FMR Audio RNLA 7239 - Really Nice Levelling Amp

The Really Nice Levelling Amplifier (RNLA) is a compressor, of sorts, with a character that works well with vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitars and two-mix sources. A friend describes the RNLA's tone as "thick and gooey". Some very well-outfitted RNLA users report that even with a full complement of expensive, vintage levelling amps/compressors, the RNLA still fills a niche that the others don't!

The sonic performance of the RNLA harkens back to the Really Nice Compressor's (RNC's) origins. The original RNC was, in fact, based upon an optical gain element that was ultimately rejected (and tucked away) due to its imparting of a sonic signature (i.e., "color"). However, just like trying to throw away a ball of adhesive tape, this one has also stuck with (to?) us! What's the old saying? What's old, is new again? The implementation is a little different (i.e., no opto) from the 1984 version, but the final sound is eerily similar...

Features

• Wide Dynamic Range
  Despite the unbalanced input/output connections, the RNLA has a dynamic range of 117dB, minimum, which is appropriate for today's digital systems and exceeds that which is attainable with many older, ìvintageî levelling amplifiers. The RNLA offers a clip point (<3% THD) of 22.5dBu.

• Fidelity
  Although the RNLA is designed to dynamically "color" the sound passing through it, the channel electronics are fairly neutral and designed so that the output signal (statically measured) closely resembles the input signal (fidelity defined...though slightly paraphrased). Each channel is hand-trimmed to typically less than 0.005% Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N). Even this low-level distortion is predominantly second-order...a much less heinous form of distortion and agreed by many to impart a slight "sweetness" to a signal.

• Ugly and Cheesy Box
  Like its FMR brethren, the RNC and RNP, we use a third-rack cabinet (still a hearty combination of extruded aluminum and steel) to allow us to throw the money we save in cosmetics into the quality of the audio electronics. Although we did decide to splurge a little by putting very red knobs on it along with a brushed-aluminum LexanTM overlay for that more impressively cheesy, "homegrown" look!

• Easy-to-read Panel Graphics
  This may seem like an arbitrary and trivial point, but we think it's important: easily assessing the settings on a rack-mounted processor is important when you've got a lot of stuff going on during a recording session. In our experience, dark lettering on a light background works better than the other way around.

• Inputs and Inserts
  As with the RNC, the RNLA has unbalanced inputs that also double as Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) inserts to mate with popular mixer and equipment inserts. This allows you to connect, using only a single TRS-to-TRS cable per channel, an RNLA's channel (in & out) with a single cable to a mixer or other compatible device (such as our own Really Nice Preamp, Great River Electronics MP-NV preamp, etc.).

• Balanced Outputs
  The RNLA has balanced, non-differential outputs. Although the "cold" part of the signal is not driven (that would be a "differential" signalling scheme), the impedance in both legs are the same, thereby giving your audio the benefit of reduced noise if the RNLA is connected to a balanced line input.

• Precise Gain Reduction Metering
  A highly accurate gain reduction meter is provided to allow visual verification of what you're hearing. Although meters should never be a substitute for what you hear, a dynamically accurate meter is better than one that can "lag" or misread the actual dynamic performance of the compressor. Due to our digitally-controlled architecture, even the peak-detection errors of a pure digitally-implemented meter are avoided and a dynamically accurate meter is obtained.

• Full Parametric Control
  Some of the more common Levelling Amplifiers don't have full parametric control. Many LA's are missing the ability to control the ATTACK time. Some of them don't even provide a RATIO control, let alone a continuously-variable RATIO control! The RNLA provides both for maximum artistic flexibility. But, most importantly, both the ATTACK and RELEASE controls go to 11! In addition, all of the front panel controls are merely a "control surface" for the RNLA's internal digital engine. This means: (a) No main channel audio flows to/from the front panel controls that might increase its noise susceptibility (that's bad) or dreaded "scratchy pot syndrome" (that's annoying), and, (b) We can use a "ratiometric" measuring technique, along with robust digital filtering, to derive repeatable and precise compression parameters (that's good, if not a little geeky). Did I mention that the ATTACK and RELEASE controls both go to 11?

• Alternative Release Contour
  Loosely based upon the "Log/Lin" control on the Valley People's (Person's?) Gain Brain II, this control ("Log Rel") can help restore some "punch" that can get lost without an acceleration of the release envelope. So, when Log Rel is on, we accelerate the release time as a function of gain reduction amount. We've found this to be particularly handy on drum sub-mixes where you still want the drums to "punch", but in a compressed and controlled way (you know, it's really true: talking about audio is like dancing about architecture...).

• Hardwired Bypass
  Sealed relay (for long life) to switch the RNLA's output connectors between the output of the compression stage or the input jacks, thus providing a true bypass of the signal path. Worst case, without mains power, you'll still get a signal out of the RNLA!

• Made In The U.S.A.
  FMR wants you to know that they do their own manufacturing there in beautiful Austin , Texas 'cause: (a) FMR engineers live there. They're control freaks and need things done to standards that are very specific and loftier than most. Manufacturing products there help control important costs and reduce waste (there's more to producing a product than just considering the costs of labor and parts). All this helps ensure that your RNLA will retain its value and continue compressing for many years to come, (b) Austin's resources and culture--from a very lively music scene to lots of high-tech companies/products--help inspire and maintain FMR's committment to music and technology, and, (c) In order to help others, FMR believe they've got to be vital and capable theirselves. FMR's first choice is to employ as many U.S.-based resources as possible in the design, manufacture and distribution of FMR products.

• Usable
  The RNLA is designed for the real world. That means its knobs are spaced so you can turn them without screwing up other settings, and FMR carefully selected its fonts and colors so you can read your settings from across the room regardless of lighting conditions.

• Visually Annoying
  You can't escape, the BIG RED KNOBS! Even from across the room, they beckon "Turn me! Turn me!". Once you've turned one, you'll be hooked...

• Flexible
  The RNLA can be wired in two ways, using TRS or TS cables. TRS cables allow you to connect the RNLA directly to mixer inserts with one cable per channel; TS cables allow for other applications, such as patchbay connections. The sidechain uses a TRS connection; use an insert cable to connect it to a normalled patchbay.

• WHAT SUCKS
  The RNLA uses a wallwart. As with FMR other products, the RNLA uses a wallwart. This is done to: (a) reduce internal noise induction, (b) make the national/international regulatory compliance less costly, and, (c) to permit easy adaptation of the RNLA to countries other than the U.S.A. As practical as these reasons for wallwart use are, it doesnít reduce the annoyance factor that the RNLA uses a less common, *AC* wallwart. You can reduce this annoyance, however, by: (a) labelling your wallwart on both ends (i.e., on the part that plugs into the wall and at its opposite end) that the wallwart is for use with the RNLA, and/or, (b) use AC mains power strips that can accommodate the extra space required by wallwarts, and/or, (c) hook-up your wallwarts with one of those short, power cord extenders. In either case, what a pain wallwarts are...

• The RNLA “colors” the audio
  Why are we now producing a device that deliberately distorts the audio? There are three reasons for this: (1) FMR customers have requested it and feel that they can’t get specific combination of features elsewhere, (2) FMR believe that the RNLA distorts in a tasteful, useful and controllable way, and, (3) Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Specifications