RNC as Tracking Compressor?

[Folkynewey]

Hello there;

I spend a lot of time recording a very dynamic female singer - and I really could do with a tracking compressor for that purpose.

However, my budget is virtually non-existant, though I could put up around £150 ($300).

Is the RNC the best bet? Or what else in that price range that'll be ok?

THanks,
David

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by Folkynewey

Hello there;

I spend a lot of time recording a very dynamic female singer - and I really could do with a tracking compressor for that purpose.

However, my budget is virtually non-existant, though I could put up around £150 ($300).

Is the RNC the best bet? Or what else in that price range that'll be ok?

THanks,
David

Hey Dave

I was in your position 2 years ago-if she has a big voice and really spanks it on arrangement-at above 8 db reduction the RNC will really scoop the vocals in a lousy way-ie they will become inset and depressed. On less heavy pieces-ie below 5db gain reduction, the RNC does a good job on "really nice" setting.

But-I then got buzz audio soc 1.1 and neve portico -and I now do not get that scooping. When comparing the sound of the higher end compressed tracked vocals to RNC-no comparison-and the wave forms illustrate how much more dense the better compressed signals are-while still sounding much more musical/clear/dynamic.

The RNC is probably as good as you will get for the money-but it does not cut the mustard with heavy vocals IMHO. If they were cars the RNC would be a 125 cc scooter, the higher end compressors a 6 cylinder 3 series BMW-and tracking big vocals would be like having to do a long dangerous trip through a mountain pass in pissing down rain.

If you are doing a serious tracking piece which you do not want to re-do later-I probably in your position would use that money to hire a better compressor for the periods that you will do the big end tracking.

GJ
Newcastle/OZ

[T_MIX]

I don't disagree with the previous poster as far the notion there are better comps out there. But for your budget The RNC is the best thing out there.

I have several of them and in the Super Nice mode(where it stacks several reduction circuits) it can be very transparent and seamless.
It will always be a comp that you can use for vocals and acoustic instruments.
It sucks hard on Bass.... But FMR will pony up to that themselves.

I don't hesitate to endorse it.

[Folkynewey]

Thanks for that.. I'd read some good things about the RNC but realised that it might not be that great for my purpose. I'd love a portico or something, but the problem with hiring in is we tend to record at various times, whenever we can fit it in, rather than dedicating specific days to tracking. Guess i'll just have to start operating that way..

However, if anyone has any specific 'female big vocals' tracking compressor ideas for the money (2nd hand etc), please let me know.

Cheers
Dave

[asagaai]

Hey Dave

you talked about pounds-so I assume you are in the UK. If so-I would beg, borrow, and do all things not illegal to get some more money and then look at getting for instance a second hand tube drawmer -they are really cheap in the UK and with it you should be able to track nice warm vocals.

I cannot reco a cheap compressor for big vocals as I never found one.

Sebatron, well known for tube pre amps, has just made a FET compressor that is supposed to be like a 1176 but with sidechain inbuilt which looks cool and very cheap-goes for like $890.00 us-is an introductory price with 30 day back money back trial period.

I know this because I am navel gazing thinking about getting one, and if good a second-for heavy drum crushing and all mallet squashing/heavy vocals.

Some thoughts, but you will need to get X3 the dollars-but you will then have a useful compressor.

Cheers

GJ
Newcastle/OZ

[s.d.finley]

I prefer the RNLA on female vocals. Have the RNC, but I usually dont spank the gain reduction...I try to keep it around -6, if possible.

I use the FMR's just to help control the voice....not crush it.

For less than $200, I cant think of a better compressor!

[Dave Peck]

I have two RNCs and like them a lot for some things, but not for tracking vocals. I have another suggestion that is in your price range - the ART Pro VLA. I have an early version (a beta unit, actually) so it may be a little different from production units, but I've have good results with it on vocals.

