Best budget analog compressors: FMR Audio RNC RNLA comparison test
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2016
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Bass: 2.50
Drums: 4.30
RNLA Drums: 5.20
RNC Drums: 8.45
Vocals: 12.11
In this video a direct comparison between two of the best budget compressors on the market, the FMR audio RNC 1773 Really Nice Compressor and the RNLA 7239 Really Nice Leveling Amplifier,
one transparent and one colored.
With audio examples on drums, bass and vocals David compares the two little compressors with the same settings and then plays with them to show the different characteristics of these two famous budget compressors.
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Thank you for another great video. I've been trying to find good demos of the RNC and this is by far the best.
This is the best review of RNC on youtube! I have FMR´s preamp and I´m thinking of getting RNC next. This helps a lot!
These units kick a$$!! I've used them many times recording live & they always deliver with consistent results
Thanks for making this video. I can tell you know exactly what you are talking about. The RNC has been undefeated since the first time I used it. I have three RNC's that I use together in my multi-band compressor scheme for mastering. I prefer over my Focusrite Mix Master MB compressor. I have owned over 30 compressors, but nothing compares to the RNC. Get one ASAP...
My RNC doesn't get enough use, always afraid to push it in "super nice mode" but this video changed that. Thank you!
Yeah nice. Your video has convinced me to buy both. Just bought a sub phatty, that's gonna sound well nice running through these. Thanks for posting.
Great explanation of really nice mode. Just ordered one, stoked!
RNC is my go to for parallel compression in my vocal chain. Transparent and keeps the signal bright, no harmful distortion.
Nice video David, really good to understand how this compressors work. I had both of them, but sometimes I was undecided if to use them or simply get one good plugin compressor to get a quite similar result, just for mixing, and avoid going in and out the box...
Thanks so much for making this video, now I know I have a good thing on my desk!
Lovin the RNLA on drum bus!
Thanks for the great video . I'm glad I saw this. These are a couple of very nice compressors. I'll consider getting one of these because the compressors in my home studio are not so good. You can actually hear the difference with these.
Seeing the RNC and RNLA on here in 2019 is priceless. The Gear Gods Have Spoken...
Can you show example of using these in Electronic and Hip-Hop material?
Thanks again for all of your amazing work.
Thanks for this demonstration.
Planning on using this to keep the mic output level below the max input signal of the dslr input or stereo mic preamp and get an overall subtle compression at the same time. For on the go recording or field work etc. Will need a small portable 12v power supply.
Great panning and sound!
Well done! No goddamn talking over the comparison.
thankyou for GAIN MATCHING!!!
+MixbusTV, great informative videos you produce, thanks for shedding light on many topics.
I'm looking to get my first hardware compressor and have been considering the Drawmer 1978 and the RNC and also looking at many 500 series modules, it would be mainly used on drums i program on an MPC, could you give me any suggestions on what model and type of compressor would be best suited for this?
Fantastic video, being a younger producer i must of missed the craze when these came out. Discovered them after seeing both in Steve Albini's studio and heard him swear by the RNC. My only two outboard compressors for now so appreciate the in depth look!
just got the rnc and ordered the rnla. I love the rnc on drums for that slow attack snap!
Great video! I'm impressed with your skills.
man i hope they can do a mk 2 with blend knob, killer units, and one with a 12ax7 tube
About 15 years ago I was using the RNLA with a side-chain eq to stop the lows choking. I got some seriously cool Icky Thump vibes on quite a few records. Used it all over the place, but drums and mix bus were my favourite uses. Eq on the side chain makes a huge difference to it’s flexibility.
I actually picked up another one of these puppies, with the original red
knobs too. It really is it’s own flavour… glad to have it back.
How do you side chain the eq?
How do you side chain the eq?
@@laughingthrushmusic5269 He means EQ the sidechain signal. Typically this means you run the sidechain signal through an EQ that cuts out sub-bass rumble and high end. Basically, you just want to make sure that your sidechain signal only includes the transient and primary sound that you want to duck behind. You don't want the compressor firing because of random noise or inaudible frequencies.
