After searching many forums, I am bringing this topic back to life as I am not sure if I should get the DBX 160A (yes the A model) or the RNC or ??

Background: (For vocals) Currently using a SM58 into Motu 828 Mk2 pre direct to digital into Cubase SX3. It could just be my voice which is not great but I am getting a lot of low end, some distortion/artifacts (too much gain?) and not getting a consistent sound if I move nearer/closer to mic within a few inches. Using (mostly free) plugins doesn't seem to fix/smooth things out. I can EQ out the low end but wondering if using the mentioned compressors might help.

Plan: Thinking of running a compressor in the Motu sends before the signal goes digital. Also thinking of getting a Rode Nt2a. It seams well rated and at least I get a couple of different directional patterns with 1 mic. Another choice is the AT4050 but it is $200 more which I would rather avoid since the is non-pro stuff at this point. ( FYI - Also have a small mackie VLZ mixer which I could use as a pre but doesn't seem too difference)

Anyhow, if I just want to run single channel of vocal and electric/acoustic guitar with the above microphones which compressor would folks recommend ? I don't plan to record live drums but maybe a bass.

FYI - For mixdown, once everything is in the digital domain I am ok virtual compressor's (VST) that I have been using since I don't use much compression. So I don't know if I need a two channel compressor, nice to have but not sure I need it.

My bias: Like the NS10M's (devil you know) is that it might be useful to learn/know the Dbx160(version here) since in the future I might want to help mix my friends bands and most live sound rigs seem to use the Dbx. Probably won't happen but never know.

So even thought the RNC is $200 less what do folks recommend (even if price were equal and I don't need 2 channels).

I tried to do my homework on this and I know everything varies by application but any recommendations or I am just doing something completely wrong ? Or do I need both and why ?

Cheers,

(another) Steve

Regarding your first question/problem, I think the question really is "Do you need a compressor ?" or better (since in most case you need a compressor on vocals) "will a compressor solve my problem at this point ?"

I have a motu and although the mic pres are okay, I would not plug a vocal mic straight into them, I would go rather through a valve mic-pre first and I think this is something you need to buy before getting yourself a compressor: a nice mic-preamp.
There are a lot of good stuff out there and I advice the TLAUDIO for the ratio quality /price, (I think the brand is different in the US). But this is not exhaustive.

Then, and I should have started with this, you should think of another microphone. I use to have SM58s and SM57s, I won't be snobbing you here, but I have now decent microphones and I wonder how I did ever manage to record anything with those mics ! With a concern for the price, I could advice you to buy a nice 451 from AKG maybe with a CK5 pop filter, those mic are good on almost everything and they are cheap!, you will find some on ebay. Of course, as for the mic-pre, several choices are also possible here...

As far as the compressor goes, if you use one, I would use it before the signal goes digital, you are quite right. I have myself a dbx 160XT and am quite happy with it on voice, bass, and well in all other applications.
About the letter after the 160, I don't think it matters that much, I remember a technician from dbx saying that they had all the same internal circuit and the only changes they had was the way one would plug stuff in and out. Mine for example has three screws that allows me to stick wires straight into the device, the 160 A has XLR I/O I think.
I don't know about the RNC but I quite remember having collected more votes on the dbx. One thing sure is that if you get one, you will have a good piece of outboard.

I hope this will helps.
Alex

I have both an RNC and a pair of 160A's. The RNC is certainly more versatile, however, I find myself using the 160's more often. I don't really compress during tracking so when I use compression it is during mixdown. I'm also recording to a computer and I find that when I'm looking for subtle compression, I can usually get a plug in to sound decent enough that I don't bother patching in the RNC. I'll patch in the 160 when I want to crush something because I haven't found anything in software that sounds like the 160 when you slam it, which can be a cool effect. That being said, the supernice mode is pretty neat and you get a stereo compressor for the price of a single 160 (used that is).

I dont have a 160A, but I do have a 160x that I tend to use a lot more than my RNCs when tracking vocals. Ive found that the RNCs are better for a little bass or kick compression, and I regularly use them for that or occasionally on snare, but for vocals the 160x is my go-to compressor. As far as live sound goes, I dont know where youre mixing, but most club sound rigs that I run across tend to have dbx 166s and 266s, not 160As. Not all, but most, so familiarity with the 160A isnt really gonna help that much.

Idoia wrote:is there a noticable difference between the dbx 160x and the 160xt or 160a, I tried to find posts on that and I could not find anything.
Thanks

This wa posted by Tom Cram from dbx, in another forum:

160SL; is top of the line. dual mono, very clean, very transparent,
very fast, very nice, very expensive.

Quantum; also top of the line, digital. dual mono, multiband, digital
in/out, multitude of mastering features (too many to list).

DDP; pro level, digital. Dual mono, great features, modelled after
the 160VU, optional digital in/out.

160A; pro level, mono, successor to venerable 160 family. If you like
the 160x/xt/etc., you'll like the 160a.

166xl; pro level, dual mono, designed more for live applications
(PeakStop brickwall protection limiter) has next generation V2 VCA,
built-in gate.

1066; pro level, dual mono, has a PeakStop+ limiter which is smoother
than the PeakStop, also has gate.

566; mid/pro, dual mono, hybrid tube compressor, very smooth PeakPlus
limiter, optional digital out card.

266xl; entry level, dual mono, great bang for the buck, includes gate.

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support