Blue Max or RNC?

A

Abbott

New member
My band is ready to buy a compressor. It would probably be used mostly for bass, maybe kick drum, vocals, possibly guitars. I have never used a compressor before and we are only recording on a Tascam 414 portastudio. I realize that the RNC is probably a technically better compressor, but i like the fact that the blue max has presets for instrument AND source material. So, would the RNC really be that much better to get than the Blue Max or would the blue max be better fitting for the apps?
Also, i don't know if this matters, but i have a blue tube...
 
I've no experience with the BlueMax but I do have a couple of the RNCs. They're a very serious compressor IMHO. Everything from transparent compression to severe squashing.
 
I have both the Blue Max and the RNC, and have used each of them on
my vocals and instrumental backing tracks.
Objectively, the RNC is superior in the sense of flexibilty and sonic
transparency. This would become more of a factor especially if and when
the band starts using a higher fidelity medium than the cassette
multitrack you're presently using. If you value convenience more, and
you're mainly using the 414 as a sketchpad you could start with the
Blue Max, and always add the RNC later. The Blue Max's sound quality
is quite good-just not on the level of the RNC.
The 414 was my first 4 track, and it's certainly capable of making nice
demos BTW. Just remember it's mainly the song and the performance
that count, not relative gear differences!
 
I'd go with the RNCs. Never used/heard the BlueMax, but I can't imagine the presets being useful.
-I never use the same settings twice, they're completely dependent on the specific source material.
-Using the presets will prevent you from properly learning about compression and the individual parameters involved

Good luck!
 
The Blue Max does offer the presets that takes the guesswork out of compressing different instruments. But I would have to give the edge to the RNC. After all I haven seen another compressor get so many accolades.
 
Should you choose to go with the RNC, by ordering it through
www.mercenary.com you'll get double the standard warranty=2 yrs.
The best price I've seen for the Blue Max is about $140 at Guitar Center.
Whichever one you pick, you should get good results on the 414,
especially if you clean the recording "heads" EVERY time before you
record! Best of luck....
 
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