Does an RNLA & Transparent Mic Pre=RNP sound?

[tateros]

Does this hold any validity? Is there an "FMR sound" associated with the two available colored FMR products, or do the RNP & RNLA produce two different types of distortion?

 

[Big Kenny]

For me the FMR "sound" is like no sound, or stamp, at all. The RNLA has a more pronounced "squash" I guess.

 

[SonicAlbert]

What's this "Transparent Mic Pre" you are referring to?

If you want the sound of the RNP, then you should just get an RNP. Any different combination of gear will have it's own sound.

And any gear will have it's own sound, they all have their signature.

 

[tateros]

For me the FMR "sound" is like no sound, or stamp, at all. The RNLA has a more pronounced "squash" I guess.

According to all the reviews I've read, I'm sure the RNP has a unique, excellent sound.

If you listened to the RNLA & RNP, would you be able to tell they come from the same family or are they different beasts?

I have a Grace 101, which is completely transparent.

My question is, if I used the Grace 101 with the RNLA, would this give me an RNPish quality, or is the RNLA's color entirely different from the RNP?

 

[tateros]

If you want the sound of the RNP, then you should just get an RNP.

I don't know if I want an RNP. What I do know for sure is that I don't want to have two mic pre's, I like my Grace 101 & it would be cool to get an RNP flavor out of the Grace 101 when passed through an RNLA. So if a Grace 101 & an RNLA chain could be mistaken for the sound of an Level amped RNP, then that would be good enough for me.

 

[guitar zero]

I don't know if I want an RNP. What I do know for sure is that I don't want to have two mic pre's, I like my Grace 101 & it would be cool to get an RNP flavor out of the Grace 101 when passed through an RNLA. So if a Grace 101 & an RNLA chain could be mistaken for the sound of an RNP, then that would be good enough for me.

I wouldn't say the RNP has much 'flavor' at all. It's a pretty clean mic pre, just like the Grace 101.

The grace 101 with RNLA compression will sound pretty similar to RNP with RNLA compression. Of all the things mentioned, the closest you'll get to the RNP alone is the Grace alone. At least that's the way I see it.

I'm not sure why you want an RNP sound when you already have a grace 101 which is generally considered a slight step up in quality.

 

[tateros]

the closest you'll get to the RNP alone is the Grace alone. QUOTE]

That's an interesting observation I haven't read anywhere. All reviews say the Grace 101 is transparent & the RNP is colored.

I have read that the Grace 101 is so transparent that it requires a good singer to really make it shine, which I am not. The RNP allegedly adds complementary color to vocals, which is a factor I'd embrace with open arms.

I got the Grace 101 over the RNP simply because it was a good deal. I want to try the RNP eventually, but I also would like to stop spending money on stuff I don't need.

I just purchased an RNLA (another good deal), so I was wondering if what I'm hearing by chaining my Grace 101 with the RNLA is "eerily similar" to an RNP...with less noise, even?

This would be great because it would mean that I wouldn't ever need to try an RNP.

 

[RRuskin]

Does this hold any validity? Is there an "FMR sound" associated with the two available colored FMR products, or do the RNP & RNLA produce two different types of distortion?

No, not in the least.

 

[guitar zero]

That's an interesting observation I haven't read anywhere. All reviews say the Grace 101 is transparent & the RNP is colored.

"All reviews"? What reviews are you talking about. The RNP is a transformerless class A preamp, known for clean sound amplification. If you want color, get a preamp with transformers. I really shouldn't talk about the Grace since I don't own one. I'll just agree that it's well known as a clean pre. I do own the RNP, and to me it has very little color.

I'm still not really sure what you're after. You want the RNLA to make your Grace sound like an RNP? Huh? Is that what you're really saying?

 

[tateros]

"All reviews"? What reviews are you talking about.
I'm still not really sure what you're after. You want the RNLA to make your Grace sound like an RNP? Huh? Is that what you're really saying?

Yes, that's what I was saying. Just like Fender strats have a signature sound, Paiste cymbals have a signature sound, Nord synths, the stradivarius and possibly even Wonder bread has a crappy signature taste to it, I was wondering if the RNLA chained with a wire+gain amp might give me a taste of what the RNP is like. I've gathered that the answer is no.

Clearly I don't know much about recording with quality products, as this is all new to me. All I know is that reading about the RNP led me to believe that it is more than wire+gain, to where the Grace 101 is wire+gain at it's purest, to the point that it's not forgiving of any imperfections it may hear. To me the Grace has a super sweetness to it, but considering I sound completely different depending on the mic used, it's clearly the mic's sweetness I'm hearing. I've never tried any other preamp & only have an AT4050 & a Blue Baby Bottle, so this is my only reference for now.

