Next step up from RNC... I want creamy colored goodness...

[tubedude]

I was kinda wondering if the Focusrite Compounder is a good sounding unit. According to them, it is based on the Red Compressor, which I like very much.
ANyone used it?

[NathanEldred]

As far as I know there is only one step up from the RNC in the new market, and it's a big one in cost....the Empirical Labs Distressor.

[cram]

Ditto on that. Definitely check out the Distressor!

Oh wait, I just saw that you are limited to an $800 budget. In that case I would look for a used Peavey VCL2, used dbx 162, or a used Distressor.

[tubedude]

I've heard some stuff about the dbx 160, one of the version, that it was pretty decent. What is the word on that one?

[Coldsnow]

You may want to try the Summit Audio TLA 50. It has a tube drive stage on the output stage and definetly sounds like it.

[tubedude]

Summit, eh? Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Its cheap enough, for sure.

[Tim L]

Have you listened to the Joe Meek SC2.2v4? If you're just after "color" one of these may do the trick for not alot of dough. Might be worth checking out. If you wan't a "Swiss Army" kinda thing the Distressor is a must but even used these go for around a grand for the most part.

[hollywood_steve]

I don't know if I'd call it a step up from the RNC, except in terms of price, but the Meek SC2.2v4 certainly puts out some very useful stomp all over whatever you feed into it. For brand new stereo compressors, there ain't much else out there under a grand.

steve

[Tim L]

Originally posted by hollywood_steve
I don't know if I'd call it a step up from the RNC, except in terms of price,...

Agreed, it's more like a step in a different direction.