Which Compressor

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoeyPazera
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MOFO Pro said:
I don't own an RNC... but I thought I read on another thread that the attack was too slow for drums... was actually clicking on fast transients...
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That was my thread and the RNC does produce clicks at certain settings on fast successive transients. After much fiddling and looking at the audio waveforms, it became apparent that the problem is not with the attack but that the RELEASE time is WAY too slow to recover from those transients properly. When it pulls the transient down, it holds the body of the sound down with it. The result sounds like a click, because it's actually sort of punching a hole in the envelope. RNC is fine for drums at conservative settings, but it's useless for limiting transient peaks and maintaining a good drum sound. I expect this is true of all budget compressors.
 
thanks alot guys, that helped me out, i am going to look at thie RNC right now!
 
Gamelan said:
That was my thread and the RNC does produce clicks at certain settings on fast successive transients. After much fiddling and looking at the audio waveforms, it became apparent that the problem is not with the attack but that the RELEASE time is WAY too slow to recover from those transients properly. When it pulls the transient down, it holds the body of the sound down with it. The result sounds like a click, because it's actually sort of punching a hole in the envelope. RNC is fine for drums at conservative settings, but it's useless for limiting transient peaks and maintaining a good drum sound. I expect this is true of all budget compressors.
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Not my experience at all, I am able to release in plenty of time to save the entire drum tone without squashing it
 
Big Kenny said:
Not my experience at all, I am able to release in plenty of time to save the entire drum tone without squashing it
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I plan on getting an RNC soonish. Since this sounds like it may be a problem, what type of settings are you using? Obviously it won't necessarily work for all, but just to get a ballpark idea since I'm going to be using a compressor for the first time when I get it...
 
the alesis will do the job, bottom line. I like mine just fine I don't use it a ton, but when I do it works fine. I mean I record through some noisy ass preamps so some noisy comp doen't make much of a difference. I also liked it better than my dbx project 1 (low end model). However, on the same note I will soon be purhasing a pair of the RNC''s

Definetly buy the Alesis over the Behringer though. If you shop ebay it'll save you at least $20-$40.
 
I can't say bad about the RNC because I may want one at some point, maybe not. But drums, compression..... :confused: A no-brainer....JOEMEEK is what you want if you do rock or a variation of it.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
The RNC has one of the fastest attacks of any compressor made - almost too fast for a lot of things. Fortunately, it's got a nice attack range control.
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Well... If you're going to get spanked... it might as well be by the best... :o

So much for what I thought I read... Attack... Release... whatever :D

And no disrepect Harvey... you the man...
 
Kenny, from reading / searching etc about the dbx's the 160a is supposed to be the best offering in current production(budget range). Care to share what you like about it? I have a RNC and a PRO VLA.
Does the 160a have color to it? What are the advantages compared to the RNC?
thanks
T
Big Kenny said:
dbx 160A is also very nice and can be had for around $250 on the bay
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With a UAD-1 card you can get almost perfect emulations of top compressors like the 1176 and LA2A for half the price of second had RNCs & dbxs.

Granted, the rack doesn't look quite to full, but these plugs sound really good
 
Joey, are you just starting in recording? I'm just curious. I am even though I've owned N-Track for almost 2 years. I've been considering buying a compressor as well but found that for my inexperienced ears, the software compressor that comes with N-Track (there are two actually), works fine.

My setup is extremely modest compared to those in the know here (as is my ability and knowledge :)).

If I can find a good deal on the RNC I may get it but for the time being I'm going to decide on a drum package (either JamStix or some kind of loops CD) and call it a day. Once my M-Audio B5Xa's arrive, I'll be good to go.

Good luck.

Dave
 
Big Kenny said:
Why do you think a 1066 is any higher on the food chain than a 160A?
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I have no experience of that model (160A) so I wouldn't know. I know that the 1066 doesn't work for me on drum tracking. Just trying to help rule that one out Kenny.


Later
 
I'm telling you, at least look into joemeek products. If you find it is not your cup of tea, fine. I love my joemeek products, that's why I keep buying them. BTW, thanks B-52...the VC3 arrived safely. :) :) :)

joemeek may not be the most versatile, most transparent compression, and actually probably to the contrary, but what they do, they do fantastic. Especially on drums.
 
You may want to try to find a used presonus bluemax on ebay. They are pretty affordable, easy to use and get a great sound on kick drum and snare
 
I can't tell you any opinions about the dbx 266xl based on experience because I haven't used one yet (I'll know in a few days). I can share some of the research I've done. The RNC is probably the fave or at least the most respected in it's price range. Sonic Albert, Fraser Hutch, and heck even Harvey Gerst have expressed that the RNC is more versatile, transparent, and clean. I've heard people say the DBX is good for bass guitar, and I've also heard them say it's good on drums. A user by the name of Falken swears by the 166xl and 266xl Dbx compressors. I've heard that both the RNC and the DBX suck out tone and then I've heard that neither do. Supposedly the RNC is pretty much an all around compressor with an arguable weakness on bass guitar.

When it comes down to choosing unfortunately it's hit or miss on which one you will like more, then again it also comes down to what you yourself need out of your compressor. If you have access to try out the DBX units go for it. If I don't like mine it's getting sold for an RNC.
 
Definately go with the ALESIS! I own both and I actually use the Alesis once in a while, the Behringer is junk, I never use it.
 
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