Quote Originally Posted by messyfuture
http://www.blackoutaudio.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=34403

has a good link to a free book

its for softsynths but i'm sure the same rules apply, i have not read it yet
I've read certain sections and it's really good. It explains from the basics of what compression and fx are, when and where to use them, etc.
Really good for begginer from what i've read. I haven't read all there is though yet.