• t_k
  • Robot
  • Offline
  • From: glasgbg
  • Registered: 2008-07-27
  • Posts: 53

Topic: FMR AUDIO Really Nice Compressor OR the Really Nice Levelling Amp ?

http://www.fmraudio.com/RNLA7239.htm


Been thinking about maybe getting one of these compressors, before the dollar goes up to much. The RNC comes highly recommended and there are a lot of reviews available online, all very enthusiastic. If they are correct it could be just what I need. 

I remember reading positive things about it on the old forum as well, no? Any experience here from people using this unit? I am afraid it might be too clean and boring? How does it compare to the RNLA, reviews of which are harder to find... "Thick, gooey, Round, Soft" are words used to describe it. I mean yeah, sounds good to me smile 

Has anyone tried the two next to each other? What material would you use one but not the other for?

oh and here's a total noob question: I haven't exactly understood what is meant by "coloration" when it comes to compression. Is it just normal overdrive/distorsion or does it have to do with the eq/frequencies or what?

  • From: washington dc
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 515

Re: FMR AUDIO Really Nice Compressor OR the Really Nice Levelling Amp ?

there is some discussion on this in the 3630 thread. http://www.robotsforrobots.net/viewtopic.php?id=1349

I really like the RNC for a good general compressor, but i've also used it with a guitar to squash the signal and make the guitar sound enormous and dirty. (with pedals too of course) i don't know how it compares up to the RNLA though.

worship the potentiometer.

screenvinylimage's Website

  • Registered: 2008-07-12
  • Posts: 46

Re: FMR AUDIO Really Nice Compressor OR the Really Nice Levelling Amp ?

There is a difference in how they work in terms of the compression curve etc. but the real big difference between the 2 is the RNC is basically transparent iand the RNLA will give you more coloration of sound i.e. more of an aggressive, quasi vintage sound. The LA2A is another leveling amplifier if that gives you a better idea of what it is supposed to be like.

  • From: washington dc
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 515

Re: FMR AUDIO Really Nice Compressor OR the Really Nice Levelling Amp ?

yeah i was reading about the RNLA having qualites of those old LA's, sounds pretty cool for the price.

worship the potentiometer.

screenvinylimage's Website

  • t_k
  • Robot
  • Offline
  • From: glasgbg
  • Registered: 2008-07-27
  • Posts: 53

Re: FMR AUDIO Really Nice Compressor OR the Really Nice Levelling Amp ?

Levelling Amplifier as in this one?

http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/27525_l.jpg

We did a session once where the engineer went on and on about the compressor we were using, he borrowed it from a friend for the session. Remember the way it looked and have realised afterwards that it was a Universal Audio LA-2A. The drums sounded really really good through it, and I knew even less about studio equipment back then. We had them all squashed and distorted and in the middle of recording his friend that lent him the thing walks in and says "man the drums sound like shit!"

we were really in to this band at the time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDPymXp5GxQ

  • From: washington dc
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 515

Re: FMR AUDIO Really Nice Compressor OR the Really Nice Levelling Amp ?

yeah i think the one's i'm thinking of were the universal audio version that the FMR sort of copies. we found two of them sort of half working at a studio once in our old band and we used the hell out of them for that same sort of sound you are describing. the half working part added a nice wtf every time we used it.

worship the potentiometer.

screenvinylimage's Website