Re: Thinking my drum mic is fixing to go bad.
I just checked the pictures. It seems like the limiter is working overtime as well since the attack looks to be around 30mS...
Here's how I'd do it.
Turn up the limiter so it isnt engaged on peaks. Start with ratio 1:10 (or whatever your maximum is), makeup 0dB, attack at minimum time and release at maximum time, threshold so it triggers consistently.
Have the kick to thump once per second. Raise the attack until you get a nice klick. Now back off the release time until you hear the compressor release before one hit fades out and then raise the release a notch.
Adjust threshold approx 6-12dB under engaging trigg level depending on how (in)consitent the drummer is. Set the ratio around 1:5 and adjust gain reduction to approx 6dB. You need to tweak this to taste but is a good starting point. Set the makeup so that your output level is comfortable.
Now you can adjust the limiter so it only gets the highest of the highest peaks. Otherwise it will kill the attack of the drum.
While gates are great analog gates have a tendency to soften the attack and digital gates can produce a clicking sound. Expanders are so much better but may still kill of some attack.
When a new drummer enters you should only need to readjust the threshold.