@@rdean150 yeah, for the most part - but you can also get some seriously cool groove compression going on by boosting some bass/low mid - it’s a versatile little monster 👺
Brills really good demo and explanation for me as I thought compression was going to be easy to crack/understand and my listening skills need some work. It's the relationship understanding how it all fits together and making it fit together. I am looking for my first bits of rack gear on a budget. which is none existent and my vocals are shit so I am overcompensating with vst's and flattening out the dynamics too much and killing the mix in the process. I've found a mic that seem to suit my voice the rode N1 lovely tone but is picking everything up(1 bed room flat on top of noise kitchen,) cant treat it as it my living area well i have got curtains book shelves and a couple of air beds standing up but the building it self is a bunker made of engineering bricks and concrete it sound proof alright with thick carpets but still i know some solid work horse gear on the vocal input is going to give me some room to maneuver. PS I've only just clock the the Mixbus TV channel and will be delving in shortly. thank you
I'm looking for a hardware limiter to put my main output of synths and drum machine, to level out surges when playing live. Tempted by rnla.
The "Super Nice Mode" clarification was very useful. Same problem...Feel like an idiot now XD. Thanks!
Excellent video!
jesus, those vocals....
so good.
Can you review a gap 3 a Jr ?
Your drum recordings are amazing. Do you work in a large professional studio with large amounts of expensive outboard gear and a live room, or are these recordings made at home?
Really nice, indeed! The color on the RNLA is sligthly reminiscent of the Chandler Germanium Compressor. :D
Boy I would sure love to come hang out at your studio and play with all the gear you have!! What piece of hardware do you suggest I start with. I'm all plugins now. Thinking of a WA76 and the Tonebeast. Thanks
MixbusTV track guitar and bass and program
Drums itb. Some vocals planned in the future.
Great Review! I have a question about the connection. Usually the I/Os of an Audiointerface are symmetric. The FMR Inputs are dissymetric. How do you connect this piece of gear in your setup? with best regards Sven!
Thank you. Ok. So its no problem to connect the FMRs to a bay like Neutrik Rean NYS SPP-L1? My highest priority is that nothing will be destroyed after connecting (Audiointerface Steinberg UR824 ^^ :-)
Can you use these on the mix bus? Or is it better to use these on single channels
how are these for vocals? compared to FMR PBC-6A? I want to get clean CL1B sound if possible. Chain is U87 -> Great River MP1NV at the moment. Thanks
Thanks man
Hey David, thanks for this review!
As I've read the RNC has unbalanced Inputs and kind of balanced Outputs and the RNLA is fully balanced (?) How you connect this devices?
Would it be possible to go out from my RME Audio Interface (balanced Out) with a balanced cable to the unbalanced input from the RNC and then from the RNC Output with a balanced cable in to the RNLA and back to the Interface so that everything is connected via balanced cables?
Could I damage something if I go with a balanced signal and cable in to a unbalanced device or the other way around?
Or is it like this: if one device is unbalanced in the chain like the RNC then I have to go unbalanced through every other device?
And if so, is there a quality loss if I go unbalanced through balanced devices or is it just a problem if I use very long cables like 10 meters+?
Thanks!
@@mixbustv Thank you!
Great video. I've had my eyes on the RNC and the RNP8380 for quite some times now. I just got myself a Warm Audio Wa76 so they will have to wait a little. What do you think of the RNP8380? I was thinking of using it on the overheads.
I can recommend that preamp without resevations. I´ve used it on DI bass ,distorted bass, high gain guitars and snare/bassdrum (nice low end on BD). It kills on every source! Because it´s so transparent and honest you really have to focus on the source sound (tuning and mic choices/placement). Tons of headroom but it will get noisy on highest gain settings.
Got the RNP8380 preamp with the RNLA, they came installed in a Funk Logic rack mount faceplate. Used for $550 Canadian Dollars. Haven't installed it in my rig yet, looking forward to play with it.
