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I have to say I am leery about something so "affordable", but it seems to get a lot of positive reviews so I guess I'll give it a try. |
blueboy wrote on Sat, 17 June 2006 13:07 |
What I'm hearing with the RNC is kind of like going from brand new strings to month old strings the instant that I switch it in (even without any compression). |
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the problem is that it seems to filter most of the harmonic richness that I paid for recently with my Rode K2 and GT Brick |
xonlocust wrote on Tue, 20 June 2006 10:04 |
blueboy - i've noticed the same thing with my RNCs, i've thought it was sort of like putting piece of gauze over the signal. they still definitely get use, but aren't always my first choice. of the stuff i've used and like that you might look into: - dbx 160x (probably in your budget) - valley dynamite (probably in your budget) - urei LA-4 (a little more) - manley elop (probably too expensive) they all have thier own character, but i don't find any of them putting the "gauze" i feel w/the RNC. |
xonlocust wrote on Tue, 20 June 2006 10:04 |
blueboy - i've noticed the same thing with my RNCs, i've thought it was sort of like putting piece of gauze over the signal. |
hargerst wrote on Wed, 28 June 2006 13:43 |
Okay, I just got off the phone with Mark McQ about this. If you hear it with bypass in, there's something wrong with your cabling or terminating equipment; the RNC is hardwired in bypass mode. He did say that if your next piece of gear is designed for 600 ohm sources, that can roll off the top end, but it ain't the RNC's fault - it's flat out to beyond 100 KHz (down 0.5 dB @ 120 KHz). If you're having problems with the RNC, he asked that you call him and he'll do his best to solve the problem. |
blueboy wrote on Thu, 29 June 2006 23:19 |
As mentioned above, I was coming out of the Brick using the proper cabling into the RNC, then out to an EMU 1820M. Does it sound like I may be overlooking something? JL |
hargerst wrote on Thu, 06 July 2006 17:19 |
So, what happens when you run this signal from the Brick (with it's added asymmetrical distortion) into the RNC? The RNC basically quotes Shaksphere, and says in effect, "Out, damn Spot", and makes the signal linear again. "But" you say, "I like the distortion (or 'rich harmonics')". "Isn't there a way to keep them?" Maybe, I don't know for sure, but the RNC isn't the soul problem here; you're running an effects generator when you're using the Brick in this particular range, and the RNC (thinking the incoming signal has a problem) is cleaning up the problem it perceives. |
hargerst wrote on Thu, 06 July 2006 17:19 |
Asymmetrical distortion is one of those distortions and Mark has a pot inside the RNC that he hand trims on each unit to reduce asymmetrical distortion in the RNC. |
Andy Peters wrote on Mon, 10 July 2006 16:55 | ||
I haven't opened up an RNC to see what's inside, so I'll guess that they use a THAT VCA. Is the pot you mention the symmetry trim pot recommended by THAT on their 2181 VCA data sheet? Seems to me that every manufacturer using this device has to trim it (or use the laser-trimmed 2181 part). IOW: whoop-de-do. -a |
rankus wrote on Tue, 27 June 2006 18:38 | ||
This was my experience with the rNC as well. I could hear a definite loss of harmonic content in the signal even in bypass. I had taken one to try and returned it the next day... then took my old DBX 160 in for repair and never looked back. (note the DBX's are a little "grainy" but I kind of like that.) I even tried one of the newer DBX multi channel (1060?) units and it went back in mere minutes... They just don't make em like they used to. Get an older unit IE: the "160x" EDIT: It appears that I may be mistaken about this unit... Please ignore my post, and see Harvey and my comments below... |
hargerst wrote on Mon, 10 July 2006 14:59 | ||||
Yes, Mark hand trims all RNC's before they get packed up. |
Vertigo wrote on Fri, 14 July 2006 10:33 |
Yes, you're all correct - the RNC is terrible. You'd be better off buying a DBX or a Behringer and contributing your RNC to my non-profit shelter for wayward comps. PM me for the address. -Lance |
Trumpetman2 wrote on Fri, 14 July 2006 10:37 |
I just picked up a Yamaha GC 2020C and it is so much better than the RNC it isn't funny. |
blueboy wrote on Sat, 17 June 2006 02:48 |
