23rd September 2012
|
#1 | | Gear nut
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 119
Thread Starter  | Compression - Wow, I Get It Now
So after years of using nothing but compression plugins (and mostly the Ableton Live built-in comp) I picked up a FMR RNC today.
In ten minutes I was already hearing a lot more - and better - of what I expected to hear using plugins. More musical and better control.
I know it's a simple compressor but ... just wanted to say here's some love for hardware that's easy to use and sounds super cool. I'll be using it on everything from deep house/techno to rock and looking forward to it....
| 
|  | |
23rd September 2012
|
#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 556
|
Good on you and welcome.
| |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#3 | | Gear Head
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 50
| Quote:
Originally Posted by schnerg 
I know it's a simple compressor but ...
|
Don't sell the RNC short. This is a fantastic compressor. Congratulations on your purchase, and welcome to the dark side. 
__________________
The Beatles could have done an entire album of armpit farts and made it sound interesting!
| |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Germany
Posts: 2,492
|
I had the very same experience not long ago. After buying some outboard compressors (from Behringer to dbx to Art to Empirical Labs), I really and immediately heard the effect of attack, release and ratio for the first time (not so much on the Art ProVLA, but on all the others). I still have no clue why that is, though.
Still I can dial in compression much much faster using outboard and end up with less radical settings, because I can more clearly hear it working. This even applies to my Behringer composers.
Are there any explanations (other than the categorical "OTB is better" please) for this?
__________________
Too many options kill creativity.
| |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#5 | | Gear nut
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 75
|
I've been looking towards a hardware compressor lately. Seeing this reaction to the FMR RNC is pleasantly surprising as it is definitely the right price! Might have to pick one up myself | |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#6 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Dec 2009 Location: NYC
Posts: 192
| Quote:
Originally Posted by bayouland Don't sell the RNC short. This is a fantastic compressor. Congratulations on your purchase, and welcome to the dark side. | Absolutely.
Welcome. Compression is an often misunderstood concept in music and yet the most discernible by ear. Yet for those that accept the challenge, the lessons on how it can REALLY shape sound is valuable. The FMR RNC should be required knowledge in music. It is clear, correct and effective. Shows you what sounds good and why. I can tell you it gets better. Compressors today are amazing.
| |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#7 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 306
| Quote:
Originally Posted by jfed I've been looking towards a hardware compressor lately. Seeing this reaction to the FMR RNC is pleasantly surprising as it is definitely the right price! Might have to pick one up myself | RNC is very nice for the price. My first compressor back in the 90's
Sent from my MOTWX435KT using Tapatalk
| |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,147
|
I think a lot of the issues with plugins is not so much the abilities of the plugin itself, but the distraction caused by having to visually (and precisely) spin a 10x10 pixel knob on your screen when you should be focussed on listening.
| |
| | |
23rd September 2012
|
#9 | | Geariophile
Joined: Oct 2006 Location: london
Posts: 9,616
| Quote:
Originally Posted by RiF I had the very same experience not long ago. After buying some outboard compressors (from Behringer to dbx to Art to Empirical Labs), I really and immediately heard the effect of attack, release and ratio for the first time (not so much on the Art ProVLA, but on all the others). I still have no clue why that is, though.
Still I can dial in compression much much faster using outboard and end up with less radical settings, because I can more clearly hear it working. This even applies to my Behringer composers.
Are there any explanations (other than the categorical "OTB is better" please) for this? | The 'why' often isn't really of importance.   | |
| | |
24th September 2012
|
#10 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 247
|
This really catches my attention since people often claim that the RNC doesn't do anything that ITB plugins can't. Maybe its worth a second look for me.
| |
| | |
24th September 2012
|
#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,444
| Quote:
Originally Posted by gravyface I think a lot of the issues with plugins is not so much the abilities of the plugin itself, but the distraction caused by having to visually (and precisely) spin a 10x10 pixel knob on your screen when you should be focussed on listening. | Agreed. Also, the presets probably don't help anyone in the long run. But once you figure out how a compressor works, then I don't think plugins are any harder to use, assuming you have an accurate mouse and big enough screen to work with! At least that's been my experience.
| |
| | |
24th September 2012
|
#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,639
|
Agreed! Hardware just adds so much musicality in my opinion.
| |
| | |
24th September 2012
|
#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 854
|
Decent HW units are good for ear training, I agree - there's something about the tactile interface that makes learning easier. I learned a lot with Aphex gates actually.
Once I learned what I was doing, though, I came to prefer plugs. When I have more money I think I'll upgrade to a nice HW comp like an Overstayer or Distressor.
| |
| | |
25th September 2012
|
#14 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2010 Location: UK
Posts: 3,358
|
There is more stuff you can "Get away with" in hardware.. I noticed that, but I don't really think they are up there with some of the high end plugs.. But then again for the price of an RNC, what does it matter?
Also you can get away with actually tracking with one, which doesn't really work to well without a powerhouse of a computer..
| |
| | |
25th September 2012
|
#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 676
| Good example of compression
Alot of Steve miller ....you can hear his breath...but it works so nice. Jet airliner ....etc
| |
| | |
25th September 2012
|
#16 | | Gear interested
Joined: Sep 2012 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 13
| Quote:
Originally Posted by gravyface I think a lot of the issues with plugins is not so much the abilities of the plugin itself, but the distraction caused by having to visually (and precisely) spin a 10x10 pixel knob on your screen when you should be focussed on listening. | x 1,000,000
| |
| | |
25th September 2012
|
#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 726
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Maverick87 This really catches my attention since people often claim that the RNC doesn't do anything that ITB plugins can't. | For the record, I'm one of those people. Save your 200 bucks for something you need, unless you like to compress on input.
| |
| | |
25th September 2012
|
#18 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jul 2010 Location: South Australia
Posts: 232
| Quote:
Originally Posted by jfed I've been looking towards a hardware compressor lately. Seeing this reaction to the FMR RNC is pleasantly surprising as it is definitely the right price! Might have to pick one up myself | The RNC is great. I remember when I first got mine (13 years ago??) and we stood around saying "how does it sound" ... "really nice!!!" with big stupid grins. It's just such a useful compressor with great control.
The only digital emulations I've found that come close are UAD or perhaps Cytomic "The Glue". UAD is amazing for ITB.
| |
| | | |
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