Thank you sir for your wonderful video review..would you advice picking one of these for tracking vocals instead of an 1176 clone like the warm audio 1176?
Thanks....for recording, would you use the super easy mode?
@@mixbustv for vocals i mean
such a great video. Didnt know about the RNLA, might look at a 500 version to avoid the TS jack loss of gain. Thanks!
RNLA had balanced connections, in any case, you need a 500 series rack to run it
I'm using TS 1/4 inch from my Digitech VL4 Left and Right. Maybe that's why the Threshold must be below 8 o'clock or I get no Gain reduction lights. Should I use a TRS?
I'm using the RNC. Vocals, guitar and drum machine.
I dont think I would survive listening to vocals like that over and over.
Thank you for this great video. Think I good, are you prefer for electronic music the RNLA ?
MixbusTV thank you!
@@hollsound what was the answer?
I am curious how you are running your RNC out of your balanced patch-bay, if that is how you have it set up. I purchased this recently only to find out that it requires an unbalanced signal input and output. There are quite a few options out there to rectify this. What is your solution?
Do you have any shielding problems - noise, etc using it this way. I am not that inclined with electronics, but I would think this would introduce possibility of antenna noise, and/or hissing, or something....?? Maybe I am tripping.So you use unbalanced in's and out's??
Thanks bro
Hi Mixbus. I love your work. Maybe can you help me.
I'm also strugling to get the drums I want. I program with a sampler too. And I'm looking preciselly to get that BigBeat sound (Fatboy Slim, Prodigy) mmmh, How they did get that beats?, wich I know it is donne in part by some agressive compression. You know that pumping woshing sound, not like EDM at all, but not like acoustic music neither. It would be something more like old skool hip-hop but with much higher tempo maybe?
You are a true expert, what compresors could help me to get that sound? You must know them just by hearing the music. I'm on a budget, Allready have a DBX164 wich is excellent but has no controls. Could the RNLA help me? I loved the sound on your video, and RNC too.
Hey MixBus. You are absolutelly right, parallel compression is a must, and sample selection is a must. The problem comes with paralell saturation!! Its imposible to do without phase trashing everything you've donne so far!! That is what I was looking for some hardware stuff to clip it a bit to see if I could get more bite, but I mean really saturate it not something subtle. Saturation plugins as insert sound horrible, they mud the sound and add nothing, kind of you loose things. They dont open the sound and make it more crunchy.
You mean that the cheap FMR compressors wont do much diference right? Distressors are out of my budget I'm afraid.
One thing is sure, Compression is a Must in bigBeat. I've tryed it. No compression=no bigbeat sound.
Filters are another thing where VST fall really short.
I'm courious why Hardware compressor wont make much difference, as they are so over-abused in those generes. Just asking, I'm an amateur.
Ok, I will keep on learning mixing techniques. I'am at it right now. Thank You for all your answers are really helpfull.
Just today we have tested the Butch Big Vocals for saturation on drums. I liked it a lot more than the ones I've tryied before. Do you have any recomendations for saturation plugins that could help me too?
Hi David, I have a small question for you.
I am just wondering how to get more treble for electric guitars. I need some real air in there, and I can hear it time to time in other songs, but anytime I have started to push that range, I'd either get Amp hum, or it'd just turn into harshness. I'm just confused how other people have managed to get that presence there. If you can perhaps even do a video about that, I'd really appreciate. Thank you.
Kent Shin -eq
Xavier Prime I mean I've tried EQ already. I feel like theres something I'm missing though
Kent Shin -reverb...
Male vocal singing ballads (think Christmas songs) would be better off with which of these units. I can't go and demo them so I need to depend on people with the experience to send me in the right direction. Thanks, and thumbs up!
RNLA
Hi David,
great video as usual! \m/
What d’you think about using the RNC as a mix bus compressor?
I already have a Sound Skulptor stereo tape simulator that I use on the mix bus and - while it’s certainly not the greatest unit out there - it gives me an instant “vibe”, makes everything sound more “real” comparing to staying fully ITB with plugins, especially since I use vst drums.
