What's wrong with the stock EQ in your DAW?

I used to use the stock Logic EQ, until I got UAD Pultec and FabFilterEQ. I tend to go for the 3rd party ones first now .. the Pultec because boosting sounds great and FabFilter because of the user interface being awesome.

The Cubase ones are decent...but I like to be able to see immediately if I have EQ on the channel - e.g. I like to look at it and see an FF instance on the channel. With the Cubase rack, you can't really see the inserts/sends/etc. at the same time you're looking at the EQ section. Also, after using the FF interface, the limited bands of the Cubase EQ seem clunky. I don't ever use the PTs EQ...I thought they didn't sound as good in the past...haven't tried in a while.

Yeah. DP is great. 

I do use the stock Logic EQ for surgical stuff on busses, more so after they redesigned at a couple of years ago.

I typically use Metric Halo Channel Strip on individual channels as I really like the gate on that plug in.

If I want color in addition to EQ, it is usually the UAD Pultecs or Manley MP, or I get color via some other route.

MJH

Since I am doing most of my heavy lifting on the console...I have been using the stock Logic EQ to little seating notches at mix time... working really well.


Not to be THAT guy, but I have found since using the console, and lots of outboard (read, transformers and tubes and ilk) that I don't mind the stock EQ and Dynamics for little teeny tiny adjustments at mix stage. Rather than the "colour" eq and dynamic plug ins.

Seems perfectly obvious now that I am doing it.




cheers

Wiz

For me personally I catch myself distracted with the visuals I'm still listening of course but maybe not intently as if using hardware
Other words I think the visual influence my decision sometimes by what I think is right instead of what is
I usually catch it later lol

So, it depends on why you're reaching for an EQ. That's not meant to sounds smart ass. To "air up" a vocal, you need saturation involved to do it well, IME. Don't believe me--get Slate's freebie saturation based "Revival". Your DAW EQ can't do that. Same with if you're trying boost midrange in an Egtr or bass track--you need the saturation on the output end of that...ala Neve/API EQs. My fave for this is the IK Pultec. If you work at double rate it's not that much better (maybe just different) than the Waves version, but for client single rate tracks, enabling the oversampling make it ENORMOUSLY better.

There are varying reasons. I still find the Waves Linear Phase "Lowband" (not Broad band plug in) to be the least side effects for HPF'ing. But, you still have to watch what a filter leaves behind.

Mid/Side....I've been spoiled. I don't want to set up a matrix so I can EQ some lows out of the side when I can patch in an EQ with the matrix built into it.

I also really enjoyed the Tilt EQ....which I've not seen stock anywhere. I loved the freebie from Elysia maybe? But, it had no makeup gain, so it didn't get reinstalled last go round. I demo'd ProQ when they put Tilt in with v2...that is such a subtle EQ it mostly sounds OK, but nothing else I might use that for did, so I didn't buy it. I've wanted to demo some of the "new school" "impossible without digital" types--like the AIReq and such....I thought Slate's Custom Shop EQ was really nice--however they had the dynamic Q set up was really quickly musical and hard to make things sound ugly.

So, I think there are reasons, for sure. But with the exception of the role of saturation in boosting EQ bands, I think it's mostly workflow--like you could make the same Q and such as the Slate Custom Shop, but they preset them to change based on frequency and likely also how much you boost vs cut---that's a really clever development, IMO.

I use the PT eq7 for quick cuts and filters and that's pretty much it. Always comes across lifeless and dull for boosts and there are better options out there for that.

I use Logic's track EQ to quickly see the frequency graph, but mainly use Logic's EQ for cutting the low end out of certain things because It's so easy to use. I occasionally use it for a surgical cut, but almost never to boost. For boosting I use either the Waves API or SSL EQ's, and for drums, Piugtec or UAD Pultec for a little fat and some snare boost. Clariphonic plugin for an occasional high end lift that's musical.

I have the Elysia EQ plugin, but still can't figure out how it works. Their "tutorial" video shows how nicely it sounds, but basic instructions are missing. I'll have to find the manual one day and finally figure out what the hell the two little buttons actually do, it wasn't that cheap and I never use it, although I really liked how it sounded in the video when they demonstrated how to improve the tone of a vocal.

Yeah, I have to chime in, so as not to be all negative all the time, that I've grown to like the MusEQ a lot--but, I only ever use the mastering version, often in mid/side mode. When I first demo'd I didn't hear any benefit of the Waves Linear Phase I was used to, but over a longer term--more program material, I get it. It's got a really natural sound.I could do without the goofy "screw as output level" UI, as someone who is OCD about not adding/removing level with DSP....but, that aside...very clean natural EQ. FWIW--I never like the "warm" button....but, again--I mean program material....not a single track where that might be more flattering.

Holy shit...I NEVER KNEW the screw was the output level. That's fantastic, thanks!