FMR Audio PBC-6A Mono Compressor

tightbidness · #1 09-06-2009, 08:56 PM

http://mercenaryaudio.com/fmrpbc.html

Has anyone used this compressor with bass? I'm curious if it has the same distortion issues as the RNC and RNLA.

tightbidness · #2 09-07-2009, 08:27 PM

pasta4lnch · #3 11-22-2009, 12:02 PM

whoa - this new? used a RNC a while back and dug it...

really want to try a RNLA

MichaelVee · #4 11-22-2009, 01:30 PM

Surely someone has tried this unit out.. Bongo?

bass_69 · #5 10-29-2010, 06:26 PM

Has anybody here tried this ?

bongomania · #6 10-29-2010, 09:17 PM

It could be awesome for all I know, but the experiences I had with the RNC and RNLA have made me unwilling to buy their new items (including the ARC) at full retail price for testing. I'll buy them if/when I can find them used.

BiigM · #7 11-24-2010, 12:02 PM

anyone tried this yet?

bongomania · #8 11-24-2010, 12:34 PM

Actually, I ended up buying one used just a few days ago (I paid way too much, at that), and have not written my review yet. It's excellent! Unlike the RNC and RNLA, where I had to put extra effort in to get the good sounds, with this one I have not gotten a bad sound yet at any setting. Plus, while the RNLA promised "syrupy thickness" but did not deliver IMO, this one has the fat goods. Of course the PBC costs twice as much...

I'll have my review up soon. Maybe even tonight (no promises).

BiigM · #9 11-24-2010, 02:31 PM

Interesting :-)

As you know I have the markbass comp. How would you compare this, for studio use?(quality of sound and so on)

It's not very practical to drag in the pedalboard with the markbass on every time :-)

bongomania · #10 11-25-2010, 12:03 AM

Review posted! http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/fmrpbc.shtml

The Markbass and the PBC-6A have equal sound quality. The Markbass is capable of more transparency, and the PBC is capable of more fattening, dirt, and squash, but they can "meet each other halfway" at the fatter end of the Markbass and the cleaner end of the PBC. For versatility I would choose the Markbass, like if you needed cleanness on one track and more funk on another; but if you mainly just want the heavier end of the tone/squash spectrum, the PBC is the tool for the job.

sonic assassin · #11 11-25-2010, 01:13 AM

could compete with a distressor, you say? im intrigued.

BiigM · #12 11-25-2010, 01:15 AM

So they would actually compliment each other. That might be a good idea :-)

Thanks for your help and expertise Bongo. Your the man! :-)

Mr. Pickles · #13 11-25-2010, 05:52 AM

Not to discount Bongo's experiences, I've used the RNLA and RNC extensively in live sound and mixing sessions and have never heard the "distortion" he's mentioned (both units are connected to the inserts of my mixing console via TRS cables or Y cables). I have no awareness of anyone else having heard this phenomenon either.

Bongo - I've read your reviews, but I don't remember your methodoly. How were you auditioning and monitoring the units?

bongomania · #14 11-25-2010, 10:16 AM

http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/testingmethods.shtml

I follow the threads about these products on recording forums, and believe me, plenty of other people have talked about their problems with distortion on bass. The discussions are usually divided into two camps: people who say they have never had a problem with distortion, that complainers are just not using the unit correctly, setting the release time too fast; and people who have had a problem with distortion, who say dagnabbit I have the release time set slow and it still distorts!

I'm not at all saying the experience is universal or that you're just not hearing it; but am saying it is a well-known and widely-discussed issue.

Another thing to point out is that I place heavy performance demands on any compressor, and where it fails, I will say so. That doesn't mean it's a bad unit for all purposes--I'm just being honest about the product's limitations.