How does the RNC compare to waves or Digirack?

[MaKoRancid]

I was just wondering if the RNC is worth buying. Is it a better compressor than some of the digirack stuff or the waves c4?

And when you use outboard compressors can you still use that outboard compression on stuff that is already printed to disk?
thanks

[guy.fi]

People get confused about outboard versus plug-in compression. With outboard compression you can compress the signal when it's still in it's analog state, thus raising the overall level before it's coverted to digital. This can be desireable because a higher level corresponds to a greater bit depth and higher resolution (someone correct me if I'm wrong); in analog recording it means a higher signal to noise ratio. Once the analog signal is convertd to digital you can compress it and shrink it's dynamic range, thus giving you the ability to mix it louder, or effect its tone in different ways (e.g. "fattening it up"), but your not making the original signal any "stronger" (for lack of a better term.
On the other hand, when you record with compression there is no "undo".

[nikki-k]

Hi!
RNC is a sweet piece of gear. Highly recommended.

My personal use of outboard processing is limited to the "in" stage only: in other words, while recording tracks.

When recording, the primary use of something like the RNC (for me, and many others) is to simply prevent an over that would (probably) destroy an otherwise brilliant take. "Evening" a performerance during tracking can help as well, alleviating the need to "ride the fader."

Some performers will *require* a higher ratio (like 6:1, or even 10:1 or higher- eeek!). Those with more experience (and those that have learned proper technique) will not require as much "babysitting."

With levels set properly, there should not ever be need to use a device like the RNC to "make up some gain" or "slam the disk safely."

Dynamics and gain are so abused these days. Find a good engineer- one with alot of experience with analog- and bribe him or her to let you hang with them quietly, with a chance to take notes, and ask some questions toward the end of the day. Learning proper mic, pre, EQ, dynamics, reverb, etc use is INVALUABLE. Then take some time to learn about sound, digital technology, and acoustics. The amount of misinformation floating about these days is almost as sickening as the dynamics issue with (most) cd's today.

Sorry for the tirade- grab an RNC; high quality, low price. And a great starting place to really dig in and learn about dynamics. Use it at extreme settings. Then do a 180 with the settings. Get more detailed in knob movement after that. "Hear" what it is doing, and how it interacts with various sources.