Definitely RNLA, not RNC, log release.
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That maybe explains why I have trouble using it.
Maybe time to ebay it then unless you could think of any other use for it, it has side chain input, but like you said, its not going to get me the Daft Punk pump ?
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That maybe explains why I have trouble using it.
Maybe time to ebay it then unless you could think of any other use for it, it has side chain input, but like you said, its not going to get me the Daft Punk pump ?[/quote]
The RNC was carefully designed to be as clean as possible without introducing any audible artefacts. You’d use it for very gently compression on a master bus, or to gently increase the overall level of a vocal or acoustic guitar recording without losing any of the subtleties of the original performance.
You can use the RNC to get strong, fast attack compression on drums when you set it to “normal” mode, but this would still be something that’s most useful for a live recording of someone playing an acoustic drum kit, or to make an older analogue drum machine sound “harder”.
If you want that pumping sound, the RNC really isn’t the right tool for the job, while the RNLA might very well be. 
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Thanks for the great info, I have used it once or twice for vocal and acc guitar recording and it was fantastic. Sounds like its time to sell/trade it then if I have no use for it. Dont know why I kept it for so long.
Sounds like the RNLA would suit me better.
Thanx.
my twopence:
RNLA for drums
RNC for mix bus or other stuff that needs a boost without colouring
RNC is absolutely acceptable for heavy compression of techno mix bus with an inline FMOD HPF in the TRS insert (send/receive) side chain.
All is explained here.
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oh man - that’s a super tip. cheers! i love the diy nature of this
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That sure is an interesting approach!
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The important thing to understand is there are two types of side chain inputs on compressors.
The RNC/RNLA use an FX loop type. The other type, for daft punk style squashing and rebounding is a “KEY” input type. You can get the “KEY” input if you follow FMR’s FAQ and not connect the “TIP” side of an insert cable.
I actually prefer the FX loop type, as you can get heavier gain reduction without artifacts when using an HPF like the FMOD, or an EQ with heavy cuts in the low end (A mono bass eq pedal also works, by the way). The big bass of dance music won’t trip up the compressor (which is a usual complaint on the RNC), and the result is not unlike an L2 or Ozone master limiter.
I use this live with the RNC, in Super Nice Mode and you can hear it doing its thing on the entire mix here: https://soundcloud.com/adamjaylive/adam-jay-live-pa-louisville-ky-12-31-15
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I’d like to add that a nice trick with the RNC is to hook up a small equalizer (I have a 6band MXR) to the RNC side chain insert.
If you have a mixer with post-EQ direct outs, you can use that, too (e.g. certain Mackie mixers).
That makes it possible to get some nice pumping sounds out of the RNC and in general have quite a lot of control over the signal transients (i.e. which signal bands trigger the compressor).
It’s really a nice, inexpensive and versatile little compressor.
Since the AR already has its own compressor (chaining it with the RNC is fun, btw), and colorizes the sound a lot on its own, I’m quite happy with my RNC.
That’s not to say anything bad about the RNLA, I simply have not tried that one, yet.
EDIT: AdamJay: you were faster, sorry for duplicate info.
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Don’t apologize at all!
The tip on using a mixer channel with post EQ direct out is a good one as well!
Especially, mono channels which (on Mackie and Yamaha mixers) usually have a HPF button at around 75hz for microphone handling noise rumble, plus the low shelf EQ.
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Thanks a lot for all these informations!!
I think i will buy a RNLA to put on the master, maybe with a Pedal EQ with the side chain.
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If you needed one more vote for the RNLA, that would be my vote for Techno of any kind. Having owned both (only the RNC currently) I have to the RNC is totally transparent, though as it says on the tin…really nice : )
Regardless of whether you get the RNC or RNLA (they both have a sidechain input), remember that you can simply use one of the AR individual outputs to control the compressor (“ghost kicks”).
This also works nicely when you use a sample with a short infinite loop, and a rather snappy amp envelope.
You can also use the AR filter to shape the sidechain signal even further.
I just tried that out and it sounds real punchy, great for electro beats, for example
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No, you cannot.
It’s a TRS fx loop insert side chain. You are describing a Key input side chain, and neither RNC nor RNLA have a Key input.[/quote]
I don’t know the terminology so well but they can definitely do the key input side chain thing; it used to be the only thing I used my RNLA for, sending an individual out from my MD to trigger the RNLA via its sidechain input.
I used a TRS-2x TS cable, plugging the TRS end into the MD (or Rytm) and plugging only one of the two TS ends to the sidechain input (can’t remember which). Maybe a simple TS cable would work in that case, but I remember getting it to work with that configuration some years ago.
No, you cannot.
It’s a TRS fx loop insert side chain. You are describing a Key input side chain, and neither RNC nor RNLA have a Key input.[/quote]
It doesn’t explain in the manual anything about the sidechain . It is 1 input/output conector (fx loop). Can you explain how this works ?
Just read your gearslutz post. Still confused about how key input is different .
Guess the best thing is to just try it for myself.
Like anything, there are posts saying its shit (rnc) and others saying its the ducks nutz.
Sure it will do stuff, but it won’t actually function in the way a compressor with a Key input side chain works.
Since it is not a Key input style sidechain, you’ll be completely removing the signal of the L and R inputs as control signals.
In other words, the compressor won’t be reacting to the music in the inputs at all. Because the side chain is T.R.S (Tip/Send - Ring/Return) you’re not returning any of the L R signal that gets sent with a TRS cable.
It will ONLY be listening to the pseudo Key input as you’ve just broke the insert loop.
A true Key input side chain compressor will compress based on the dynamics of the input
as well as react to the signal in the side chain input.
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As a workaround to achieve what AdamJay described, you can just send the compressor out and the sidechain source via a send on a mixer to the sidechain input of the compressor.
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