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Post by chessparov on May 22, 2021 22:41:42 GMT -6
Thought this might be an interesting comparison.
I'm thinking primarily vocal tracking.
Maybe on a Mix too?
Both on Super Nice?
Thanks, Chris
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Post by Johnkenn on May 23, 2021 0:24:57 GMT -6
I assume you mean overall - which is better? I think I’ve used RNC once or twice. They’re fine. When I think of tracking with compression, I think of several things - tonality, gain reduction transparency, variability, slew rate...etc.
I still think compression is the one thing that plugins haven’t nailed. I use plugin comps all the time - so I’m not being a snob about it - but there is a tonality that plugs haven’t nailed yet. The plugs have the gain reduction down ok, but the overt thickness of hardware is not something plugs do a great job of.
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Post by gouge on May 23, 2021 4:14:00 GMT -6
If i can find a good priced rnc ill do this test.
I have some very solid itb comps both paid and free.
Will throw in a couple of other otb cheap compressors too.
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Post by Guitar on May 23, 2021 4:23:49 GMT -6
Check out the free compressor EDIT: Fir Comp from Jon V Audio, should be in anyone's price range. This is the one I would probably want to shoot out with RNC. Or maybe Vertigo VSC-2 or just a simple dbx 160 plugin, like the Waves.
The RNC is going to add little to no coloration of any kind. It's about as clean as a compressor can get. For character I would be shopping for the RNLA, similar price range, more squish and juice and so on. Doesn't work on everything but it's a cool sound, I liked it on cymbals and acoustic guitars.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2021 5:11:08 GMT -6
I'm going to follow John's sentiments here, I had some spare cash at one point and treated myself to a pre-built VP26 and FMR RNC.. The RNC is "okay". Although I don't think reduction transparency when compressing (unless it pumps), I want the exact opposite. LA-2A's aren't transparent, neither is my Neve diode and for me it all adds up to a finished sound with flavour. I've tried the transparent comp / pre front end only and I wasn't a fan.
1176's / RNC type comps (meaning transparent) are toolkit / workhorse compressors for specific use cases, the LA-2A is a "lazy" comp and I have a 1176 in front of it to shave off peaks, of course drum busses require some quick response compression to avoid spiking transients.
Anyway, if we're talking RNC's I'd want an RNLA then an RNC for flavour or just a PBC-6A that can do the lot in its own fashion. In terms of plugins some do transparent very well, for character pieces though again I agree with John HW all the way.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2021 6:33:54 GMT -6
The FMR comps are all very good gear and better than old plugins but recent plugins surpass them, and other budget gear and clones, due to better digital sidechains. And yes, unlike many well known itb producers, you have to use the higher quality settings. There is no way I’d mix with an FMR comp over Molot GE, DC8C3, Presswerk, or Unisum.
That being said, Super Nice mode rules, the RNP is awesome, and
the PBC-6A is the coolest and weirdest one but is far from being a tool like the others. The RNC and RNLA are also great to track through unless you make them sound because some guys self tracking will make every additional thing in the path beyond mic and pre sound bad.
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Post by Mister Chase on May 23, 2021 8:59:09 GMT -6
The FMR comps are all very good gear and better than old plugins but recent plugins surpass them, and other budget gear and clones, due to better digital sidechains. And yes, unlike many well known itb producers, you have to use the higher quality settings. There is no way I’d mix with an FMR comp over Molot GE, DC8C3, Presswerk, or Unisum. That being said, Super Nice mode rules, the RNP is awesome, and the PBC-6A is the coolest and weirdest one but is far from being a tool like the others. The RNC and RNLA are also great to track through unless you make them sound because some guys will make every bring sound bad. Been digging Molot GE. I used the old Molot as one of my first comps(free) something like 10 years ago. I have DC1A and bought DC8C v3 today. Those are really good ITB comps.
Never used the FMR stuff though. I knew they were pretty popular 10-15 years ago or whenever.
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Post by honkeur on May 23, 2021 20:40:24 GMT -6
Check out the free compressor EDIT: Fir Comp from Jon V Audio, should be in anyone's price range. This is the one I would probably want to shoot out with RNC. The Fir Comp 2 from Jon V Audio is really incredible -- for only $30 (more or less), it's one you should just grab. The Fir Comp is not a "color" compressor, but it seems to handle every dynamics control situation I throw at it with transparency, clarity, and gracefulness. I've found uses for it that many other compressors can't approach, for example zero-sample fast limiting for peak reduction. Or, using a very low ratio (say 1.08 : 1) with slow attck and release, across the mix bus -- 1dB GR and suddenly the mix has greater depth...! |
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Post by chessparov on May 23, 2021 23:07:16 GMT -6
You mean it's even better than my...
Nanocompressor! (gasp)
Chris
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Post by drumsound on May 23, 2021 23:17:24 GMT -6
I still have a soft spot in my heart for the RNC. I used it as a parallel comp on drums for YEARS. I still use it in tracking sometimes. I probably don't need 2 anymore (I had 3 at one time). I almost never use super nice mode. That's the boring mode IMHO. In regular mode you can do typical type compression, or smash the shit out of stuff and have fun with it.
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Post by EmRR on May 24, 2021 23:04:41 GMT -6
I might like an RNC in parallel, never tried it. I had a pair forever and eventually decided they didn’t have a sound compared to many things (that’s fine) but made everything sound smaller (you better have a sound if that penalty applies). The most colored thing they did was drum OH, similar to what an Allison Gain Brain does. Which is weird because that’s pretty colored. But i have 4 GB’s, so the RNC’s went away. I have other clean comps that sound better, push further, and don't automatically go 'small'.