People are going to start thinking that I am an audio snob (which I'm not), but I just picked the RNC up and unfortunately it's not going to work for me. I really wanted to like the RNC as I felt that it would lessen the DSP used on critical tracks like vocals and leave them a little more natural sounding. While I like the basic sound of the compression this unit offers, the problem is that it seems to filter most of the harmonic richness that I paid for recently with my Rode K2 and GT Brick. It's not bad sounding by any means, but it doesn't preserve the qualities I'm listening for in comparison to using a good quality plugin (or several plugins) after tracking. My engineering skills probably don't deserve better at this point, but if I can't get my mixes to sound the way I want yet, I want to at least make sure that I have the best quality source tracks to work with until I improve. I'm really bummed about this. I hate to ask, but what is the next step up in quality in compressors that will take me to an equivalent level that the GT Brick is at (i.e. no fancy features, just good "harmonically rich" sound at a reasonable price)? Thanks again for all the input, I appreciate it, but I guess my personal expectations were too expensive for my budget. JL |
blueboy wrote on Fri, 16 June 2006 21:48 |
While I like the basic sound of the compression this unit offers, the problem is that it seems to filter most of the harmonic richness that I paid for recently with my Rode K2 and GT Brick. ...I hate to ask, but what is the next step up in quality in compressors that will take me to an equivalent level that the GT Brick is at (i.e. no fancy features, just good "harmonically rich" sound at a reasonable price)? |
compasspnt wrote on Fri, 08 September 2006 10:42 |
There really is a "missing link" out there, as compressors go. ... I would love to find a way to build a really good valve one at a low cost though... |
compasspnt wrote on Fri, 08 September 2006 18:42 | ||
Hi Jeff, The more I think about this, the more it seems you are right. There really is a "missing link" out there, as compressors go. Both the K2 and The Brick do give a higher level of sound quality than you have a right to expect for the cost. But so far I haven't seen a compressor that does so, in a reasonable price range. There may be one, but I don't know of it. And I'm also afraid that my very first response to your first post is really holding true. As we do build our own tube compressors here, and use them every day, on every session, I am very familiar with the sound I like, with what goes inside of them, and with what those materials cost. I would love to find a way to build a really good valve one at a low cost though... |
Bill Urick wrote on Sun, 10 September 2006 23:31 |
Terry, Would you be willing to share any info on the compressors you are building? |
Trumpetman2 wrote on Wed, 12 July 2006 04:52 |
So, does anyone else have a Yamaha compressor they love...? |
Trumpetman2 wrote on Mon, 18 September 2006 07:31 |
so what do you think..? is it more "usable" than the RNC? |
TB-AV wrote on Mon, 05 February 2007 13:27 |
I'm not doubting your results so please don't take my question that way, but since you recapped your entire studio, is there a chance the change you heard was from other areas in the signal chain? If not, and you feel certain you have removed that veil by the caps, can you describe the difficulty in doing so. I have never had the cover off. Is it a pretty straight forward / easy replacement? TB |
hargerst wrote on Tue, 06 February 2007 12:14 |
No, it's strictly a problem with specific asymmetrical wave forms that are nulled out in the DSP processing of the RNC. And it's not a problem with the Brick, unless the gain control is set to around 2 to 3 o'clock. |
zekmoe wrote on Thu, 15 March 2007 09:20 |
Harvey, have you used the RNC with a Soundtracs Topaz24? I wanted to get one or two for use and wondered if there was any issue or compatibility in this setup. Thanks |
johnR wrote on Wed, 11 April 2007 13:12 |
BTW any other compressor that uses a properly trimmed Blackmer VCA is likely to cause the same problem (dbx anyone?). |
hargerst wrote on Fri, 06 April 2007 08:51 |
According to Mark, the problem occurs only when the Brick's gain is set to around 2 to 3 o'clock, where the output wave becomes asymmetrical. Other settings on the Brick do not cause the problem. |