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. RNLA7239 SPECIFICATIONS* Size 1/3 x 1 EIA rack unit Connectors Left/Right 1/4" unbalanced inputs (TS, or TRS for console inserts) Left/Right 1/4" balanced, single-ended outputs TRS sidechain Controls and Displays Rotary: Threshold, Ratio, Attack Time, Release Time, Output Level Switches: Bypass, Mode Select Meter: 8-segment LED Gain Reduction, 0-16 dB Modes Normal: Provides fast attack/release Log Rel: Provides release envelope acceleration to aid maintenance of transient "punch" Operating Level 0.775 Vrms (0 dBu) nominal for +22 dB headroom 1.228 Vrms (+4 dBu) nominal for +18 dB headroom Noise Less than -90 dBu over 20-20k Hz Typically -95 dBu over 20-20k Hz Frequency response 10 - 100k Hz ﾱ0.5dB @ 0 dBu Clip point +22.5dBu @ 3% THD, 1kHz, greater than 2k Ohm 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 -40dBu to +20dBu Ratio range 1:1 to 25:1 Attack range 0.2 msec to 200msec for 100% correction with Release range .05 sec to 5.0 sec for 100% recovery with 15dB G.R. Output trim range ﾱ15dB AC Power Wall transformer, 9VAC @ 500mA, 2.1mm jack Dimensions 5.5" x 5.5" x 1.6" Weight 2 lbs
