RNP vs. The Brick

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Slowjett

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I did a search but nothing came up specifically relating to these two.

Which do you preffer and why? Have you heard both? I know this is 2 chan vs. 1, but I need a decend pre and would love to have something that sounds more exensive thanit is. =] I am doing acoustic based singer songwriter rock type of stuff.. Heres a sample of my music to get an idea.



I want somethign smooth and well I know 'warm' is a generic term.. But thats the idea. Your thoughts?

Thank you!
Josh
 
I've heard that the RNP isn't as good on bass. I just used the Brick on bass on a recent studio session and it was the best bass tone I've ever gotten in the studio.
 
If you can swing 200 more bucks the DAV BG-1 is the best preI have ever used, and I own 2-3,000 dollar pres..it smokes them. 700 bucks..2 channels..Has a lower noise floor than my millennia, and really, just is an awesome box..David Gilmour, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mark Knopfler , etc..all use them...
do a search on gearslutz...
www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=63297

Slowjett said:
I did a search but nothing came up specifically relating to these two.

Which do you preffer and why? Have you heard both? I know this is 2 chan vs. 1, but I need a decend pre and would love to have something that sounds more exensive thanit is. =] I am doing acoustic based singer songwriter rock type of stuff.. Heres a sample of my music to get an idea.



I want somethign smooth and well I know 'warm' is a generic term.. But thats the idea. Your thoughts?

Thank you!
Josh
Click to expand...
 
DC-XPL said:
I've heard that the RNP isn't as good on bass. I just used the Brick on bass on a recent studio session and it was the best bass tone I've ever gotten in the studio.
Click to expand...
Geez, if you're going to pass around 3rd party info, at least get the unit right - that's the RNC they're talking about.
 
BigRay said:
If you can swing 200 more bucks the DAV BG-1 is the best preI have ever used, and I own 2-3,000 dollar pres..it smokes them. 700 bucks..2 channels..Has a lower noise floor than my millennia, and really, just is an awesome box..David Gilmour, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mark Knopfler , etc..all use them...
do a search on gearslutz...
www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=63297
Click to expand...
Don't EVER buy a unit without trying it first, or ensuring that you can return it.
 
fraserhutch said:
Don't EVER buy a unit without trying it first, or ensuring that you can return it.
Click to expand...

Not possible with that unit..

everyone I have met that has one loves it...including those who bought it without trying it...wait..that was all of us. sometimes reputation is a good indicator...and you cant try out "everything"...I know this,living in Europe. im sure you wont have a hard time trying out RNPs or Maudios, pres of that Ilk..millions of those around. With others, it just isnt possible.
Teddy
 
fraserhutch said:
Geez, if you're going to pass around 3rd party info, at least get the unit right - that's the RNC they're talking about.
Click to expand...

I know what you are talking about, the Really Nice Compressor has a reputation for not being the greatest when dealing with bass or kick drums, while the Really Nice PreAmp doesn't have that stigma.

To be fair though, you really don't hear people talking about how they LOVE using the RNP on basses. I mean, I'm sure it can do an adequete job, but it really isn't a prefered pre for bass guitar. Or maybe better to say, that is not one of it's strengths.

On the other hand, you'll come across a LOT of people talking about how they love the sound of their bass run through The Brick. That IS an area of strength for the Brick.

So in a way, DC-XPL's statement was acurate... from a certain point of view (as Obi-Wan Kenobi would say) ... just not very clear. Don't be too harsh on him. :-)
 
TommyJ1112 said:
To be fair though, you really don't hear people talking about how they LOVE using the RNP on basses. I mean, I'm sure it can do an adequete job, but it really isn't a prefered pre for bass guitar. Or maybe better to say, that is not one of it's strengths.
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Also, to be fair, this says nothing about how the mic pres sound, just what you heard someone said (or didn't say) about the DIs in them.

You could also point to the numerous threads saying as a mic pre, the Brick is so-so, and the RNP rocks. And the other way round.

It's all basically crap, unless you try it for yourself. :p
 
Yup, very true, Boingoman.

Especially if you are trying to compare these two particular items. I mean, the RNP and The Brick have very different personalities.

And you're right, I didn't say anything about how these pre's sound, nor however did I try to make any sort of value judgement on them or claim one to be better than the other.

And when I was refering to statements made by other people, I only tried to point out some of the generalizations that people tend to make about these two pre's. People who really like their RNPs most often talk about its "cleaness" or "clarity" and often mention liking it on accoustic guitars, voice, drum overheards, and such. People who really like their Bricks most often talk about it adding a little tube "warmth" to their vocals or talk about using it as a DI for bass.

But like I said, those are just vague over-generalizations, but they come up often enough, and consistantly enough. Beyond that, like you said, you really just need to listen to them and see what you like best. Everyone's taste's and ears are different.

Personally, I have, and like, both of them (other pre's too of course). They are different colors to paint with. Which one I use depends on the source itself, the mic I choose, and the type of sound I'm looking for on a given track.
 
Slowjett said:
I did a search but nothing came up specifically relating to these two.

Which do you preffer and why? Have you heard both? I know this is 2 chan vs. 1, but I need a decend pre and would love to have something that sounds more exensive thanit is. =] I am doing acoustic based singer songwriter rock type of stuff.. Heres a sample of my music to get an idea.



I want somethign smooth and well I know 'warm' is a generic term.. But thats the idea. Your thoughts?

Thank you!
Josh
Click to expand...

I have both preamps, and I would not part with either one of them, even after purchasing my ADL600, which has, for some reason, become my go-to preamp for most things now. :rolleyes:

...Anywho, if I was in your place and wanted something "smooth" which also works as a great bass DI, I'd personally choose the Brick. If I wanted something that was more "realistic" and "uncolored" (which is generally preferred for tracking acoustic guitars) I'd go with the RNP. I personally found that the acoustic guitar tracks I recorded with the brick sounded very nice outside of a mix, but got a bit lost in the mix when I added them to a multitrack project.

As always, YMMV.

-mr moon

EDIT: Spelling
 
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i would agree . the RNP is an great sounding preamp for the price. it will stack up a lot better than the brick. you also would not have to worry about changing the three tubes after so many years.
 
TommyJ1112 said:
And when I was refering to statements made by other people, I only tried to point out some of the generalizations that people tend to make about these two pre's. People who really like their RNPs most often talk about its "cleaness" or "clarity" and often mention liking it on accoustic guitars, voice, drum overheards, and such. People who really like their Bricks most often talk about it adding a little tube "warmth" to their vocals or talk about using it as a DI for bass.

Personally, I have, and like, both of them (other pre's too of course). They are different colors to paint with. Which one I use depends on the source itself, the mic I choose, and the type of sound I'm looking for on a given track.
Click to expand...

See, in my mind, the fact that you own both at least gives your comparisons some weight. I like it when people say that up front, for just that reason. If you had said that at first, I wouldn't have thought twice about what you posted, except now I find it even odder that you own both and didn't have anything to say about them, except how they work as bass DIs. :p

Happy trails.
 
What are your thought of using them on voices?. And also, knowing that the RNP is 230$/channel vs Brick's 400$/channel... I suposse there must be something.... :eek:
 
In your shoes I'd probably go for the RNP.


I have the DAV and the RNP but I think I like the RNP better for vocals so far.


The Brick, although I don't have one and don't plan to, seems slightly less versatile.

I also think that if a pre is worth having, it's worth having in stereo - so there's that. But if you're not going to be recording overheads or stereo acoustic guitars or anything you may like the Brick better.

Truthfully, I think you'll probably be satisfied with whatever you decide. We're talking about very subtle differences here.
 
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