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nathan
Location: Australia
Posts: 263
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 Posted - Fri Oct 11, 2002 1:40 pm |
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a friend of mine just bought a rode ntk valve mic..very nice ..he is about to get a new soundcard possibly usb definately 24\96khz..however does he need a compressor on the way (will only be recording vocals) or should he just record at the high rate and not worry about overload -- sorry what is the dynamic range of a 24 bit card??...SteveG has recommended the RNC really nice compressor!!..i looked it up and it certainly has fantastic reviews ..infact everyone rave about it..It's just that the sound card (edirol ua700) my friend might be getting has a compressor built in ...he only wants to record vocals ..how much better is the rnc to a built in effect on a sound card ( the card looks pretty gimmicky - yet is half the price of the pc version of digidesigns' MBOX)..he is either going to get the http://www.edirol.com.au/OneProduct.asp?prod=UA700 or the
http://edirol.com.au/OneProduct.asp?prod=UA5 and maybe the RNC ...but like i said do you need to compress the recorded siganl when you record at 24/96 ? Dumq question i know but i dont know !
thankyou - nathan
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SteveG
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6695
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| Posted - Fri Oct 11, 2002 1:59 pm |
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I don't know how good the EDIROL UA700 is - I've never seen even a review of it. But I gather from the spec that the compressor is rather restricted in what it can do.
Personally, I'd be inclined to spend a little more money on a decent mic pre and a known-good soundcard, and seeing what CEP can do first - as you say, there shouldn't be much of a dynamic range problem. In fact, it's getting harder to find an acoustic environment that's quiet enough for some recordings. And if there is still the need (for whatever reason) to use outboard compression, then this can be inserted between the preamp and soundcard at a later date. That way, you get the essentials first, without spending money unnecessarily.
As for the 'need' to compress, I'd say that this actually has rather more to do with the particular production values you are working with than the dynamic range of the kit you are using. Some singers and some mixes absolutely require vocal compression in order to keep the singer legible, whilst others who sing at a much more constant level hardly require any. You have to judge each case on its merits.
I'm still sticking with the RNC as an excellently performing value-for-money outboard compressor, BTW.
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Syntrillium M.D.
Location: USA
Posts: 5124
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| Posted - Fri Oct 11, 2002 3:24 pm |
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Hi Nathan. Having just auditioned some of the newer Roland USB devices at AES (UA-700, DA-2496, UA-5) I can honestly say that, for the money, the 700 is a pretty slick little device. Far surpassing it's younger brother (the older, 16-bit UA-100) the 700 offers great flexibility, robust construction, nice pots for selecting sample rate, as well as Input Monitoring and Master control. It also takes advantage of Roland's patented COSM modeling technologies, and includes optical, SPDIF, MIDI and more.
Now, in regards to the COSM (which is for both amp and mic modeling), this is a love-it or leave-it kinda thing. Building on their existing technology, it's pretty good - but I wasn't in a quiet enough area to be able to really hear just how good...certainly passable, and not unlike the models in the VS series DAWs.
As SteveG alluded, the compressor section is 'preset', with selections for Normal, Vocal, Kick, Ac. Guitar, and a few others. There are NO parameter setttings - only a 'Compress' knob which essentially goes from Soft to Hard Knee. Again, not bad sounding, but for me it didn't really offer enough options. To be fair, I couldn't really 'test' it properly, but those are the facts.
So, see if you can't audition one first (at your local store). I don't know the Aussie retail, but it's a pretty reasonable deal here. The only other comment I have is related to DRIVERS...from Edirol themselves, there are some known WDM issues, so be aware before taking the plunge.
---Syntrillium, M.D.
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nathan
Location: Australia
Posts: 263
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| Posted - Fri Oct 11, 2002 9:56 pm |
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thanks very much people !!
definately reflecting on the need for outboard compressor
(erased dumb question)
what souncard would you recommend? ( pref with midi ) and maybe a breakout box with XLR..
both Steve and MD..and anyone else
what mic pre would you recommend? if you have time please have a squiz at http://www.digidesign.com/products/mbox/..it has focusrite preamps..are they good enough?
once again thank you for the feedback ..its a major purchase for him as he is almost as broke as i am :blush:
i got to add that he doesn't want to use the protools that comes with mbox -he wants to run CEP - i wonder if it is locked to the system - yoinks!!
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Syntrillium M.D.
Location: USA
Posts: 5124
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| Posted - Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:23 am |
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Hi Nath...don't want to get into a whole PT/CEP dealie - but the truth is, the M-Box (and other digi hardware) really only runs well with Digi software, and that includes the Digi001, 002, Audiomedia III and the M-Box.
As far as the M-Box focusrite pre's are concerned, I've heard they're very good. It's not the 'red' series (obviously) but it's flat-out good technology - and digi now owns Focusrite anyway, so it's not like they have to 'skimp'. I've got one of their Platinum series pres, and it's a charm.
---Syntrillium, M.D.
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SteveG
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6695
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| Posted - Mon Oct 14, 2002 3:25 pm |
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Something that might be worth considering (I don't believe that they'd dare make anything bad now!) is the RNP from FMR audio. If this is anything like as good as the RNC, then it has to be worth at least a listen...
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nathan
Location: Australia
Posts: 263
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kylen
Posts: 290
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| Posted - Thu Jun 26, 2003 11:14 am |
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| Quote: | | SteveG has recommended the RNC really nice compressor!!.. |
Hi SteveG,
Is that still the case? I'm currently in research mode.
I'm going to use it for studio recording (if necessary), individual tracks (usually necessary), and pre-mastering full mixes that need control (necessary on my current pile of work).
For the mixing and pre-mastering I expect to do a send and insert on either a track or the master bus using either CEP or Sonar.
I think I'm really going to like the supernice mode  and it probably sounds a lot better that when I try to simulate it with software plugs - but I won't know that for a while yet.
Thanks:),
kylen
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SteveG
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6695
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| Posted - Thu Jun 26, 2003 12:30 pm |
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Yeah, the RNC is good. If I was in the market for one, that's what I'd go for. I did the really dangerous thing and recommended it to a mate - and he's really pleased with it. I've had a play with it, and it does just what it says on the box. The reviews were good, as well. If something better for the money has come along - well, it's missed me! I've heard a rumour that their mic pre is good, as well...
And you can read the Sound On Sound RNC review here. We trust SOS...
And of course, if you want to shove an RNC across a mix, you won't need two of them! Apparently this was one of the design goals - they wanted something that you could do this with that sounded really good.
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kylen
Posts: 290
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| Posted - Thu Jun 26, 2003 4:47 pm |
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Thanks SteveG!
Unless there's a mass hysteria occuring amongst audio enthusiasts this piece of hardware should really smoke!8)
Mine should get here tomorrow!:P
It's coming in from jacksmusicfactory.com , just around the corner from "The Madonna Inn" in case anyone wants to fly in, pick one up and stay overnight. (http://www.madonnainn.com/);)
kylen
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compressor question!!