master dynamics for live use

the live performance stuff i'm planning at the moment consists of dicking around with 2 Elektrons mainly.. A4 & Machinedrum.

Needless to say, it can get unexpectedly loud and bassy at times, and so to avoid eqipment damage, I would like to aquire something like a stereo compressor / limiter that's good for live use.

dunno, there's this Alesis thing for example: http://www.alesis.com/3632compressor

seems widely used, so should be okay..

But I have like zero experience with hardware compressors. I've onced saw a smaller analog stereo thing from a company which might have had "American.. " in its name and it seemed nice but I forgot ... was like a cream-white case and dark red knobs I think.

Would you recommend a multiband compressor?

Basically just checking what's out there. I think I'd prefer pocketable over rack, as I try to keep my setup reasonably small so I can take it anywhere by bicycle.

this was the thing it hought had 'murricah in its name: http://www.fmraudio.com/rnc.htm

was reading good things about it, and both form factor & price are attractive to me.

  On 8/5/2013 at 2:43 PM, phling said:

this was the thing it hought had 'murricah in its name: http://www.fmraudio.com/rnc.htm

was reading good things about it, and both form factor & price are attractive to me.

Look no further, really. Best comp you'll find under $500 and this one is $200. Sounds so good you can use it for the rest of your life for studio duties, let alone for live.

The Alesis comp is better only cause it has separate left/right channels (but do you really need that) and a dedicated limiter section (the place you're gonna perform certainly has a limiter) but sound wise not even close to the RNC. What to say...Really Nice Compressor! ;)

p.s. If you need limiter just turn the ration all the way up on the RNC and you got it...but i guess you know that already.

thanks, yeah as this little box gets universal praise, i guess i'll go with it.

you might also consider the "consumer" dbx series..dbx 166 xs/xl..dual, symmetrical IOs, brickwall lim..not a SL but nice anyway

The RNC is a one trick pony but as good as it gets for cheap if you want a transparent tone. It works like three compressors in series to give a smooth ratio curve.

You could always route the a4 into the MD as use the compressor on that unless your pushing it hard for a certain drum tone.

ah yes yes.. good call with the MD comp, though I really like running the MD through some A4 filters & FX... sounds lush.

I bought an RNC after reading this thread. If you mother fuckers are lying, you'd best get ready.

  On 8/6/2013 at 6:35 AM, cult fiction said:

I bought an RNC after reading this thread. If you mother fuckers are lying, you'd best get ready.

I'm now tending towards the RNLA instead, I had the chance to try it with MD and an A4 last night and liked it. The guy who has it said that the main difference to the RNC is that it has a logarithmic envelope release which is more suitable for punchier, audible compression effects..

  On 8/12/2013 at 1:59 PM, phling said:

I'm now tending towards the RNLA instead, I had the chance to try it with MD and an A4 last night and liked it. The guy who has it said that the main difference to the RNC is that it has a logarithmic envelope release which is more suitable for punchier, audible compression effects..

yes, also good.

Resurrecting an old thread.

I'm also looking for a stereo compressor to use on the master in my hardware setup. I'd use it when I record studio versions of my tracks if it sounds good enough but my main use of it would be for live sets, with a single setting which would add some glue and also a bit of bass (kick) pumping to the whole.

I've been thinking about getting a FMR RNC for my recording engineer job since a long time and it would be even better if I can use it in both contexts. But now I want to know more about the differences between the RNC and the RNLA. A guy says that the LA does better things to the low end in this other thread on Vintage Synth Explorer.

xox, phling, face culler, soundwave : any other thoughts on that topic?

I'm still opened for other suggestions as far as cheap goes (I really can't invest a lot right now ; when I'll have enough for a lush hardware compressor I'll look for one for professional mastering purpose). I'll also forward some more info on the matter RNC vs RNLA if I find more.

didn't find anything much new about the differences between the RNC and RNLA but there are several comments on the internet saying that the RNLA is more colored and more suitable to (among other) bass, drum buss and masters. I'll probably go for a RNLA in a couple of months when I'm rich.

I'm using the zero delay limiter from my X-Air-12 on the master.

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Mixers/Digital-Mixers/XR12/p/P0BI6/Features

(scroll down to see the plugs)

It also has this combinator thing that might be ok on the master, but that i did not test so far.

I have a FMR RNC and can not recommend it for master bus because it introduces distinct distortion on bass heavy content when you try to compress properly. It starts to creak due to it's VCAs i guess (it creaks like tx81z or dsi mopho VCAs but continuously). I use it on subgroup where i crush midrangey stuff with it. I also sidechain it with kick's send. At this settings it is pretty cool.

RNC review (not good)

RNLA review (not good too)

non of those two are perfect fo sho but consider the price. if someone has enough money to by an ssl, api or similary priced compressor... be my guest

let me say it again...imo you can't find better stereo compressor than the rnc for under $500

i haven't tryed the rnla