Ah no worries. Look on the back of the RNC, the inputs can actually also be the outputs if you use TRS jack cables. That’s what @tnussb meant. Nothing to do with the sidechain functionality.
But the sidechain álso has that:joy:
Indeed, let’s all try to keep the Empress Compressor MKII thread about the Empress Compressor MKII.
Any RNC/RNLA discussion, please have that in the appropriate thread instead (or switch to private messages). Thanks
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@all sorry for completely derailing off-topic indeed, stopping it now
I’ve found de-essing vs ducking in the manual of the RNC and will take it from there!
My comment above wasn’t specially targeting the RNC, but why this kind of insert style is normally used. After some reading I’ve found that the RNC is quite special (sorry for that).
From the FAQ it becomes clear that the RNC sidechain in/out can’t be used as simple insert as I described above, because it doesn’t pass-through the original signal. Instead what comes out is indeed a mono mix of the inputs, which you can manipulate externally and send back in (so it’s meant as insert the other way around, from sidechain out of the RNC itself back in again).
Read the section about de-essing in the FAQ. This should made it clear.
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I am definitely getting one, but probably getting the Bass version. I imagine the bass version would be better for synths as well, since it has a more flexible side-chain and a “color circuit” for adding some bite, unless you are really wanting a tilt EQ.
I plan to use it with my guitar and bass, as I’ve set up my pedalboard to be used with both.
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Empress has a blog post comparing the two. If you haven’t read it, it might be worth checking out: https://empresseffects.com/blogs/how-to-zoia/the-compressor-mkii-or-bass-compressor-which-one-is-right-for-you
Edit, added: I’m still debating which one to get, too, so this helped me and didn’t help me (because my takeaway was probably both work well in most instances).
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That was interesting. Now I’d really like to try the bass compressor.
I have the mk I and I just only wish it were stereo. Not to bring this back around to FMR, but can anyone that has had both an empress and RNC/RNLA tell me if they sound similar? I’m using it on sampled drums
I haven’t used RNC but it’s supposed to impart less character than RNLA, so should be closer to the Empress. I have Empress Compressor mkii and RNLA and they sound quite different (FET vs Optical).
Thank you that helps.
I’m wondering if what I was thinking of as “color” is just, in fact, the sound of compression itself. Because in the demos I’ve seen comparing RNC to RNLA, I’ve preferred the RNC. I expected to like the RNLA, or even PBC6a. But the sound I like, and which the Empress achieves, but other comps out there may do better, I would describe as somewhat elastic, or stretchy (?) . It gives some breathe to the air in between percussive hits, and a subtle to not so subtle “airiness,” to the whole beat. It pops a bit more but I wouldn’t describe it as punchy, as some do. Maybe these descriptors make no sense to anyone, but if there’s someone who knows what I mean; who hears it this way, I’d love to know your opinions on the RNC/RNLA/PBC6a or any other comp that has these qualities of sound.