Post by jmoose on Dec 23, 2022 19:42:38 GMT -6
Dec 22, 2022 8:37:18 GMT -6 @soriantis said:
When I listen to all these shootouts of high end gear, I think to myself.. Yeah, OK, I hear the difference, but I can't necessarily tell that one is objectively better than the other, especially where color is concerned. I write music and record primarily for myself, so on the one hand I don't see the point in purchasing gear that I can't appreciate. Of course I realize that when I share my music, there are people out there who are able to make those distinctions. Then there's my alter-ego asking me as chief knob turner, how do I know I'm not screwing things up? My solution is to keep it simple. One thing I like about the Pultec is that it's a subtle EQ. A lot can go a little.
I think the only answer to this is experience. You don't know what you don't know? And its all mostly impossible to answer because its all so subjective anyway. Ultimately the only "shootout" that matters is the one that happens in your studio.
Like... I dunno. Color. Judging color? Something like that?
Largely boils down to application & personal preferences. Saw the Black Box mentioned and at least for me? Totally don't get it. Know someone who had one & loved it... used it on everything. I couldn't unpatch the thing fast enough. Doesn't mean its bad. Just doesn't work for me.
I also believe there's a terribly deep rabbit hole in comparing the nuances of say, a half dozen pultec klones. That kind of navel gazing can absolutely stand in the way of making music. Once you hit a certain quality level none of this stuff, any of the gear really sucks. Its almost hard to make a bad choice.
Yet I also realize that not everyone has the experience that I or some other guys do... which is that when I started hanging around studios about 25 years ago if you had a pultec or Neve's? An 1176? Any & all of it was all OG stuff. There were no klones. Several different styles of "pultec" from several builders? Science fiction time travel stuff.
EQP vs MEQ? Program all the way. That's what most people think of & gets the heavy use.
Lots of other brands out there besides stam & warm... especially older stuff. I have a Summit "Dual Program Equalizer" - forerunner of the EQP 200A that is honestly one of the last things I'd ever sell. As excellent as an OG. Makes everything sound better. But not at all what I'd call subtle. More like a sledgehammer. But you can tap things with a sledgehammer...
The 500 series Pultec that Steve Jackson is putting out today are incredible. Solid state yes but some forget there were vintage solid state EQP's! That was a thing!
Tube Tech also makes an EQP style and so does Manley. Both are excellent if you like a pultec. And if you don't? Then you were probably wanting something else entirely...