Ducking/Sidechain with The FMR RNC - "Really Nice Compressor

Hi guys,

I have been looking for this info for a great part of the weekend but could not find a definite YES or NO about it.

Let's say I play a drumloop or a beat from the MPC stereo output > into the RNC stereo input (and the RNC stereo output into a PA system...). Easy.
Then I decide to track out a separate kick from a separate MPC output > into the Sidechain input.

My question is:
What happens then?
Will then the separate kick sound 'cancel' the sound of the RNC stereo output? And most importantly, will I hear the separate kick in the RNC stereo output when played through the SC input?

In other words, can I get the great ducking effect with only my MPC and the RNC and a few cables?

I couldn't find any tutorial about sidechain compression with the RNC and I really want to make sure before I buy.

Thanks for your help!
/Philippe

philphil wrote:will I hear the separate kick in the RNC stereo output when played through the SC input?

no - that's the whole point of sidechaining - you use a separate source to affect the signal.

philphil wrote:Will then the separate kick sound 'cancel' the sound of the RNC stereo output?

i dont know what you mean by 'cancel'...if you mean like, phase cancel cause they will be doubling up, then no (see above), if you mean like duck the stereo out when it hits, then yes.

philphil wrote:In other words, can I get the great ducking effect with only my MPC and the RNC and a few cables?

yes, though im not sure the RNC is designed for this kind of effect - it's probably a really nice compressor and somewhat transparent.

post results

Hi Tapedeck, thanks for the your answers. I'll definitely cop one and experiment a bit.
This guy: http://soundcloud.com/idleparty/ducking-test-with-fmr-rnc seem to do it as I meant it.
Good day to you!

philphil wrote:Hi Tapedeck, thanks for the your answers. I'll definitely cop one and experiment a bit.
This guy: http://soundcloud.com/idleparty/ducking-test-with-fmr-rnc seem to do it as I meant it.
Good day to you!

cool link - sounds like it works good - i love tests like this.
notice how you dont hear the 505 at all.

finally, my personal opinion is that ducking is a often miscredited to this effect; you can get a very similar 'classic' effect like this simply by running your main bus through the (right) compressor with the bass drum turned up louder than everything else.

The thing tho is that you can hear a kick over the ducking and that's what I want to achieve. Sounds like when the kick kicks in, the ducking ducks in with a longer release which brings the pumping effect. I emailed him about it. We'll see what he says.
/Philippe

philphil wrote:The thing tho is that you can hear a kick over the ducking and that's what I want to achieve. Sounds like when the kick kicks in, the ducking ducks in with a longer release which brings the pumping effect. I emailed him about it. We'll see what he says.

the rnc is ducking the synth - the 606 still comes through no problem.

but you dont hear the 505, as it's just sending the ducking signal.

you might be overthinking this, this is a basic and standard way of operating a sidechain comp.

Yes, sounds like me when I'm JUST about to impluse-buy something

i own an rnc and no lie its hands down one of the best compressors for the money ... it blows away the majority of my plugins (wavs gold bundle and t-raxx) not saying there bad but its easier to get good results wit the rnc especialy with drumz ... and the supernice button works really good with vocals

i havent used the side chain with it yet but like i said its a pretty damn good compressor im sure the side chain will work just how u want it too from reading the post here

Akai explains how to do this with an MPC 5000 and Alesis 3630. it would likely work with other MPC's and any compressor with side chain functionality.

http://www.akaipro.com/tipsfeb09

Method 3: Use a Hardware Compressor With Sidechain

This is the most difficult, and best-sounding method. For this technique, you will need an external compressor with a sidechain option, such as the Alesis 3630.

Route your kick drum, synth, or other signal you wish to use as the sidechain’s modulation source from one of the MPC’s outputs into the compressor’s sidechain input.

Open the Mixer page (mode Pad 7), highlight the OUT for the pad that has the kick drum and set the OUT to 1 (or any desired mono output). Using a mono patch cable, line the chosen output of your MPC into the sidechain on the compressor.

The audio you want to compress must be sent out another of the MPC’s outputs into the compressor’s input, so repeat the above steps, choosing a different output and patch the cable out of the second output into the input of the compressor.

The compressed signal comes out of the compressor’s into the MPC’s RECORD IN, enabling you to sample the compressed signal, record it to a HD Audio Track, or if you are using an external mixer, route it directly out of the compressor into an available channel on the mixer.

On the compressor, set the attack to 25-50ms, the release to 200-500ms, and the threshold according to how drastically you want the audio to duck out. As you manipulate the ratio, you are effectively managing your mix, allowing the kick drum to do its job without muddying the mix.

Wow nice one guys, I'm 100% sold.
Thanks for the help and advice.
/Philippe

i agree the RNC is really nice compressor! have never sidechained on it though.

you should get it

I'd also like to throw the Drawmer LX20 into the mix for consideration. Also has a sidechain option and is excellent for drums.

I think the Prodigy own a couple! And they're dirt cheap on eBay.

I am using a few compressors. My fave is the Phonic PCL 3200. Very different side chain configuration though. Get this you use second in put for keying mono sources (ducking) and if you use side chain it is differential compression. so you ca ndo keying differential compression. good for accurately comping certain ferquencies