Harvey and anyone else familiar with FMR and Speck

[tubedude]

Hey,
A bunch of questions I'd like to get some answers on, and one of the manufacturers is too busy to help me out, I guess.
1)... this new RNMP from FMR... should we really expect this thing to be flat out fantastic? Is this something I should wait for before buying into a Focusrite ISA 110 or another Neve design? I just want a really really really good front end. IS there a rumor on ballpark prices?
2) I was reading on another site that FMR had initially planned on releasing the RNEQ before the RNMP, but had put it on the backburner because of the EQ released by Speck. Speck. Who is Speck? Thats a new one on me. Is there anything you can tell me about this EQ? It LOOKS nice, especially in the Mercenary dual unit rack (actuall looks kinda like the Focusrite ISA series!) Why would FMR delay thiers because of this one? And mainly, is it worth the money and would it make an EXCELLENT addition to my high quality front end I'm trying to create?
3) What kind of sound does the RNC have? Is it a warmer type of compression sound, or is it really transparent? Would it make a good compressor behind, say, a focusite Red series or an API? Same with the Speck.
Speck.
Speck?
Where did they come from, and why did I just hear of it?
Peace, and thanks,
Paul

[tubedude]

Anyone?

[Dolemite]

Heh, try rec.audio.pro....those guys might know something. I just did a search there and didn't find anything new, though. All I know about the thing is:

1. it will kick ass
2. it will be out in June (which probably means August)
3. it will kick ass
4. it will be under $200 or I'm gonna stick to my DMP2
5. it will kick ass

[JuSumPilgrim]

The RNC is very transparent. Its soft knee compression (super nice mode) is not noticable. Period.

[tubedude]

I found a review tonight saying the same thing. Now if I can find some info on the Speck, I'll be happy.

[gordone]

I've never heard the Speck, but from reading rec.audio.pro, it kicks b*tt...The designer of the RNC decided to stop working on his EQ when the Speck came out because he didn't want to compete with it (I believe they're both small shops). The Mercenary site has some info but also go to http://groups.google.com and do a search on Speck EQ. Give Fletcher a call at Mercenary and I'm sure he'll give you all the info you need!
(He helped with my Soundelux, Great River, RNCs, and KM184 purchases - my killer front end!)
Good Luck!
-Evan

[tubedude]

Fletcher emailed me this morning... cool dude it seems... I can't wait

[Recording Engineer]

www.speckaudio.com just in case you already didn't know the website address.

I've heard it and I don't think it's gets much beter for the money... I don't own, but I will eventually... Even if it's for quite awhile! Of course, if the RNMP comes-out anytime soon, it'll be even longer as I buy the RNMP right-away!

[JuSumPilgrim]

Does FMR know that the whole world is waiting for the RNMP with baited breath??!!!

[Harvey Gerst]

Sorry, I missed this thread the first time around. Here's what I know about the two units:

Speck ASC:
Vince is a well known designer who makes great equipment. He asked a lot of people on rec.audio.pro what they would like to see in a low cost high quality equalizer, and the ASC is a result of that poll. Very clean, very quiet, and it does what it does with a minimum of fuss. When Mark heard the Speck, he decided to put his eq unit on hold and go for the preamp instead.

FMR RNMP:
Mark has been working on this unit for a while and there are protypes out in the field already. It's a unique design and has more in common with the flavor type preamps than it does with neutral sounding preamps. It's been described by one engineer as sounding similar to the old RCA BK-6(?) preamp, even though it doesn't have input or output transformers, as far as I know. If it comes close to that sound (and I have no reason to believe otherwise), it will be a wonderfully warm, yet detailed preamp.

The Rupert Neve connection to FMR:
Mark and Rupert are very good friends and I'm sure Mark gets a lot of good advice from Rupert during the design stages of the FMR equipment. At one point, it was rumored that the RN in "RNC" stood for "Rupert Neve", but it was in fact Mark's design. I believe Rupert approved the final RNC, but as a friend, not as the designer.

I expect the RNMP to be as much of a groundbreaker in preamps as the RNC was in compressors.

[Dolemite]

FMR RNMP:
Mark has been working on this unit for a while and there are protypes out in the field already. It's a unique design and has more in common with the flavor type preamps than it does with neutral sounding preamps. It's been described by one engineer as sounding similar to the old RCA BK-6(?) preamp, even though it doesn't have input or output transformers, as far as I know. If it comes close to that sound (and I have no reason to believe otherwise), it will be a wonderfully warm, yet detailed preamp.

Interesting...everything I had read prior to this said that the RNMP would be a "straight wire with gain" sort of preamp. IMO there are pre's that do this pretty well in this price range (DMP2, even mackie mixers are OK) but there are very few inexpensive colored pre's (that get it right, anyway) so this makes the RNMP a lot more interesting to me.