Recommended compressor for vox when tracking?

[keano]

I don't have a bank account to suffice buying a Tech Tube CL1B or original LA2A. What I can do is a Summit TL-100 or Distressor used. Or a Lunchbox 500 compressor.

what do you guys recommend? I use a RNC right now. But would like something like stated above.

[XAXAU]

There´s no need for outboard really, the UAD plugins sound so nice. Spend that cash on acoustics instead. If you do have the money then go for a UA 6176, it works for Chris Martin´s voice. Or a UBK Fatso? No need to get new stuff, scratches look good. I never pick up chicks without scars

[keano]

6176 looks like a cool all in one option. I need to try these things out. The Summit Audio looks attractive on used price. The UBK is better then the original? a used distressor can be $1200. UBK looks complicated but I am sure it is matter of playing with it. So many options. Retro 176 is just too much $$$.

[XAXAU]

But if you haven´t got a proper mix room you should take care of that first. A clean preamp with a SM57 will work better than fine. It´s better to automate the dynamics then compress with 1176LN > 33609> LA3A > LA2A or whatever you like.

[keano]

Is it possible to track in using a UAD LA2A if I choose? Meaning would latency be a problem or affect track?

[XAXAU]

The compression happens after the converters so there´s no point in doing it.

[Blackout]

i did a big test in a store, shoot-out between a lot of preamp/compressors. ended up getting the UA-LA610, just had that "special" quality about it. and this was before i brought a UAD card!! Its hard to explain, the other preamps just sounded "flat" and lifeless. The LA610 sounded hott!! volume levels were the same. it was like the LA610 sounded like the original and the other preamps (some more expensive) sounded like 2nd gen tape copies. everyone in the store, including the employees, all gathered around at the end and all agreed, and were quite amazed at the difference. Most didnt expect such a difference between them all. It was very noticeable. This was up against a DBX preamp, Neve and several others more expensive (i forget which ones now but big brands).

Then again i had an older pro-session singer in my studio a year ago and he was floored by how good my LA610 sounded. he thought i musta just got lucky with a "special" unit that has more "specialness" than most of the others...he had used lots of them. So maybe thats true, the store that day only had one unit, the display one, so i couldnt put it up against another LA610 anyways to know... they asked if i wanted to wait a few days to get one "in the box" and from experience i always take the one that i can see working and know its solid. Possibly a great decision.

Its like anything i guess. Take 5 acoustic guitars from the same model and manufacturer and year and play them after each other and one will stand out. Even if the manufacturer has high quality control, no two are really ever the same.

Needless to say, when i moved the studio a month ago, most things got packed into boxes and moved by the storage guys into the truck, the LA610 was carried like a delicate baby out of the rack and onto my car passenger seat and travelled first class

when i track vocals it just takes the rough off the edges...very little compression. As XAXAU says the compression happens later with the plugins LA2A , 1176 LN, Waves De Esser, UAD Prec Limiter etc...

[lqbe]

@keano: Hey, what's wrong with using the RNC as tracking comp? It's a fantastic piece of kit for controlling peaks before they hit the A/D. I myself am using an outboard dbx set to _very_ gentle values. It's really just there for safety and peak control. The actual vocal compression is always happening in the box for me.

@blackout: LA610 would be my first choice, too I even dare to say that you cannot mess up a vocal recording with the LA610. But right now I'm still happy with my dbx->rme->uad setup.

[keano]

The RNC is cool but you know....... always want different. http://www.audiolines.com/Studio-Record ... ng-Channel

Looks attractive...

[marQs]

@keano: Hey, what's wrong with using the RNC as tracking comp? It's a fantastic piece of kit for controlling peaks before they hit the A/D.

RNC, anyone has experience with it? Beeing an in-the-box guy mixingwise I'm looking for a reasonable priced pre-A/D-chain when recording and stumbled over RNC recently... is it worth the praise it gets everywhere? (I don't expect it to be as cool as something that's 10x the price of course. Just need a little dynamic control pre AD...)

[lqbe]

is it worth the praise it gets everywhere? (I don't expect it to be as cool as something that's 10x the price of course. Just need a little dynamic control pre AD...)

Yes and no. But the bottom line is: its supernice mode sounds fantastic and it's absolutely sufficient for a little pre-AD dynamic control. I'm mostly using the dbx 166xl for extremely gentle and neutral vox control, because it's cheap (a little above the price of an RNC), quiet, works in dual-mono mode too, and it does exactly what I want it to do. Plus I like the added controls compared to the RNC. The RNC however is a simple, fugly-looking box with more character in 'supernice'.

Make sure you have a look at the FMR Audio PBC-6A, too. It's supposed to be the lovechild of RNC and RNLA.

[DK]

PBC-6A - Blows the other two away (I have all three)...actually have a pair of PBC-6As on the two buss when I mix
Vocals, Bass, - covers so much sonic territory - way,way more versatile - mercenary audio has some great clips on the site but they still dont do it justice

This litle box plays with the big boys..distressors, 1176s,etc etc

[marQs]

Thanks! As you both have both, the RNC & RNLA, I'm interested in the differences between them. Do they have different characters?

[keano]

The PBC-6A looks a lot more interesting to be then my RNC. Looks like these might be a good simple cheap alternative to a Summit TLA100 or 1176 reissue.

Can it be subtle as well as heavy hitting?

[DK]

The PBC-6A looks a lot more interesting to be then my RNC. Looks like these might be a good simple cheap alternative to a Summit TLA100 or 1176 reissue.

Can it be subtle as well as heavy hitting?

That's exactly it's stregnth - Can be subtle (Like when I use the pair on the two buss) or can crush like an 1176 - can also get a pretty fat rounder tone - Thick/Silk is very subtle but noticeable....I dont think there is anything in this price range that can touch it really and beleive me I have tried. If Stereo/dual channel is a requirement I prefer the Art Pro VLA II with a tube swap over either the RNC or RNLA. I hardly ever use either any more - I am about to sell the RNLA to my buddy but I am keeping the RNC just for back up purposes

To me the RNLA is just the RNC with a little more "chest hair" - it can sound decent on drum buss or the right kind of vocals but for the money I find the ART Pro II far more interesting