ART PRO VLA vs. FMR RNC

[Diffusion]

In terms of overall quality, which is the best compressor?

 

[Beezoboy]

Well the VLA is nice but loses high end when you do heavier compression. I think it sounds great on guitar and bass. Its only suitable on vocals most of the time. I have also used it as a buss compressor with good results, but I was very careful to have it only lightly, lightly compress. Maybe 1 - 2db of gain reduction.

The RNC on the other hand is the most transparent compressor out there. I would use it on sources like acoustic guitar, vox, and bass. Generally used on sources where you might need heavy compression, but very little of the compressors "sound." Its an awesome compressor, and if I had to buy one first, it would be this one. I would get an ART soon after though.

Beez

 

[Massive Master]

As far as QC? Probably the RNC.

As far as sound quality? Depends on what you're looking for.

 

[tkingen]

I have a RNC and have been considering picking up a PRO VLA simply for the reason that the RNC is unbalanced and the PRO VLA balanced. Sometimes I use a little compression while tracking and have been unhappy with the db loss associated with going from a balanced pre (Brick) into an unbalanced RNC into a Delta 1010. I'm assuming that the db loss happens when going from balanced to unbalanced? Is there any way to correct this?
I do have some reservations about the PRO VLA in that some people have commented on high end loss. Any other comments on this?
Maybe it would make more sense to just track a little quieter and use the ITB compressors.

Terry

 

[Beezoboy]

As far as the one DB loss goes, the RNC does have make up gain. So why not use it to make up that extra 1 DB. I am not familiar with The Brick, but does it have an insert? That would allow the signal to come out balanced.

Unbalanced out is not *that big a deal* in my opinion. I had it hooked to patch bays and never had a problem even with all the extra cabling.

The ART high end loss is only when using a lower threshold (like say -10 or -15) and with compression above 4:1. Truthfully, the RNC can have high end loss at lower threshold settings too. Its really more about setup with that comp. Its just requitres a little more tweaking too. Also I hear getting better quality tubes opens it up a bit. I am soon going to put some Mullards in mine. Its a 12au7 or 12at7. I can't remember which right now.

My suggestion is that either would be good. Its just that the RNC is a little easier to "set and forget." I ONLY chose to get rid of my RNC because it was in a Funklogic rack with an RNP and I wanted to get some other stuff at the time and had a ton of other compressors.

Beez

 

[mr.rich]

i have both and both have roles which i prefer them for. rnc seems to work well for me on most and fills the role of tansparant comp alot of the time but sometimes just seems bland. i often like the darker tone that the vla will once it gets going but sometimes i can get the thing pumping more than i want ( no real adjustable attack or release). a dbx 160 is another fine fairly inexpesive comp.

 

[tkingen]

As far as the one DB loss goes, the RNC does have make up gain. So why not use it to make up that extra 1 DB. I am not familiar with The Brick, but does it have an insert? That would allow the signal to come out balanced.

Unbalanced out is not *that big a deal* in my opinion. I had it hooked to patch bays and never had a problem even with all the extra cabling.

The ART high end loss is only when using a lower threshold (like say -10 or -15) and with compression above 4:1. Truthfully, the RNC can have high end loss at lower threshold settings too. Its really more about setup with that comp. Its just requitres a little more tweaking too. Also I hear getting better quality tubes opens it up a bit. I am soon going to put some Mullards in mine. Its a 12au7 or 12at7. I can't remember which right now.

My suggestion is that either would be good. Its just that the RNC is a little easier to "set and forget." I ONLY chose to get rid of my RNC because it was in a Funklogic rack with an RNP and I wanted to get some other stuff at the time and had a ton of other compressors.

Beez

Thanks for the further explanation. On the make up gain deal, I think the gain difference is actually in the area of 5 or 6db (in bypass mode). That makes it a little more challenging to a/b compressed vs uncompressed.

Thought I should edit this post and give a clearer explantion. If the balanced Brick is run directly into the Delta1010 you get a certain gain structure. Now, if you place the unbalanced RNC between the Brick and Delta 1010, with the RNC in bypass mode, there is a noticable drop in gain. This is what is bothering me.

Terry

 

[ROblows]

I still remember the first time I ever used an RNC. At the time, I had a lot of experience with a wide variety of compressors and figured I pretty much knew what compression sounded like. I strapped the RNC across a channel (can't remember if it was 2-buss or just an acoustic guitar track), put it in "supernice" mode with the knobs pretty much all at 12:00, and I listened. I thought it wasn't working. Then I looked at the meters on the tape deck and they were barely moving, when moments prior they had been jumping all over the place. Then I heard it. It was like a revelation. I was listening for the obvious pumping and breathing that I knew as the signature sound of compression. But there was none of it. The dynamic range was reducing in a very pleasent way, but it wasn't the least bit "in your face". What I thought of as the sound of compression, was the sound of nasty and unnessesary artifacts. The RNC was giving me none of that.

Of course, if you take "supernice" off, the RNC can get much more "in your face", but if you're looking for transparent compression, there's nothing that matches the RNC anywhere near that pricepoint.

On the other hand, if you want "down and dirty", the RNC will do it, but so will a lot of other things. Those old Ashly units can get pretty gnarly and they go for about $50 on E-Bay.

 

[tmix]

I have both also

I love them both, they ARE different animals though.
I prefer tha VLA on Bass guitar and drums as well as Electric guitars. I like the transparency of the RNC on more acoustic oriented stuff.
I also like the Joe Meek MQ3 on Bass because it is an opto based compressor as well with EQ.

If you don't push the VLA (or with any compressor) too hard you wont lose any highs.I liked the VLA so much I bought 2.

 

[tkingen]

Here's an answer I got from posting on another forum:

Yep - normally the '-' copy of the signal in a balanced line is 'flipped' and added back in with the '+' wire signal; but when connecting the balanced out of the Brick to the unbalanced in of the RNC, you're only getting the '+' wire signal - without the '-' wire signal added to it, it will result in a 6 dB lower level. Not much to do about it, other than turning up the output level of the pre to compensate.


I remember Fletcher mentioning this in the past in regards to the RNC. So, the Brick supplies gain of up to 55db. With an unbalanced box hooked up in line that knocks it down to only 49db.

Terry

 

[earworm]

i got an additional question:

if you connect any compressor, lets say the VLA to the inserts of a mixer, then an unbalanced signal is going trough it, right? inserts are unbalanced if i'm correct?
so connecting a VLA or a RNC on an insert bus won't give any difference in loosing gain, right? the unbalanced-issue only gets noticed if you use the rnc directly after lets say the (direct)outputs of a mixer,soundcard,...

or am i wrong?

 

[tkingen]

i got an additional question:

if you connect any compressor, lets say the VLA to the inserts of a mixer, then an unbalanced signal is going trough it, right? inserts are unbalanced if i'm correct?
so connecting a VLA or a RNC on an insert bus won't give any difference in loosing gain, right? the unbalanced-issue only gets noticed if you use the rnc directly after lets say the (direct)outputs of a mixer,soundcard,...

or am i wrong?

I think you're right, but I could be wrong.

Terry

 

[pdadda]

I currently just use the Classic Compressor from Kjaerhus audio. It seems pretty good to me. I am trying to get more outboard gear because I hate doing everything with a mouse. Fricking carpel tunnel!