Why is the FMR RNLA less popular?

[lionaudio]

I have 4 channels of RNC that I use for everything but bass and I spent 50 bucks on an Ashly sc50. This covers my outboard compression til I can buy a really nice stereo tube compressor. The sc50 has character and you CAN hear it working when you want it to. Get the rnc and something gritty

[jaguarsg]

because it kinda sucks compared to other cheap "color" boxes.

[jgimbel]

because it kinda sucks compared to other cheap "color" boxes.

Interesting point of view! I haven't really heard that too often. What do you consider a good alternative(s) color box? (btw I hope that doesn't come off as a sarcastic "is that so", I'm definitely interested!).

[sears]

I think the RNLA is more useful during mixing though I use the RNC all the time while tracking. Until recently, when I got my patchbay and started mixing an album I'd have said I didn't have much use for it and now I use it way more.

I've used it on kick, voice and guitars especially. The way it cuts volume is much more like you're riding the fader than the RNC. I don't like it on bass.

I don't think of it as a "color box." It's all about the action of it.

[jaguarsg]

Interesting point of view! I haven't really heard that too often. What do you consider a good alternative(s) color box? (btw I hope that doesn't come off as a sarcastic "is that so", I'm definitely interested!).

no problem. i'm sure i came off as an asshole, but i'm ok with that. i probably am one.

i REALLY like color; if i wanted clean, i'd use a plug. i'll sacrifice versatility for mojo any day, which may not be exactly what you are looking for if you only have an RNC.

nevertheless, cool & cheap colour boxes: old broadcast compressors (Gates/Harris SolidStatesmen, CBS Audimax/Volumax, Marti limiters, etc), Joe Meek VC series, ART Pro VLA i or II (with a tube change/recap), Symetrix 501s, Alesis Microlimiter, dbx 118/119, MXR DynaComp (yep, that one), Janglebox, homebrew stuff, etc.

do some homework, take a chance ...

[jgimbel]

Interesting point of view! I haven't really heard that too often. What do you consider a good alternative(s) color box? (btw I hope that doesn't come off as a sarcastic "is that so", I'm definitely interested!).

no problem. i'm sure i came off as an asshole, but i'm ok with that. i probably am one.

i REALLY like color; if i wanted clean, i'd use a plug. i'll sacrifice versatility for mojo any day, which may not be exactly what you are looking for if you only have an RNC.

nevertheless, cool & cheap colour boxes: old broadcast compressors (Gates/Harris SolidStatesmen, CBS Audimax/Volumax, Marti limiters, etc), Joe Meek VC series, ART Pro VLA i or II (with a tube change/recap), Symetrix 501s, Alesis Microlimiter, dbx 118/119, MXR DynaComp (yep, that one), Janglebox, homebrew stuff, etc.

do some homework, take a chance ...

yeah these are boxes I hear about pretty often. And don't worry, I've done too much homework if any - I tend to research things for months before I buy them, so I have the opposite problem, of needing to just pick something and go for it. I've got one plugin that does nice clean compression really well, and one that's a little more colored, and those two tend to be my most used plugins. I guess my thinking was just, if there's something I use on most every track somewhere (like clean compression, at some point) it would seem to make sense to do some of that before hitting the computer - why have a million instances of a plugin all over a track when I can just have it like that to begin with? I'm big on committing to a sound, though I'm also careful to make sure I'm really getting the sound I want, so that helps.

At the same time, if I have this plugin that does clean compression well, it also makes a lot of sense to get outboard compression that does something completely different. I need to shut the hell up and pick something.