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Is there a difference between a real, physical compressor and and a
compressor plug in, in terms of sound quality?

If you record something too loud on a digital interface, it clips and
distorts. If you try to compress it after, the distortion remains (in
a quieter way). But if you used a real, mabey analogue compressor
connected before the digital box, would this lead to a better, cleaner
recording than the plug in?

I would hate to buy a $200 compressor just to find out the plug in I
already had worked just as good.

Thanks