At the rehearsals they determine what the dynamics are going to be for the music to be presented. Twenty four bit data is recorded as is.

24-bit recordings a clean enough where the listener can turn up the volume knob without adding much noise. 

[nolonemo]

Thanks for your imput, guys.  No compression it is.