For the money, RNC is the best sounding and most versatile comp out there. I mostly use mine as a mainmix bus compressor for doing quick mixes through the board. Two channel applications are limited to a stereo insert situation. It's very good on "overly" dynamic vocals also. I've gotten over the wallwart.

I have an ATC-2, which is the pre/EQ/comp box. The mic pre is only OK, but it can bark like a dog with the wrong mic/source. Works best with "midrange" instruments (toms, guitar amps, etc). Certainly no Grace in clarity or fidelity.
The compressor is twitchy and easily becomes way too brutal. Hard to get subtle dynamics-control. Reminds me of a Joe Meek. It is not VCA- or opti-based, but uses a FET like a Distressor. Just doesn't perform like one....
The EQ is where the ATC-2 shines. Smooth and musical, very cool.
If I could do it all over again, I would've just bought the AFC-2 (for the EQ) and hooked it to a better compressor, like the RNC ( I have 2 of them-they're great!).
As far as the RNP is concerned, I don't own one,but the posts at this site have been 50/50 for/against them. They've gotta be better than the VLZs, but some folks say that they're too sterile.
I like "clean", and so I stick with the Grace and True Systems...

cool thanks, anybody now of some "cheaper" lunch boxes and pres/comps to put in them, looked at the API 500 stuff but a little pricey for me also looked at the OSA stuff

JamesG wrote: RNC? is it worth it? is the wall wart a problem?
RNP? what does it compare to? better or worse then say a VLZ pro preamp.

I'm thinking about buying 2 RNCs or a RNP. Any thoughts?

P.S what about Toft pres? is the AFC-2 any good?

With a good microphone the RNP can provide stunning results.

cheers

I have an RNC compressor. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It's not the quietest compressor on earth but it's very transparent and musical sounding. The wall wart hasn't caused me any problems so far. For the price the RNC compressor is a fantastic value I think. I didn't have a big budget but I wanted to make sure that the pieces I bought were reasonably professional sounding and the RNC has lived up to that so far.

And if you connect the RNC compressor to the RNP preamp the I/O becomes balanced somehow, he explains that on their site.

Calgary wrote:
And if you connect the RNC compressor to the RNP preamp the I/O becomes balanced somehow, he explains that on their site.

Nope, sorry, no way to do that.

The RNC is strictly an unbalanced device.

What the website seems to be saying is that you can keep the output of a particular signal chain balanced by inserting unbalanced devices into the insert connections of the preamp.
This does not mean that at any time the RNC is balanced.

The RNC is by no means a bad compressor, but until they change the I/O to balanced(and I'd be willing to pay more for the feature)
this is a deal-breaker for me.

Also, please take the "testimonials" section of their website with a grain of salt. One engineer even claims that the RNC is "unbelievably quiet" which is not even a claim that the manufacturer makes. FMR readily admits that is not an espaecially quiet comp. My two units were noisy enough that I could not justify their use on solo instruments, though they performed adequately enough in a busy mix. I wanted very much to like them enough to keep them, but I just couldn't and had to sell them.

You're right, it does it by using the RNC as an insert on the RNP, which is how I use my RNC anyhow. Like I said before the RNC isn't the quietest unit in the world but it's very usable and cheap. FMR has a new levelling amp out too.
http://fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm

Balancing an RNC. Using the above features, you can allow/provide a balanced signal to/from an RNC/RNP set.