RNC..funny noise

[A1A2]

I have had my RNC for quite awhile now, and have just realized this weird noise when setting the threshold too low. Let me describe the funny noise first. Kinda like distinct delays, or perhaps, I can hear the volum moving up and down so fast that it sounds like distortion. Does that make any sense?

Everything works fine until the gain deduction gets over 6-10 db, then things gets a little funky. Is this normal? I probably will never end up compressing that hard, but gotta double my baby's health

Thanks in advance,

AL

 

[tubedude]

Sounds like its pumping or "breathing". Can be a cool effect for some things, and can be heard on big name albums as far back as the Beatles...

 

[A1A2]

tubedude:

I thought it could be just breathing, too. But, if you will (or anyone), please take a listen at this and tell me if this is how breathing on RNC is supposed to sound like cuz it's pretty nasty as far as I know...

Thanks

"RNC Sample"

www.nowhereradio.com/a1a2/singles

Note:

chain: Fender Bass>Joemeek>Delta66 with RNC inserted
First 4 notes and last note, RNC bypassed
Attack&Release: fastest
Threshold: slowly going from 0 to -20db

AL

 

[tmix]

Don't worry!

A1A2,
What you hear is very,very typical of many compressors when a Bass guitar is run through it with a relatively fast attack time.
The Bass frequencies are so large (as a waveform) that the compressor input sensor that triggers the compressor sees the different waves as a new input source to clamp down on thus making it retrigger over and over and over(you get the idea) which sets up a form of distortion that you are hearing. the only way to get away from it is to reduce the attack time or find a way to split the frequencies (using a 2 way crossover) and the mash the crap out of the higher frequencies but leave the lower ones alone then re sum them . There are some inherent problems with phase issues when summed because of the potential delays running through the compressor but if you only limit the higher frequencies it can be minimal.
I am sure different types of compressors (optical,tube,etc.) handle this situation differently, obviously there are great comps out there for bass guitar maybe someone else can bark out a few models.

tmix

 

[A1A2]

Hey, tmix

Thanks alot, man. That certainly makes me feel better. Yeah, the Meek(opt) handles bass just fine, and that's what got me worried when comparing RNC to Meek.
I will do some test with different instruments with RNC just to make sure everything is fine. But, I sure feel better now, THANKS!


AL

 

[tmix]

You Bet!

Yeah,
I love my RNC, it is great for vocals and guitar and such. The one thing I omitted from my first post is that the distortion is a result of both a fast attack AND release time. The fast attack might be appropriate but you would probably then have to lengthen the release time. The RNC works OK on bass if hit lightly. I personally would love to know of a resonably inexpensive comp that I can dedicate to bass where I can mash it hard without all the distortion.

 

[maestro_dmc]

The Bass frequencies are so large (as a waveform) that the compressor input sensor that triggers the compressor sees the different waves as a new input source to clamp down on thus making it retrigger over and over and over(you get the idea) which sets up a form of distortion that you are hearing.

How informative! This happens to me when I run my bass through my Alesis 3630, but until now I had just assumed that it was because the 3630 was a piece of crap.

Which it is don't get me wrong!

I just recorded bass last night direct out of a Carvin Bass head (150H i think, it's an older model) and it sounds pretty sweet for the most part, although I even got a little bit of the same effect a couple of times from the compressor in it! Oh well it was still usable.