I was thinking about adding this compressor for the same reason: getting results faster and give that touch of realism/pleasure that I seem to get by going out of the box; I would place it at the end of the chain as the last drop of “glue” in place of the Waves SSL bus comp plugin that I use most of the times.
Consider that I don’t do this professionally, I only record my demo tracks, so - while I’d really love to get a Dione or another high end unit - I can’t really justify that kind of purchase.
Would this RNC be a good choice or should I keep using plugins?
Also, since my Sound Skulptur only has XLR outs, could I run a balanced XRL to TRS jack cable between that and the RNC or should I use another kind of cable?
Thanks a lot!
@@mixbustv Thanks David, I wasn't considering the RNLA because I was afraid that it would've been too colored to be used in that position...if it can do a good job on the mix bus though, I'd consider it for sure.
What about Drawmer in comparison to the FMR comps? I see a lot of cheaper models that maybe could do the trick.
Would you suggest to check 'em out for this task or stick with the RNLA?
Thanks again ;)
@@blindtightropewalker so what did you get?
Hi there when i use both my unit's now ? the gain reduction meter lights light up fast and sort of hold's themselves slower when turning off any idea why ? like its not quick lights on and off ?
Release?
@@mixbustv Yes thank you ! i figured it out about 2 hours ago LOL !
Hey MixbusTV. Im looking for a bus compressor for Metal and Hard rock drums... Which of these two would you suggest for adding punch and glue?
MixbusTV so you wouldnt use these on any drum bus? Im not sure i understand
Thanx mate... That was exactly what i wanted to hear :D Ordering one straight away ;)
Hi David! I'm thinking about getting the FMR RNC 1773 for tracking vocals and other sources. Is it still valuable in 2023?
definitely
Is it possible to use one of these on a master channel for live usage? This would be for using 2 synths an a drum machine running through it at once. So the compressor would be on the main out
@@mixbustv ace! thats great to hear, now to decide if I go for the RNC or RNLA - whats best for underground, more on the heavy side techno/electro.....
@@mixbustv hmmmm interesting, I'll did further, does it add much distortion? I do want it as transparent but fattening as possible ya see!
ya know what i think you're right! the 'thick' coloring sounds perfect for the impact of sound i want live! GREAT!!
@@mixbustv awesome thanks so much! im hyped to get the RNLA now =) yus!
@@NeoLudditevisons @MixbusTv I notice you are removing your comments about these comps on master buss. Is this because you changed opinion or something?
for me it works same using all balanced or unbalenced cables ....why is that or should i notice a difrence in the sound??
it all sounds same and both work fine all balanced or all unbalance on both in and outs
why they both work ?
They do, you have a drop in level tho' and if the cables are long you would notice noise with unbalanced
RNLA for bass!
Thanks for such a great video! How do you hook up the RNC with the unbalanced connections? Do you do something to balance the line, like a transformer?
No, because everything going in or coming out of it must be unbalanced. Keep it that way.
@@Ace_of_DiscaL The inputs are unbalanced, but the outputs are balanced. There are videos demonstrating how to prove this.
Sei italiano vero? Grazie per la recensione comunque!
the best sounding moment for the drums was at about 11:11 IMO
In your words what is the supernice mode actually doing?
MixbusTV i agree, it almost feels like is doing little work, i read somewhere that also the ratio splits on three sections like 6:1 would be three stages of 2:1 each wich makes it smooth and transparent, this can fit nicely on the master chain, i love mine and now im thinking on getting the RNLA for such a little price seems to be a no brainer
Awesome
I am going to buy a compressor which can do jack of all . I am thinking for RNLA. Suggest me
@@mixbustv Thanks bro.
Thank you.what about Using for mastering
Why not for FINAL MIX? I was thinking to buy this just for the ANALOG Sound, on my final mix.
Then, make final adjustments, like limiting, Little final EQ, Little master reverb, for the so called "mastering" final step.
Would this be recommended?
Everyone will have different approaches to this, but it's ALL matter of personal preference.
