31 band EQ's...........

[ausrock]

I have a couple of these in our rehearsal PA and rarely actually use them.
Question:.........How useful are they in a recording studio environment..........essential / just handy to have around / no use at all? i.e; Do I keep them or trade them on something I will use in the studio?

Peace........ChrisO

[Blue Bear Sound]

Overall, I'd say almost useless.... their bandwidth or "Q" is too broad for track work/mixing....

About the only thing I do with mine is occasionally patch them before reverb to either thicken or thin the sound before it gets "verbed"....

Other than that, EQ in the studio is usually full-parametric.....

Bruce

[Gargamel]

You can use them in the studio as an effect....I wouldn't use it to eq tracks....

[Henrik]

I thought the most common use for 31 band EQ's was to patch them in before your monitors to make up for uneven frequency response in your control room. So if you measure your room and find it has a 3dB peak at 300 Hz, you cut the sound from your monitors by 3dB at 300 Hz, using a 31 band EQ.

[Gargamel]

Uh oh....here we go again. You are partially correct. While some of us agree it is a good idea to use a parametric eq in conjunction with a spectrum analyser to correct any problem frequencies in your room, others will definitely say that this is not a good idea. I read an article in EM discussing this topic. The problem is though, if you base your rationales on magazines, chances are you are a slave to marketing hype. Remember that's how they make their cash, advertising. I used to always take magazine articles as gospel. Since joining this BBS I have canceled all of my subscriptions!!!!

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally posted by Henrik
I thought the most common use for 31 band EQ's was to patch them in before your monitors to make up for uneven frequency response in your control room. So if you measure your room and find it has a 3dB peak at 300 Hz, you cut the sound from your monitors by 3dB at 300 Hz, using a 31 band EQ.

Not a good idea.... due to the phase anomalies introduced by the EQ, trying to use it as a sonic corrective measure will actually make things worse........

Bruce

[Henrik]

Aha, I see. Ausrock, get rid of the damned thing!

Cheers
/Henrik

[Empty Planet]

I'd hang on to one, even if it's a crappy one. You can use it to do sidechain work, de-essing and the like, in an outboard compressor with a sidechain like the affordable RNC. Handy if you plan on compressing your overall mixes externally as well....

[Blue Bear Sound]

Again... for sidechaining, you usually can't home in on the specific frequency you need to because the Q is too wide............

As I said... 90% useless!

Bruce

[Velvet Elvis]

I would assume that since most people seem to dislike adding an EQ on their studio mains that it would be looked down upon to add a sonic maximizer of some sort as well?

Discuss amongst yourselves

Velvet Elvis

[tubedude]

I got $20, you pay shipping....

[vox]

They may be almost useless in a studio environment but they are an essential part of a live rig. If you plan on playing live keep em.

[ausrock]

Thanks to all who answered. You have only confirmed what I was thinking.
And no more live work ( or at least playin' roadie) for this lil black duck................I've sold my QSC's, speakers, etc., so I reckon the EQ's are going out the door too.

Peace y'all,

ChrisO