Here's a trick - go into channel one, set to a gentle 2:1 ratio with a high threshold, just to tame the big dynamic swings and compress just a few dB. Then out of channel one and into channel two, but set channel two as a 10:1 limiter. Works quite well.

DP

[Farshad]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

I have two RNCs and like them a lot for some things, but not for tracking vocals. I have another suggestion that is in your price range - the ART Pro VLA. I have an early version (a beta unit, actually) so it may be a little different from production units, but I've have good results with it on vocals.

Here's a trick - go into channel one, set to a gentle 2:1 ratio with a high threshold, just to tame the big dynamic swings and compress just a few dB. Then out of channel one and into channel two, but set channel two as a 10:1 limiter. Works quite well.

DP

+1. I sold my RNC because in many cases I found software compressors more transparent and useful.

[animix]

Originally Posted by Folkynewey

Hello there;

I spend a lot of time recording a very dynamic female singer - and I really could do with a tracking compressor for that purpose.

However, my budget is virtually non-existant, though I could put up around £150 ($300).

Is the RNC the best bet? Or what else in that price range that'll be ok?

THanks,
David

If you are looking for transparency and can pony up just a little bit more, (it's always just a little more, isn't it?) get yourself a Safesoundaudio P1. they are made there in the UK.

SafeSoundAudio

It's a killer unit with a "real deal" compressor/limiter that really does a wonderful job with gain reduction and overs while not coloring the signal.

[Ray Sr.]

Folkynewey,
How about you get an RNC & help your singer learn some mic technique. That way when she's about to blow she'll know to move away from the mic a bit. And on intimate parts she can get a little bit closer.
What kind of mic are you using? Preamp?

[T_MIX]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

I have two RNCs and like them a lot for some things, but not for tracking vocals. I have another suggestion that is in your price range - the ART Pro VLA. I have an early version (a beta unit, actually) so it may be a little different from production units, but I've have good results with it on vocals.

Here's a trick - go into channel one, set to a gentle 2:1 ratio with a high threshold, just to tame the big dynamic swings and compress just a few dB. Then out of channel one and into channel two, but set channel two as a 10:1 limiter. Works quite well.

DP

Dave's idea sounds good too. I have 3 of the VLAs because they work well on drums ,basses etc, being an opto based compressor. The low frequencies don't weird them out.

I need to try that trick myself!

[Ironklad Audio]

although most people in this thread are pooping on the RNC, i find it to be a great choice for a low-cost compressor when tracking. if all you want is to minimize dynamic range, it'll do the trick, and not impart much tonal quality of its own in the process.

if you're looking for something that's going to add tonal variety, look elsewhere.

[jdier]

Originally Posted by Ironklad Audio

although most people in this thread are pooping on the RNC, i find it to be a great choice for a low-cost compressor when tracking. if all you want is to minimize dynamic range, it'll do the trick, and not impart much tonal quality of its own in the process.

if you're looking for something that's going to add tonal variety, look elsewhere.

I agree with this. However, I would suggest buying from someone who would let you try them out and having an RNC and a RNLA shipped to you. Try both and ship back the one you like less.

I personally prefer the RNLA on vocals when using dynamic mics and for Condensers sometimes I like the RNC and sometimes the RNLA.

[cortisol]

I'm a happy RNC user and love it for tracking vocals. Just use it to tame between 4-6dBs. The rest can happen in your DAW ie fader automation and a touch more compression.

If your singer is very dynamic but giving you a consistent performance then you can coach her when to back off the mic on the loud bits or even ride a fader into the compressor on the way in to the DAW if you need to.

Just make sure you optimise the distance of the singer to the mic. If you have an absorbent backdrop and you are away from nearby walls then you can backthe singer off and still get a good direct sound and you'll even out the output compared to when the singer eats the mic.

If it sounds good dynamic then preserve as much as you dare of that dynamic range.

Ask her to have a practice with headphones on and turn them up enough so that she learns not to blast herself into oblivion!

Peace,
cortisol