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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 14, 2014 12:11:28 GMT -6
Hey All,
Two parts, first...
1. What are you guys using as a hardware 2-buss EQ?
2. I'm looking for something to add a bit of sweetening to my mixes. More musical than surgical. I would prefer all switched to keep the sides well matched and make recall a snap. I don't have a specific price point in mind, but less expensive is better. API 5500 seems like a strong option. Elysia X-Filter. Maybe the Maag eq's, but would prefer to have more freq choices. Really like the pultec style idea, but are any switched and would they cost an arm and a leg? What do you think would be the best option?
Thanks guys!
-Jesse
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 14, 2014 12:14:20 GMT -6
Before you do, check out the Elysia MusEQ plug. Pretty sweet.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 14, 2014 12:45:59 GMT -6
Before you do, check out the Elysia MusEQ plug. Pretty sweet. Already have it. The way that I'm currently set up is with a hardware master chain. I'm running some plugs on individual tracks in Pro Tools, out through my console and a few hardware inserts and a buss compressor on my drum buss and my master buss. Just looking to add a decent hardware piece before going back "to tape". |
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Post by levon on Jan 15, 2014 3:52:50 GMT -6
I have a Retro 2A3 on my buss. It's a bit pricey though, but it adds a lot of vibe and sweetness...
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2014 4:35:14 GMT -6
I have a Retro 2A3 on my buss. It's a bit pricey though, but it adds a lot of vibe and sweetness... Ever tried the Summit? Seems to go used for about 1k less than the Retro. It's been on my radar. |
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Post by levon on Jan 15, 2014 4:53:40 GMT -6
No, I never tried it. I bought the Retro after some recommendations without having heard it, I know, I know. But it did everything I expected and more. It's pretty thick and you have to like that thickness, otherwise it's not for you. Transparent it ain't...
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Post by unit7 on Jan 15, 2014 5:27:45 GMT -6
For what you describe I agree w Levon. When I got my console in 2008 I was recommended the Fearn VT4s that was supposed to be Pultec style but with a few more options. I was quite 'star struck' having those gorgeous units in my rack but after a while felt they weren't as vibey and sweet as I'd expected. Felt more like clean eq for mastering and I ended preferring my Neve reissues and the eq on my desk. Sold the Fearns and started looking for other eqs. Went to KMR in London two years ago. Brought some unmastered mixes and compared Chandler Curvebender, Bettermaker (that the guys at KMR insisted I should try) and finally the Cartec. It was like after 5 seconds with the latter I knew I had found what I was looking for. As a side note, to my surprise Liam Carter of Cartec was there to stereo match the units for my audition. Low key (far from the 'in your face buy my eqs kind of guy') SUPER nice and dedicated man. So I bought the Cartecs and they've been on the buss for two years now - love them. I'm so into the Pultec style now and using them all the time that I've more or less decided to go for the Pulse Tecniques units and keep the Cartecs for other duties. All this babble because of your keywords 'sweetening' 'musical, not surgical'. Spot on. I know these are expensive, but what I thought about all along was that if the AML DIY kits sound only close to the above, get them! If you're not into DIY, have a tech friend build them for you (I'd do it just for the fun!). And don't worry about non stepped - with so few and large pots documentation and recall is easy, with either a simple recall sheet, the notebook funtion in your DAW, a camera or a video camera. Over and out!
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Post by levon on Jan 15, 2014 6:34:41 GMT -6
What Paul said. For me the Pultec style EQ is just right for the buss. Since I brought up ProReplicas recently, it might be worth to check out his Pultec recreation. They don't break the bank. And look cool. If I wouldn't own the Retro, I'd have bought one of those. Heck, I might buy one anyway.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2014 6:50:18 GMT -6
For what you describe I agree w Levon. When I got my console in 2008 I was recommended the Fearn VT4s that was supposed to be Pultec style but with a few more options. I was quite 'star struck' having those gorgeous units in my rack but after a while felt they weren't as vibey and sweet as I'd expected. Felt more like clean eq for mastering and I ended preferring my Neve reissues and the eq on my desk. Sold the Fearns and started looking for other eqs. Went to KMR in London two years ago. Brought some unmastered mixes and compared Chandler Curvebender, Bettermaker (that the guys at KMR insisted I should try) and finally the Cartec. It was like after 5 seconds with the latter I knew I had found what I was looking for. As a side note, to my surprise Liam Carter of Cartec was there to stereo match the units for my audition. Low key (far from the 'in your face buy my eqs kind of guy') SUPER nice and dedicated man. So I bought the Cartecs and they've been on the buss for two years now - love them. I'm so into the Pultec style now and using them all the time that I've more or less decided to go for the Pulse Tecniques units and keep the Cartecs for other duties. All this babble because of your keywords 'sweetening' 'musical, not surgical'. Spot on. I know these are expensive, but what I thought about all along was that if the AML DIY kits sound only close to the above, get them! If you're not into DIY, have a tech friend build them for you (I'd do it just for the fun!). And don't worry about non stepped - with so few and large pots documentation and recall is easy, with either a simple recall sheet, the notebook funtion in your DAW, a camera or a video camera. Over and out! Great info. Thanks. |
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Post by henge on Jan 15, 2014 6:56:01 GMT -6
Unit7 (Paul) post has tons of great info! I'm using a eq2nv on the buss. It adds a nice weight and can also be surgical. Non stepped gain so your matching by ear. The stepped version which is supposedly cleaner is the maq2nv.
