FMR RNC1773 Really Nice Compressor

A compact and cost-effective stereo compressor.

The Really Nice Compressor (RNC) from FMR Audio is a compact and cost-effective stereo compressor with a high-fidelity audio path and compression scheme. The RNC provides two modes of operation. One allows the RNC to be used for special effects, like snappy snares or popping basses. The other provides near-invisible signal compression for sensitive material where compression artifacts are less desirable (like natural vocals, acoustic guitar, or the program bus). The RNC yields clean, airy compression with few artifacts and little high-end loss, even at massive gain reduction. The RNC achieves such high performance at a low cost by using using a microprocessor to replace discrete sidechain components (resistors, diodes, capacitors, opamps, transistors, etc.) with chunks of software, thereby reducing the component cost. This approach, however, still processes the main audio in the analog domain, avoiding the problems associated with digital audio conversion like latency and digital artifacts. Even the problem of "scratchy" pots and switches are avoided, as no audio flows through the front-panel controls. The front-panel pots and swtiches merely feed DC voltages to the microprocessor and it takes care of adjusting parameters and signal path with components—like sealed-relays and VCAs—located close to the input/output jacks, avoiding noise pickup and audio quality reduction due to aging controls. Thanks to this blend of technology, the RNC offers the accuracy and precision of digital control with the clean tonal character of an all-analog signal path.

FMR RNC1773 Features:

• Stereo compression in a 1/3-rackspace size
• Accurate and repeatable 5-parameter controls
• Normal & Super Nice modes for different sources
• 1/4" TRS sidechain insert for special effects
• No audio flows through front-panel controls, avoiding hum/feedback

FMR RNC1773 Specifications:

• Size: 1/3 x 1U
• Connectors: 1/4" Unbalanced I/O (TS, or TRS for console inserts); L/Rin& out, TRS sidechain
• Controls and Displays
  • Rotary: Threshold, Ratio, Attack Time, Release Time, Output Level
  • Switches: Bypass, Mode Select
  • Meter: 8-segment LED Gain Reduction, 0-20 dB
• Modes
  • Normal: Provides fast attack/release, accurate compression
  • Super Nice: Layered compressors, reduces compression artifacts
• Operating Level: 0.775 Vrms (0 dBu) nominal
• Noise: Less than -90 dBu over 20 - 20 kHz
• Frequency response: 10 - 100k Hz ±0.5 dB @ 0 dBu
• Clip point: +22.5 dBu @ 3% THD, 1kHz, greater than 2kΩ load
• Distortion
  • less than 0.1%, no gain reduction @ 1 kHz, 0 dBu
  • less than 0.5%, 6 dB G.R. @ 1 kHz, 6:1, 6.0 msec attack, 0.5 sec release, 0 dB gain, 0 dBu
• Threshold range: -40 dBu to +20 dBu
• Ratio range: 1:1 to 25:1
• Attack range: 0.2 msec to 200 msec for 100% correction with
• Release range: .05 sec to 5.0 sec for 100% recovery with 15 dB G.R.
• Output: trim range ±15 dB
• AC Power: Wall transformer, 9VAC @ 500mA, 2.1mm jack
• Dimensions: 5.5" x 5.5" x 1.6"
• Weight: 2 lbs.