@@SocietateaAscendenta its not analogue
@@BkuBrown yes, it absolutely is. The side chain is digitally controlled - the signal path is all analogue.
Does it have input jacks? I bought the rnla500 and it doesn't have any inputs? Thanks for the help
You bought a 500 aeries module without having a rack?
@@mixbustv ........ Yea.... I honestly didn't know there was difference... It was just cheap. So I need a rack to make it work?
You need a 500 series rack, which is gonna be your power supply for all the modules. A module by itself doens't have the power supply nor the connection. That's why is "cheap"
Witch one is better for pumping synth?
yes!thank you!
wich bass is that? shes sounds awesome!
I don't remember, I didn't track that record only mixed it and it was a long time ago but it sounds like a Fender Jazz
Is it redundant to have the RNC and RNLA used at the same time?
No, they are really different to me
No… definitely not. So, a fairly common compression technique for the mixbus, is to combine a VCA compressor and a vari-Mu or optical compressor, in series. The shadow hill mastering compressor employs this configuration, for example. The RNLA + RNC can pull this off very nicely indeed.
4:07 4:19 the only thing i can tell is there's a little more warmth and mid's in the RNLA compared to the RNC
are the version that are now available still good? they are damn cheap right now
They've always been, they never changed
@@mixbustv thanx!
Do you have a personal preference for drum bus out of these 2? :)
MixbusTV amazing. Thanks!
i still have my RNC in my studio
Are these better than joe meek vc3?
MixbusTV -then i'm selling mine....only thing is joe meek has phantom power these do not...
Yes.....that's why i got it instead if the r n c....
Can you help? I have the RNC but can't seem to set it up to hit the vocal after I've recorded it like you are doing in this video. Can you explain how you run it through your DAW like that
Thanks! I'm using Logic ProX with the Audient iD14 interface and the RNC compressor
Thanks!
i expect rising prices for used RNCs after your video
they were running very low lately, around 100€ used in germany. videos as this definitly can have a impact.
mixbus....bud ,which cheap compressors best with a phantom power on it....?
MixbusTV -i mean like joe meek vc3.....or art tube mp/c .....these are cheap compressors with phantom power but which ones are best....?
I've been using RNC in the "real" studio and loved it. Bought one just to find out, that my converters are to weak to go out and back in :/ So I've sold it and I'm back ITB.
Its not about your converters being "weak", its about latency. If you're going through the pre on your interface and hitting the converters, then going out to hardware, then back in, and trying to monitor that live, your're gonna have a lot of latency. An external pre would solve that.
@@jessegrisham Hadn't thought about that. Thanks.
Thank you David. 4 years too late...
OK. They are both very good. They are both budget/cheap. BUT THEY ARE BOTH DIGITAL!
that does not mean they are not great units, at all ;)
They are not:
The RNC achieves such high performance at a low cost by using using a microprocessor to replace discrete sidechain components (resistors, diodes, capacitors, opamps, transistors, etc) with chunks of software, thereby reducing the component cost. This approach, however, still processes the main audio in the analog domain, avoiding the problems associated with digital audio conversion (e.g., latency, digital artifacts).
@@mixbustv thanks for clarification.
My opinion:
1) none of them is good on bass
2) RNC is AMAZING on drums. And yes the super nice setting is awesome. And even without it the drums get amazing vintage sound even better than RNLA
3) RNLA gives awesome colour on vocals. The other is too transparent
Can anything be "too" transparent though? Works on everything. Depends on what your using it for I suppose. RNC is effing nuts on those drums tho. And "Super Nice" mode is Super Nice.
@@jjones7837 of course it depends on the use. I had to mention for my taste. I play rock-ish music so I like vocals with that electric sound of the older compressors. I don't want them to be completely natural. However I think I can do that with the rnc. Generally speaking I think this is what I am getting
Right on man. Both great units. The RNP is great too. There is a great Steve Alibini "Show us you Junk Episode", where he talks about the RNC. Anyway Happy Mixing. And if your from Greece...I love it there.
I just bought one amazing for the money