Buying first outboard comp: RNC, or VLA?

bassface · Post by **bassface** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:21 pm

Was planning on an RNC, but after all the attention the VLA has gotten I'm wondering which way to go.

Thanks.

Bear · Post by **Bear** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:13 pm

What will you be using it for? I have an RNC and like it on vocals and occasionally on bass, but it's not the coolest when it comes to drums. From the samples I've heard of it on drums and bass, the VLA sounded awesome on both. A little "sloppier" perhaps, but it definitely worked on those two.

RefD · Post by **RefD** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:56 pm

what Bear said.

i don't personally own an RNC, but have been involved in recordings (as both player and knob-tweaker) that used one.
i think RNC does seem to work well on drum machines and percussion modules (Roland V-Drums, etc.).

i have not used the VLA.

heylow · Post by **heylow** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:48 am

bassface wrote:Was planning on an RNC, but after all the attention the VLA has gotten I'm wondering which way to go.

Thanks.

I think it's really going to depend on what you want out of it. The RNC is going to be a very clean, kinda vanilla compressor...very versatile, but clean. The VLA is going to be your more "flavored" or colored compressor.

I think either'll do the job of compression reasonably well but the outcome vs. your taste is going to be purely subjective.

Realistically, if you do a lot of recording, you will probably end up wanting both...or at least something clean and something colored.

heylow

Leopold · Post by **Leopold** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 5:43 am

Get the RNC first. I'm only saying it because I thought I'd make it easier for you to decide by giving you a definite suggestion. Now you don't have to keep looking at pictures on the net, pulling out the catalogs, rereading reviews 100 times, searching for that webpage that says "just the right thing" you want to hear. Well you could keep doing that I guess.

In all honesty if this is going to be your first compressor I'd go with the RNC because it has manual controls for all aspects of compression where as the VLA has push button presets for attack and release. It's important to learn what this stuff does.

And i do have both compressors and really use both quite a bit, don't worry everyone here knows you will end up buying both eventually, all those in favor raise your hand.

Just get the RNC first, do as I say and get some sleep.
-L

inverseroom · Post by **inverseroom** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 5:47 am

Leopold wrote:Just get the RNC first, do as I say and get some sleep.

I second that. I just got my VLA yesterday, but I can certainly vouch for the fact that the RNC is versatile and transparent, and I have used it almost every time I tracked for the past two years. It was my first compressor and it never even occurred to me to get another until recently.

sonikbliss · Post by **sonikbliss** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 10:24 am

If you scour ebay enough you can get tWo RNC's for the price of one VLA. I got mine off the bay for $120.

oxfist · Post by **oxfist** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 4:51 pm

my RNC's up on ebay right now.
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?t=20006

dictaphone · Post by **dictaphone** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:53 pm

I have both and if you are dead set on one of those 2 I'd say get the RNC first.

Consider the Alesis 3630, they are cheap as hell and I love mine. I'm sure other people may not agree, but for a first compressor I'd get the 3630. I know people who have way more expensive shit but still use their's all the time.

justinf · Post by **justinf** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:56 pm

I have both and if you are dead set on one of those 2 I'd say get the RNC first.

Me too. How do you track your drums? I really like the RNC on stereo drum overs/rooms. Then, later add the VLA on kick/snare/OH/etc.

Slider · Post by **Slider** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:24 pm

If you're talking about the Art VLA, I'd go with the RNC.
I find the VLA to be pretty useless myself.
I'd get a focusrite penta.
It's much more drastic sounding than either of them.
And you get a free average mic pre thrown in.
If you want something good for bass, vocals and drum close mics,
that's not too scary sounding, the DBX-160x is a nice all around
compressor.
They're cheap on ebay as well.

dictaphone · Post by **dictaphone** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:48 am

justinf wrote:
I have both and if you are dead set on one of those 2 I'd say get the RNC first.
Me too. How do you track your drums? I really like the RNC on stereo drum overs/rooms. Then, later add the VLA on kick/snare/OH/etc.

I like the RNC in really nice mode for overheads. For room mics I like to limit with the VLA, then compress it to hell with the RNC. I do like the VLA better for kick drum or snare. Sometimes I'll use the 3630 on kick.

moosapotamus · Post by **moosapotamus** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:29 am

Hmmm... nobody mentioned distortion concerns with the RNC... yet.

In other words, the gain make-up in the RNC can add some. But, if you can deal with that very small concern and get your gain elsewhere (preamp), I agree with everything that's already been said... The RNC is a very, erm... really nice first compressor.

~ Charlie

Devlars · Post by **Devlars** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:33 am

RNC all the way. Mark over at FMR is a very cool guy and I would highly recommend giving him the business buy purchasing one of his RNCs.

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