RNC 1773 setup

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Eldahid

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Hi! I just bought a RNC 1773 that I am trying to integrate with my TEAC setup (TEAC A3440 Reel to reel and TEAC Model 2A mixer). But I have absolutely no idea how to use a compressor. I mean, I know how they work in a PC setup but I have no experience with the real ones.
Is it possible to hook it up to this setup or do I need something more? I tried to connect it to the A-3440 encoder inputs (send and rcv) and there is sound going through it but it doesn´t do anything particular besides noise.
As I said, I have not idea how these things are supposed to be connected so I would appreciate if someone could describe it to me in detail.

Please!
 
I'm not an expert on the things either, but there are AFAIK two basic ways they can be used. You can apply compression to a single instrument, e.g. during recording, or you can apply bus compression to the entire mix.

For bus compression, you would put the RNC between the mixer and the PC or whatever you're using to record the final stereo mix.
e.g.

4-track -> mixing desk -> bus compressor -> stereo master recorder

As a rule it's best to go easy on bus compression because if you add too much it will sound weird, and while you can add more afterwards, you can't take it away again if you overdo it.

The other way is to connect it between the instrument and the multitrack. e.g.

Microphone -> Compressor -> 4-track

If you're using some kind of mixing desk in front of the 4-track, to add eq or the like while recording, you can often use the Insert section with the right cable to insert the compressor into the signal chain at that point. The Insert requires a special kind of lead because it uses a stereo jack, with the output signal on one channel and the return signal on the other.

The other way is to physically plug the microphone or guitar into the compressor, and then plug the compressor into the mixing desk or recorder or whatever. But that will mean a certain amount of re-patching if you want to change things around (EDIT: And it may need an external preamp to power the microphone if it uses Phantom Power). I ended up buying several, so that I have a dedicated stereo compressor for the final mix, a compressor/DI for bass, another one for the vocals and so on. A lot of it depends on how your system is set up.

Hope that helps...
 
Thanks for the input!

My intention was to have the compressor at the end, before my master tape recorder and the speakers.

Instruments and Microphones > Mixer > A3440 4-track tape recorder > PC (NI audio 10 soundcard)> COMPRESSOR > Revox A700 Master Tape recorder > Speakers
But I can´t get the compressor to work properly. It only work as bypass with tiny distortion added to it. I have a soundcard with only RCA outputs. What kind of cables do I need to connect that soundcard to the RNC Compressor?

I´m also confused cause the LEDs on the compressor doesn´t match the signal added into it, they are fixed and only changing when I turn the ratio knob. They are supposed to work as a VU-meter, aren´t they.
I bought the RNC second hand from a trusted dealer in Stockholm and the DC-adapter they gave me didn´t work at all so I took another 9V adapter with the right mA. I mean the unit lights up but it doesn´t seem to do much.
Could the adapter be the reason it doesnt work?

I'm very confused.
 
Eldahid said:
I can´t get the compressor to work properly. It only work as bypass with tiny distortion added to it. I have a soundcard with only RCA outputs. What kind of cables do I need to connect that soundcard to the RNC Compressor?
Click to expand...

I don't have an RNC myself, but it seems to need 1/4" jacks. I'm not sure why you've run things through the PC but that's beside the point - you'd need a stereo 1/4" to RCA cable to go from the PC into the compressor, and most likely another one the same to go from the compressor into the A700 (I'm assuming it's like the B77 and uses RCA line in).

I´m also confused cause the LEDs on the compressor doesn´t match the signal added into it, they are fixed and only changing when I turn the ratio knob. They are supposed to work as a VU-meter, aren´t they.
Click to expand...

Right. A compressor has several things it can display - the input level, the output level, or the amount of compression being applied. The old MDX2100 I used to use has two LED ladders, for gain reduction and output level, the TL Audio ones usually have a switch to select what the meter is showing.
On the RNC, there seems to be just one display, and it always shows the amount of compression (i.e. gain reduction) being applied, not the signal level.
If you turn the Threshold knob down you will probably see it light up earlier. If so, the actual compressor part of it is working okay. I would also suggest turning the ratio down to begin with, since it's possible it's wiping out the signal by compressing it to oblivion. Note also that the compression circuit will generally reduce the volume anyway - the last control is usually some kind of makeup gain knob to restore the volume.

Hopefully that should get you going, unless the thing actually is faulty - I have no experience with the RNC units myself, I'm afraid.
 
I can't believe how many people buy gear without knowing anything about what they are buying, what it does, how they are going to plug it into their set up, etc, etc.

The RNC is a great compressor, you put a line level signal in and out comes a line level signal with the amount of compression that you dial up.

Now if you want to use it on an incoming signal from the recorder, you take that buss channels send (on the back of the mixer, "access") and send it to the compressor, and the return from the compressor plugs into the return plug (access) on the back of the mixer.

Alan.
 
Thanks guys! It's wonderful to know people wants to help out even if one ask stupid questions!
I have solved one of the problems. They actually gave me an inappropriate power supply. I bought a new one today and now all LEDs and the meter acts more reasonable. Knowing that, it should not be that hard to configure. I thought it was acting weird because of my cables, connections etc but I should be glad I didn't fried it with a DC adapter. Now when I know the error I can use it as I intended to do.
Bless!
 
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