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Post by unit7 on Jan 15, 2014 10:41:29 GMT -6
I shouldn't be, but still I am kind of surprised and happy that everybody are so positive and easy going here. Suggestions are received positively and threads don't turn into tiresome pissing contests. Praying to the Gear Gods that it will remain. :-)
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2014 10:53:59 GMT -6
I shouldn't be, but still I am kind of surprised and happy that everybody are so positive and easy going here. Suggestions are received positively and threads don't turn into tiresome pissing contests. Praying to the Gear Gods that it will remain. :-) 100% I've actually been pretty interested in a grabbing a pair of Pultec style eq's for the reasons that you stated. Plus they could serve some double duty when tracking. I had a pair of Mercury EQ's in my sights a while back, but they sold before I could get my cash together. Paul, have you used the Summit? Any idea how it compares to the true Pultec or any of the others? Price seems to be the best because Summit seems to have a bad wrap (which is unwarrented from my experiences with the TLA-100 and 50). |
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Post by unit7 on Jan 15, 2014 10:57:58 GMT -6
Nope, unfortunately haven't used the Summit.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2014 10:59:59 GMT -6
Clariphonic for the highs, pultec for the lows.
I've heard some demos of the Elyssia plug and it sounds very nice too.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2014 11:05:17 GMT -6
Clariphonic for the highs, pultec for the lows. I've heard some demos of the Elyssia plug and it sounds very nice too. I thought about a Clariphonic, but I've got the airband of my Nightpro PreQ3 adding some clarity up top, so the Clariphonic might be redundant. |
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Post by svart on Jan 15, 2014 11:11:43 GMT -6
Hardware Sontec. I have it but find myself rarely using it, even though it's amazing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2014 16:32:29 GMT -6
Clariphonic for the highs, pultec for the lows. I've heard some demos of the Elyssia plug and it sounds very nice too. I thought about a Clariphonic, but I've got the airband of my Nightpro PreQ3 adding some clarity up top, so the Clariphonic might be redundant. I'd demo the Clariphonic and see. That thing is so sweet. |
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Post by Guitar on Jan 17, 2014 0:55:08 GMT -6
I think I'm going to DIY a Sontec...
pultec someday. I love the pultec plugins on bass and vocals. Have not tried on mix buss!
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Post by keymod on Jan 17, 2014 5:35:20 GMT -6
I have an Oram Hi-def35 on my 2buss, which I think does a very nice job. Hopefully there isn't as much hate here for Mr Oram as there is elsewhere on the web:)
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Post by henge on Jan 17, 2014 6:22:24 GMT -6
Clariphonic for the highs, pultec for the lows. I've heard some demos of the Elyssia plug and it sounds very nice too. I thought about a Clariphonic, but I've got the airband of my Nightpro PreQ3 adding some clarity up top, so the Clariphonic might be redundant. I've often wondered about this. I have the Clairphonic plug and it definitely sounds great on the high end. Very different than the eq2nv. It's also the only plug where a high end boost sounds nice. Guess it must be the parallel processing. |
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Post by jimwilliams on Jan 23, 2014 11:57:11 GMT -6
Call me Odd Duck. I don't use global EQ on my mixes and never have. That tells me the mix has problems best addressed in the console, not outside of it.
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Post by noah shain on Jan 23, 2014 12:10:42 GMT -6
I have a retro 2a3 and a pair of Maags. The retro is SO vibey that it often ends up on things other than the 2bus where I can get away with pushing it more. The 40khz air band on the Maags is OUTRAGEOUS! I love it on 2bus.
I think I'll definitely be trying a pair of clariphonic 500s in my 1608 though!!
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 23, 2014 12:17:17 GMT -6
Call me Odd Duck. I don't use global EQ on my mixes and never have. That tells me the mix has problems best addressed in the console, not outside of it. You Odd Duck. I personally just like to add a touch of sweetness on the buss. Nothing drastic, just a touch extra. |
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Post by svart on Jan 23, 2014 12:21:54 GMT -6
Yeah, sometimes I mix with the intention of using the bus EQ, simply because I know that I want a certain range accentuated or something. Maybe I don't want to use up the channel EQs doing things that I know I'll be doing across many channels, so I'll do it at the bus level and save the channel EQs for fixing things or making things fit together better.
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Post by dandeurloo on Jan 23, 2014 13:44:49 GMT -6
Hardware Sontec. I have it but find myself rarely using it, even though it's amazing. Is yours a real one or is it one of Igor's off of GroupDIY. I have one of them. It is really nice. But I feel I kind of need to set it up before the mix or really early on, then mix into it. Other wise I end up just screwing the mix up. |
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