The RNC of Equalisers (musical sounding eq)

[CyanJaguar]

hi guys,

as I move away from directx plugins toward rackmountable fx boxes and processors, and as I find that the rack boxes are better, I need to get a outboard eq.

I need a very musical sounding eq to shape my sound. I.e a 31 band eq will be good enough.

I am asking here because I don't know the first thing about outboard eq.

my price range is not much. <$200 for a very good one. I know that I'm pushing it cos I have seen eqs in sweetwater catalog for $2500.

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Can you guys suggest a trusted box that sounds awesome and will not add too much noise to my signal.

Or if there is one that has s/pdif i/o so that I can avoid quality loss?


finally, are analog eqs more musical sounding than digital eqs?

thanks.

[Blue Bear Sound]

I just picked up an LA Audio 2-channel parametric for $500Cdn - quite nice. FMR Audio, the guys who make the RNC, is coming out with a parametric EQ, but it is still under development and not yet in production.

If you can wait until then, I would... when they come out, you can bet I'll be getting a couple of them!

Otherwise, it's going to cost you a bit to get anything halfway decent......

Bruce

[CyanJaguar]

thanks bruce,

one more thing I would like to know.

Would a half way decent eq beat the plugins? or are they comparable in sound.

I use sonic foundry eq, which I suspect viciously, but would, say logic audio platinum eq sound as good as an outboard.

thanks y'all

[MISTERQCUE]

Samson also has the E30 15-band Graphic @ $170.00.
It also has balanced 1/4" and XLR inputs.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally posted by CyanJaguar
thanks bruce,

one more thing I would like to know.

Would a half way decent eq beat the plugins? or are they comparable in sound.

I use sonic foundry eq, which I suspect viciously, but would, say logic audio platinum eq sound as good as an outboard.

thanks y'all

Hmmm... the s/w end I can't comment on (since I don't use it!) - maybe sonusman or others can field this one.

Sorry

Bruce

[saucy jack]

ive had good luck with the dbx 1231 its stereo 31 band graphic eq run 300-400$

the guys on rap board are talking about an Asc(?)which i believe is a little more expensive
i think mecenary audio has them

[Blue Bear Sound]

Just to clarify, I'm talking about parametric EQ, NOT 31-band graphics. If you're concerned about musicality and overall usefulness, you want to go full-parametric.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that a graphic EQ will tend to do more harm than good in a studio setting (since there is no control of the Q, or scope of each frequency's boost/cut). Of course, I'm not saying they CAN'T be used - as Saucy Jack mentioned, he's had success with them, but they can affect your tone far more than you may want, so they really need to be used carefully.

[CyanJaguar]

thanks Bruce and saucy jack. I had not been thinking about parametrics, but I will look immediately into them.

I will also check out the dbx 1231 and the samson e30

[The Axis]

Symetrix also makes a very nice looking (specs wise) Parametric EQ. You can find them for about $530 for a stereo version. I haven't tried them, but would give them a look.
http://www.symetrixaudio.com/Products/552.htm

The current "RNC of PEQs" is reputed to be the Speck, but it is still about twice as much as the symetrix

http://www.speck.com/

[CyanJaguar]

i appreciate that very much, axis

[FZfile]

hey cyanjag.,

you've pulled in a good haul of feedback on this
but i'd like to mention that i've recently picked up a
the nady geq231 from american music supply for $160.
arrived in 3 days well packed and its sounds very
clean and so far seems pretty sturdy.
it's not an eq with definite "character" as i've heard
about in some (like joemeeks) but it's versitile.
1/4";XLR;and RCA ins and outs. hi and low pass filters and
6/12dbl and bypass switches per channel.
it has done well for me so far. hope it helps.
-mike

[S8-N]

I use an Alesis M-EQ 230 as part of my guitar rig... but I would never use it as part of my studio rack. Its noisy and harsh. I like the software parametric EQ's. I find it VERY helpful to actually see the graph of the freq that you are affecting and the Q, etc.... and they add no noise that I can hear.
I am referring to the Vegas Audio Parametric EQ, but I am sure others are just as good.

[James HE]

nope S8-N, others are better. The waves plugin Eq's are very good. CPU hogs though...

on a side note. Spirit is releasing the new M-series boards. M4, M8, M12. They have SPDIF out for the main buss of the board! Selectable pre/post fader Direct outs, the same mic pre's as the Soundcraft Ghost series, and... that really nice British EQ... just thought I'd put that seed in your head. I got an email from a Spirit rep, saying that they should be out in March. Couldn't get a price on them though . I hope to getting a M12 nonetheless.

-jhe