So what's the disadvantage of the RNC...

[Gi-gi-giggity]

...with respect to it having unbalanced 'outs'? What does that translate to sonically? Everything I've heard about these little guys is stellar, and any recording that I've ever heard with them sounded good too.

Educate me.

[fr8_trane]

The only disadvantage is that once you have compressed a track in realtime you can't uncompress it.

I have an RNC and I usually use it just to tame peaks. I'd love to use it more creatively but its difficult when your control room and tracking studio are the same room. I need to hear what the compressor is doing in order to set it for more radical squashing but that's not possible in the one room setup. So for that I use plugz post recording.

[Denyle_Guitars]

Unless you're making an exceptionally long run, you shouldn't hear any difference. In fact, the fewer components needed to make an unbalanced out compared to a balanced out is considered an advantage by some.

[BluesForDan]

unbalanced vs balanced is not so much about which is sonically superior, but for extraneous signal rejection.

when connecting components of a stereo system, which are usually in close proximity, unbalanced is often ok.

when dealing with pro audio, such as mics on stage, FOH dozens of meter away, recording truck outside a venue, etc, balanced is often the way to go.

http://www.blitzfamily.eclipse.co.uk/tech_tips/techtip/art6.htm

[Suproman77]

Rule of thumb I believe is to use balanced connections for greater than 20ft cords and unbalanced is just fine for less than 20ft cords. Degredation is the problem you have to avoid.

[Gi-gi-giggity]

Interesting points. I hear these guys are great value for the money. I asked about the balanced/unbalanced because I'm trying to figure out how I could potentially integrate them into my setup if I bought one/some. I have balanced connection throughout at the moment.

[BluesForDan]

I've heard nothing but accolades for the RNC stuff.

[Suproman77]

Interesting points. I hear these guys are great value for the money. I asked about the balanced/unbalanced because I'm trying to figure out how I could potentially integrate them into my setup if I bought one/some. I have balanced connection throughout at the moment.

You'll need to use an XLR male to 1/4" male cable like this one, for example:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Horizon-Hi-Z-1-4--Male-XLR-Male-Cable-336122-i1129107.gc

You can probably find a higher quality cable somewhere though.

[Rusty G.]

I've got an RNC (and RNP), but don't use the RNC for compression, but more as a "limiter" when recording. Actually, I run out my Great River into the RNC, before running into the A/D/A converters in my ProTools TDM rig.

Works great.

I know that the above doesn't answer the orignal poster's question, but agree with an above poster about compressing when tracking.

[LSchefman]

The advantage of balanced runs is common mode noise rejection, which usually isn't a problem in short cable runs of 20 feet or less.

There is no other disadvantage to unbalanced gear, and it should integrate just fine into a setup of mostly balanced gear, assuming it has a +4dbu operating level. If it's -10 dbv, you may or may not need a box to convert the level and balance the signal, of which there are many such devices to be had inexpensively. This will only be needed if increasing the box's output causes the noise floor to rise.

[mrface2112]

in a home studio situation, you shouldn't notice the difference between balanced and unbalanced. you'll see more noise out of a cheap preamp or the recording room itself than you will due to the RNC's connection type.

i too use the RNC more as a limiter than a compressor. any more than a couple dB reduction and i find it's a little too grabby.

am i the only person here who prefers the "regular" mode to the "supernice"?

excellent compressor for the cash--just wished it was dual mono instead of linked stereo.


cheers,
wade