Renaissance Axx: like it or not?

cbc459 · 2nd June 2008, 07:30 AM

I've started using Renaissance Axx on some guitar and bass tracks, and I've had some good results with it. What's the Slutz community's take on this thing? I like the fact that even if you set the threshold over the actual peak, even by 3-4 dB's, you will still get about 3 dB of attenuation, just gives the tracks that tiny bit of guts more.

How common is it to use electric guitar compression? I've heard it said that compression is a "natural byproduct" of distortion and tubes so usually it's best not to compress them, but I suppose to each his own. What are some good, higher-en alternatives I could look into for this? Distressor, RNC..?

Also, I'd have another question. Pretty much the only compressor I've ever used enough to say I "know" it's sound is the Renaissance Compressor and it's siblings, Renvox and Renaxx. Would you call these compressors "coloured"? Having no reference to base my opinion on, it's kind of difficult, although I do think they add a certain 'something' to the sound.

Mayor999 · 2nd June 2008, 05:55 PM

I love the Ren stuff. I don't use RenAxx -all- that much because I tend to record guitars with the levels / dynamics I know i am going to want come mix time. However when I do pull RenAxx out it works very well.

RenAxx is great on bass.

I use RenVox -all- the time. With all digital dynamics plugins I feel I get the best sound by not pushing it too hard...so often my insert chain will have 2 RenVox plugins in a row, both doing 3-5 db of gain reduction.... along with other plugins...

I wouldn't say they are super colored (not 1176 colored hah) but they have their own sonic signature.

I really enjoy the minimalistic approach to controls, I tend to "over-tweak" other things and usually end up zeroing the piece of gear and then going back to just a few knob turns. I think a lot of plugins give too much eye candy and people are looking at meters instead of purely listening.... (Oh my god my gain reduction seems to high!!! well how does it sound? etc etc etc)

TomD · 2nd June 2008, 06:23 PM

+1!!
I also like the Ren plugs....Ren Axxe works great for a lot of gtr tracks, particularly ballsy ones. I've never tried it on bass but now I will!

On cleaner tracks, RenComp or Smack may work better....but let's face it,there are a lot of decent plugs that work for all different stuff.

RenVox is my favorite of the RenComps and is the first ITB comp I try for vocals and VOs...

TD

Mayor999 · 2nd June 2008, 06:28 PM

I also really like RVox on bass/guitars (especially nashville tuned acoustics for some reason...really a Wow moment when I discovered that) and RAxx on metal vocals/hard rock...

Retinal · 2nd June 2008, 07:07 PM

+1 Ren stuff is a pretty good bundle, has been put in a second place by SSL and V and Api but I don't think they are any worse than the ones above, if anything some are even better. They are not as "glamourous" as the branded ones but I love reneq and rencomps, really good is the fact you can use 'em as upward compressors which is not common

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2nd June 2008, 07:30 AM	#1
cbc459 Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 132	Renaissance Axx: like it or not? I've started using Renaissance Axx on some guitar and bass tracks, and I've had some good results with it. What's the Slutz community's take on this thing? I like the fact that even if you set the threshold over the actual peak, even by 3-4 dB's, you will still get about 3 dB of attenuation, just gives the tracks that tiny bit of guts more. How common is it to use electric guitar compression? I've heard it said that compression is a "natural byproduct" of distortion and tubes so usually it's best not to compress them, but I suppose to each his own. What are some good, higher-en alternatives I could look into for this? Distressor, RNC..? Also, I'd have another question. Pretty much the only compressor I've ever used enough to say I "know" it's sound is the Renaissance Compressor and it's siblings, Renvox and Renaxx. Would you call these compressors "coloured"? Having no reference to base my opinion on, it's kind of difficult, although I do think they add a certain 'something' to the sound.

2nd June 2008, 05:55 PM	#2
Mayor999 Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 931	I love the Ren stuff. I don't use RenAxx -all- that much because I tend to record guitars with the levels / dynamics I know i am going to want come mix time. However when I do pull RenAxx out it works very well. RenAxx is great on bass. I use RenVox -all- the time. With all digital dynamics plugins I feel I get the best sound by not pushing it too hard...so often my insert chain will have 2 RenVox plugins in a row, both doing 3-5 db of gain reduction.... along with other plugins... I wouldn't say they are super colored (not 1176 colored hah) but they have their own sonic signature. I really enjoy the minimalistic approach to controls, I tend to "over-tweak" other things and usually end up zeroing the piece of gear and then going back to just a few knob turns. I think a lot of plugins give too much eye candy and people are looking at meters instead of purely listening.... (Oh my god my gain reduction seems to high!!! well how does it sound? etc etc etc) __________________ NEW Pro Tools 7.4 With Elastic Audio - New and Exciting ways to get repetitive stress injuries!

2nd June 2008, 06:28 PM	#4
Mayor999 Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 931	I also really like RVox on bass/guitars (especially nashville tuned acoustics for some reason...really a Wow moment when I discovered that) and RAxx on metal vocals/hard rock... __________________ NEW Pro Tools 7.4 With Elastic Audio - New and Exciting ways to get repetitive stress injuries!

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2nd June 2008, 06:23 PM	#3
TomD Gear Head Join Date: May 2008 Location: Woodstock, NY Posts: 66	+1!! I also like the Ren plugs....Ren Axxe works great for a lot of gtr tracks, particularly ballsy ones. I've never tried it on bass but now I will! On cleaner tracks, RenComp or Smack may work better....but let's face it,there are a lot of decent plugs that work for all different stuff. RenVox is my favorite of the RenComps and is the first ITB comp I try for vocals and VOs... TD

2nd June 2008, 07:07 PM	#5
Retinal Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: L.A./Italy Posts: 103	+1 Ren stuff is a pretty good bundle, has been put in a second place by SSL and V and Api but I don't think they are any worse than the ones above, if anything some are even better. They are not as "glamourous" as the branded ones but I love reneq and rencomps, really good is the fact you can use 'em as upward compressors which is not common