RNC1773--Really Nice Compressor ?

JHOOKS 🎙️ · 24th January 2006

RNC1773--Really Nice Compressor i've heard some cool things about this cheap compressor. what do you guys think about it?

Harley-OIART · 24th January 2006

Micheal M. Brauer uses it for making Backing Vox pop out in the mix. Lots of project studios / semi-pro studios use them all the time.

Good little box, great for the price. Just make sure you understand the implications of using an unbalanced box as an insert, which doesn't make much of a difference provided you follow some basic rules.

There are lots of sexy compressors out there, in widely varing price ranges. Let your budget do the talking.

Regards,
-Scott

theblotted · 24th January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley-OIART

There are lots of sexy compressors out there, in widely varing price ranges. Let your budget do the talking.

Regards,
-Scott

JHOOKS 🎙️ · 25th January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley-OIART

Micheal M. Brauer uses it for making Backing Vox pop out in the mix. Lots of project studios / semi-pro studios use them all the time.

Good little box, great for the price. Just make sure you understand the implications of using an unbalanced box as an insert, which doesn't make much of a difference provided you follow some basic rules.

There are lots of sexy compressors out there, in widely varing price ranges. Let your budget do the talking.

Regards,
-Scott

thanks for the feedback. hey would you mine telling me more about the box as an insert(thats what im using if as) i figure the unbalanced would cause noise? how do i minimize that? thanks man

Jim Williams · 26th January 2006

Had one come in a few weeks back for repair/mod. OP275 opamp with bipolar coupling caps. Audio Precision tests show high THD when the super nice switch is engaged. It also does a strange gain "stepping" over threshold in super nice. THD is lower, about .05% in normal mode, about .5~1% THD in super nice.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

MadGuitrst · 29th January 2006

If there are three compressor or compressor stages used in series in SuperNice mode, wouldn't it make sense that the THD is basically multiplied?

Jim, you mentioned repairi/mod....
......sparked my interest.
What kind of mods do you do on the RNC?

AdamJay · 29th January 2006

i smell a balanced ins and outs mod for the RNC...

Jim Williams · 29th January 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadGuitrst

If there are three compressor or compressor stages used in series in SuperNice mode, wouldn't it make sense that the THD is basically multiplied?

I didn't see three gain stages in there, but have no schematic. Most comps with fancy multible detectors still send the combined control voltage to one VCA, the dbx166 comes to mind. The Aphex Dominator does do a frequency split and then uses 3 VCA's which are then mixed together. I don't see that many stages in there. There is enough room in there to add an additional output inverter stage, easier for FMR to re-do the pcb layout than it would be to add it. (Mono jacks are pcb mounted). Larger regulators than the 78L15 would help. I installed a current hungry TI opamp with heatsinks. Coupling caps were enlarged, improved and bypassed with polyprop film caps. I estimate that mod would cost about $100.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Jim, you mentioned repairi/mod....
......sparked my interest.
What kind of mods do you do on the RNC?

***

MadGuitrst · 29th January 2006

Excuse my ignorance Jim, I'm no techie by any stretch.....obviously you noticed

I was just referring the info from FMR.

From FMR website:
A clever technique to reduce compression artifacts is the use of multiple compressors cascaded serially:

Jim Williams · 29th January 2006

If that is what the super nice mode is doing, the opposite happens. I measured far more "artifacts" in super nice mode including the disturbing gain stepping that I have never seen in any other compressor. It's fascinating to see the plots, you see the gain over threshold go up 4~5 db, then drop 4~5 db, then go up again in about every 5 db of increased input. Every other comp I've measured show a smooth over threshold curve. Maybe FMR can comment on this anomoly.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Dread · 16th September 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley-OIART ➡️

Just make sure you understand the implications of using an unbalanced box as an insert, which doesn't make much of a difference provided you follow some basic rules.

would you or someone care to explain how you would do this?

YUGA · 16th September 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dread ➡️

would you or someone care to explain how you would do this?

The basic rule I know is to use a cable that is as short as possible. Sorry if it is too obvious.

emrr · 22nd September 2008

50 feet of cable is fine in my studio, or any other lacking in interference. Balanced is over-lusted. Noise has to come from some place, and if it ain't there it ain't there. Old wives tales about the superiority of balanced connections never cease to amaze. Gotta be superstitious about something I guess.

Dexter Morgan · 13th June 2010

Doug Williams... wow, that's a good enough explanation for me then. I didn't know guys like Doug Williams could be found in places like this. Cool.

Ricey · 13th June 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexter Morgan ➡️

Doug Williams... wow, that's a good enough explanation for me then. I didn't know guys like Doug Williams could be found in places like this. Cool.

says Dexter Morgan!

brianroth · 14th June 2010

Balanced lines have their place in studios with complex patching systems, particularly in multi-room facilities.

Most gear with input and/or output transformers are inherently balanced.

But, so-called balanced outputs from some gear with piss-poor designs (Digidesign 192HD comes to mind) can actually complicate matters.

Best,

Bri

kludgeaudio · 28th September 2020

I think when the RNC came out... maybe twenty years ago... there was a lot of discussion with Mark about making a balanced version. But to be honest the unbalanced inputs and outputs haven't been a problem any time I have ever used it, and it's one of my favorite emergency tools. I've often had to use it as a console insert instead of putting it inline because of the lack of balancing... but that's why consoles have inserts.

It's one of my favorite general purpose compressors. There are some things it doesn't do very well, like fast riding on bass guitar, but there are a lot of things it does well too and with the price it will likely pay for itself the first time you use it.
--scott

chessparov2.0 · 28th September 2020

Recording at 24 bit, here in 2020... Do you think "Supernice" mode has as much relevance today, compared to just using Compression Plugs after tracking?
BTW I have a "Poorman's LA2A", the Bellari LA-120, to monkey around with for front end colored compression.
Thanks, Chris

kludgeaudio · 28th September 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by chessparov2.0 ➡️

Recording at 24 bit, here in 2020... Do you think "Supernice" mode has as much relevance today, compared to just using Compression Plugs after tracking?
BTW I have a "Poorman's LA2A", the Bellari LA-120, to monkey around with for front end colored compression.
Thanks, Chris

"Supernice" mode means very gentle knee... it turns it into more of a gentle gain-riding compressor than a sharp limiter. I am sure someone out there is doing the same thing in software; it's not anything secret or difficult to do.
--scott

Welcome to the Gearspace Pro Audio Community!

Registration benefits include:

Gear discussed

Welcome to the Gearspace Pro Audio Community!

Registration benefits include:

Gear discussed on this page in this thread

Gear discussed