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Post by rowmat on May 25, 2021 0:06:24 GMT -6
Still have three of these RNC buggers.
Super Nice mode is like a budget version of the Aphex Compellor.
Definitely not a tone box but good for transparent compression.
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Post by brenta on May 25, 2021 9:14:58 GMT -6
For a clean, transparent compressor I like the Aphex 651. I like to use it on the way in to do the gain reduction heavy lifting, then while mixing use a plugin of choice for color and vibe.
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Post by Tbone81 on May 25, 2021 18:48:03 GMT -6
For a clean, transparent compressor I like the Aphex 651. I like to use it on the way in to do the gain reduction heavy lifting, then while mixing use a plugin of choice for color and vibe. such a great compressor. I should really buy a second one. |
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Post by ab101 on May 25, 2021 19:40:19 GMT -6
651 with the Jim Williams mod - rocks. Incredible on kick, drums, etc. (Not sure I would like it for an entire buss though.)
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Post by chessparov on May 25, 2021 19:57:22 GMT -6
How about the RNC's "fraternal Twin"...
The RNLA?
Chris
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Post by notneeson on May 25, 2021 20:05:26 GMT -6
For a clean, transparent compressor I like the Aphex 651. I like to use it on the way in to do the gain reduction heavy lifting, then while mixing use a plugin of choice for color and vibe. such a great compressor. I should really buy a second one. You can do cool transient shaping stuff with them too, super versatile. |
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Post by ab101 on May 25, 2021 20:29:05 GMT -6
How about the RNC's "fraternal Twin"... The RNLA? Chris More info on the RNLA please. But I would also like to hear more about the PBC-6a. I see Dan touched on it above, but maybe there is more to add about how it compares to the RNLA. I am also curious about headroom on these characters, it seems like I used an RNC years ago and had some headroom issues. I may not be remembering it well. Thanks in advance! www.fmraudio.com/pbc.html |
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Post by drumsound on May 25, 2021 23:08:00 GMT -6
Here's some RNC drums for you all.
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Post by Guitar on May 26, 2021 3:27:53 GMT -6
RNLA is a little more thick sounding, a little darker on the top, it's got more "color" than the RNC. I liked to use it on things that were bright and spindly to calm them down a bit, like acoustic guitars and drum overheads. I don't remember really loving it on bass guitar or vocals. So I found it somewhat useful rather than all around utilitarian like the RNC. More source specific. It was nice to have 2 RNC and one RNLA, for a while there.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2021 4:49:44 GMT -6
RNLA is a little more thick sounding, a little darker on the top, it's got more "color" than the RNC. I liked to use it on things that were bright and spindly to calm them down a bit, like acoustic guitars and drum overheads. I don't remember really loving it on bass guitar or vocals. So I found it somewhat useful rather than all around utilitarian like the RNC. More source specific. It was nice to have 2 RNC and one RNLA, for a while there. I suppose it's like anything, use an LA-2A with a decent amount of compression on a dark mic and you'll just end up eq'ing it. Despite the fact I seem to harp on about them I don't use the LA's on everything because simply put they don't suit everything, they are IMO the answer to modern bright mic's with accurate DAW / interface recording. Also sound great on bass, the RNLA is in a similar vein just a different flavour I guess. After years of experimentation I've adapted a certain way of working, Vari-Mu's or Diodes for anything aux, transparent fast response comps for drum's / drum busses (or in front of anything with transient spikes), Opto's and Diodes for vox / bass / guitars etc. (dependant on the mic) and a multi-variable transparent comp for the master. The master is the only place where I appreciate a metric ton of options and subtlety.. |
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Post by chessparov on Aug 23, 2021 23:22:49 GMT -6
Bump... In case anyone has further thoughts. Lots of excellent ones posted already. Largely due to the general/stressful Pandemic situation, I had forgotten about starting this thread in May. Seems like a Dog Year-or two ago!  Thanks, Chris |
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Post by mrholmes on Aug 24, 2021 4:38:32 GMT -6
I assume you mean overall - which is better? I think I’ve used RNC once or twice. They’re fine. When I think of tracking with compression, I think of several things - tonality, gain reduction transparency, variability, slew rate...etc. I still think compression is the one thing that plugins haven’t nailed. I use plugin comps all the time - so I’m not being a snob about it - but there is a tonality that plugs haven’t nailed yet. The plugs have the gain reduction down ok, but the overt thickness of hardware is not something plugs do a great job of. I think that everyone should do blind testing in mix mode. Everything else is self deception… and a nice story we tell our subconscious mind. IMO they nailed too many flavors pick yours… |
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Post by Guitar on Aug 24, 2021 4:54:22 GMT -6
If you want something cheap-ish to have fun with I would also look out for a DBX 160X or XT, or an ART Pro VLA 2. They are in a similar category to the RNC, but different sounds.
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Post by the other mark williams on Aug 24, 2021 10:20:18 GMT -6
I assume you mean overall - which is better? I think I’ve used RNC once or twice. They’re fine. When I think of tracking with compression, I think of several things - tonality, gain reduction transparency, variability, slew rate...etc. I still think compression is the one thing that plugins haven’t nailed. I use plugin comps all the time - so I’m not being a snob about it - but there is a tonality that plugs haven’t nailed yet. The plugs have the gain reduction down ok, but the overt thickness of hardware is not something plugs do a great job of. I think that everyone should do blind testing in mix mode. Everything else is self deception… and a nice story we tell our subconscious mind. IMO they nailed too many flavors pick yours… I certainly agree that everyone should do their own testing while mixing, but some of us have simply come to a different conclusion than you have. While I personally use plugins quite a bit, my ear still tells me hardware sounds better most of the time when I do tests. Nothing wrong with us having different answers. |
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