I'm not alone here on thinking the RNP is colorful, here's a discussion about the RNP's "color".

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=94480

On this review, Harvey Gerst calls the RNP clean, yet extended with lots of iron in it's path. May not be the definition of color, but it's also not as simple as wire+gain to me.

http://www.mojopie.com/rnp.html

This review is even more vague on coloration, calling the RNP warm. Again, not exactly color, but more than wire+gain.

http://emusician.com/mag/quickpick/emusic_fmr_audio/

This review calls it clean with two teaspoons of sugar. That's definitely color.

http://www.atlasproaudio.com/rnplowdown.html

 

[MOFO Pro]

I don't have any answers for you tateros, but I wanted to welcome you to the forum... Excellent job at holding your ground, keeping your patients, and articulating your point... there's a great bunch of informed members here... with a wealth of knowledge, but sometimes the original inquiry doesn't ask the right question...

 

[Supercreep]

To me, the RNP has a midrangey sound that's not particularly "transparent".

 

[Weasel9992]

It's definitely not transparent in the way the Grace 101 preamp is, though it's not colored in the way a Great River or Vintech Pre is.

Frank

 

[Supercreep]

I think the GR's "color" is more subtle than the RNP's. The RNP has more of a distinctive sound to it, at least to my ears.

That said, the GR has gain staging options the RNP doesn't, I suppose it's possible to get pretty hairy pushing on the gain structure.

 

[tc4b]

What I do know for sure is that I don't want to have two mic pre's

Why not? If you record different sources, even different instruments used by the same person, or even backing vox and lead vox, having different pre's can only help.

 

[guitar zero]

I don't have any answers for you tateros, but I wanted to welcome you to the forum... Excellent job at holding your ground, keeping your patients, and articulating your point... there's a great bunch of informed members here... with a wealth of knowledge, but sometimes the original inquiry doesn't ask the right question...

Yes, forgive my manners. I didn't notice at first that these were your first posts here. Welcome.
I'd agree that having more than one pre-amp is a good thing. Right now, I have in the colored camp, Atlas juggernaut, and in the clean camp Buzz Elixir. The RNP I would put in the cleaner category, which is partly why I'm selling it. The elixir has my clean pre covered. Point is, as pointed out by tc4b, having more than one gives you more flexibility in recording different sources.

 

[tateros]

I'd agree that having more than one pre-amp is a good thing.

Thanks for the welcoming, I could read the forums on this site forever. I even logged in on my phone at work today.

I've decided that when I buy another mic pre, it will be an apple to my Grace's orange. Unless the dreaded "good deal" comes my way, of course. Ugh, this will be the end of me.

But first I need to learn how to use what I have.


Thanks all!

 

[tateros]

or even backing vox and lead vox, having different pre's can only help.

Using a different pre for backing vox is a perspective I hadn't considered, although I don't think I can justify an extra $470 pre on a project as simple as my cheesy little songs. I'd rather buy an extra chain link, like the RNC, or a $1000 level Grace replacement. But that's way, way (way) later (if ever).

I have been trying to come up with an excuse to keep both the Baby Bottle and the AT4050 & I hadn't thought about the idea of using one mic for the main vox & the other for the backing track.

I will only be using the mic for my vocals & nothing else. So what I'd really like to do is find what I consider to be the perfect mic/preamp formula for my voice & use it forever. And considering I have never heard my voice through instruments of this caliber until now, I could really flip a coin at this point as to which one is right for me. This stuff sounds phenomenal to me.

 

[MOFO Pro]

This stuff sounds phenomenal to me.

Then honestly... I suggest using "this stuff" until it doesn't anymore... then you'll know just what sound you're looking for...

 

[jarrydee]

the closest you'll get to the RNP alone is the Grace alone. QUOTE]

That's an interesting observation I haven't read anywhere. All reviews say the Grace 101 is transparent & the RNP is colored.

I have read that the Grace 101 is so transparent that it requires a good singer to really make it shine, which I am not. The RNP allegedly adds complementary color to vocals, which is a factor I'd embrace with open arms.

I got the Grace 101 over the RNP simply because it was a good deal. I want to try the RNP eventually, but I also would like to stop spending money on stuff I don't need.

I just purchased an RNLA (another good deal), so I was wondering if what I'm hearing by chaining my Grace 101 with the RNLA is "eerily similar" to an RNP...with less noise, even?

This would be great because it would mean that I wouldn't ever need to try an RNP.

I also have the grace m1o1..so I can tell you..If you want to save money..and if you are using a daw...why buy a compressor? use plugins..there is no need to compress on the way in!!

PS.If you are looking for "A Sound" why would you want FMR's sound anyway...go for UA..or api..something that is known for it's "SOund"