Alesis DEQ 830?

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I know of the "lukewarm" reputation of the MEQ 230, mostly because I have one...I'm working to replace some gear and looking for a little bang for my buck on a multichannel eq unit.

Do any of you have any experience with this?
http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=45

I know it's Alesis again, but some of their stuff works pretty good...Besides, this is digital, combines 8 channels in a one-rack-space, and comes in well under a grand...

Thanks

Eric
 
For EQ, Alesis isn't top notch... or even middle of the road. For cheap but usable EQ, look at Dbx, Symetrix or Speck.
 
I like the ADAT optical interface on this unit. But why buy an external *digital* eq box when you could do the same thing with plugins? For a PA system I could understand, but for studio work it doesn't make sense to me.

For studio mixing type work I think a parametric would be a better choice. Also, I'd prefer an external unit to be analog, not digital. For digital just go with plugins.
 
Albert, if I used a PC-based DAW plugins would be the trick, but I'm currently running an ADAT XT setup whilst learning the finer points of a Yamaha AW1600...

Stefan, my interest in the DEQ830 is primarily the 8-in-one rackspace feature--I'm limited as far as space goes right now...I don't have a store locally to audition one of these, so I was hoping that someone might have some experience with one...

Eric
 
If you are mixing a studio setting then a graphic eq is really not the right tool. Parametrics are the way to go. So purely aside from the issue of whether or not it's a good eq, it's the wrong kind of eq.

Speck Electronics used to make a three rack sapce analog eq called the 316. It's 16 channels of three band parametric eq. They are rare but come up every once in a while on eBay, and I think would be more the ticket for what you are doing.
 
Thanks Albert, I'll see if I can peg a Speck...While I like parametrics they tend to be much more time consuming for me...The graphs are more visual and lend to quick adjustments...

The AW1600 I've recently purchased has no end to eq and dynamic processing, parametric BTW. I'm an old analog dog and will be spending a lot of time learning the ways of DAW, and am using the ADAT as my "bridge" betwixt worlds...

Eric
 
It may take some time to locate one of those Speck eq's. but they do pop up from time to time.

If you are eventually going to move over to digital eq in your AW1600, do you really want to spend any money on hardware eq right now? Seems like it might be a waste in the long term.
 
SonicAlbert said:
If you are eventually going to move over to digital eq in your AW1600, do you really want to spend any money on hardware eq right now? Seems like it might be a waste in the long term.
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Yes Albert, I do want to spend the money on hardware, and I'll tell you why; I have a great and irrational distrust of things computer related, and though I'm deadset on using and understanding the medium, I also plan on having a backup system (ADAT centered) for the eventuality of crashes. I've seen a lot of system meltdowns and other problems cross the threads, often by people who know what they're doing, so until my faith in DAW is firmly established...

The idea of a self-contained arsenal of pro-caliber studio gear is awe-inspiring to me...But I need buttons, knobs, patchbays, etc. to give me a feeling of significance, coming from the era that I do...

And the money isn't that big of a deal for me, I'm not building a mega-studio, just a home job, and my income as a paint contractor gives me a little more than enough disposable legal tender... ;)

Eric
 
I think the big thing in your case is that you should be sure to assemble a well-balanced setup of gear.

Have you made a gear list? One thing I have done for a very long time is put on paper (or word processor) the long term outline for how my studio is going to look and function. While I amend and change this list from time to time, it is a blueprint for my gear purchases.

Another method I have is to emulate studios and engineers that I admire. While I can't afford the kind of gear that they have, I can still sort out their process and do a "poor man's" version. This gives me a blueprint for how I want to work. This blueprint obviously determines what's going to be on the gear aquisition list.

For me, the engineer whose method of work I emulate in my studio is Micheal Brauer. I also have picked up tidbits from elsewhere, but my studio is based on Micheal Brauer's setup.

I think if you find an engineer whose approach you like, and then look at how they are working and what gear they are using, you will eventually end up with a pretty well-balanced gear list and a studio that works well for you. Look at the big picture first, then sort out how to get there.

Maybe you've already done that, but it seems like you are in transition. This would be a perfect time to really figure out what you want and build a studio around it.
 
Wow Albert, really good advice...I've saved your last post to my hard drive, in case I get distracted from my goals...

I've been collecting gear here and there, willy-nilly (vanilli?) on and off for the last 20-some years. Some is old, some is old and useless, some is newer, but actually NONE of comes via a plan. I even attended the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1991/92, and didn't come out with a sense of a plan to "blueprint" my endeavors.

My wife and I are finally going to build a house in the next couple of years, and I get carte blanche in the basement...That includes dimensions (nice high ceilings), dedicated power circuits, even separate entry (so drummers won't have to lug their kits up and down the stairs). I've downloaded room plans, materials lists, but it never crossed my mind to actually design the signal chain and components....This is going to be more fun than I thought!!

Thanks man...

Eric
 
Eric,

Yes, the "plan" is all-important! But to come up with the plan you have to do some real serious thinking and soul searching. You need to sort out exactly what you will be *doing* with your studio, and how you *like* to work. Once you have figured that out then you can start deciding how to meet those needs with your gear selection and studio design.

A great place for studio ideas is on message boards like gearslutz.com, when they have threads like "post pictures of your studio", or "let's see your control room". I download the pics of studios that have features or layouts that I like. That's how I finally figured out how to light my studio with a nice even light (I rent and can't put in track lighting).

There are *tons* of great ideas to be had by seeing how others solved similar problems in their studios. You shouldn't even think about starting to build your studio until you've looked at *hundreds* of pictures of other people's studios. I'm talking about nice home/project studios and commercial studios as well. You'll find no doubt that you will soon pick out studios you like and want to imitate or take ideas from.

The important features are the layout of the gear and how that affects work flow, plus of course the choice of gear.

Work flow can be the real hard part. It took me forever to get that to a point where I was happy, and it involved building a bunch of my own studio racks/furniture. It's not fancy, but I've packed a lot of rack space per square foot! And it's all within easy reach. Because I am a keyboard player with synths *and* have a mixer and outboard racks of audio gear, it became quite a challenge to design a layout that made it all convenient and practical to use. For me to run everything alone, or to have my engineer in and have the two of us work in the same space.

If I had a different room and could build out (i.e. owned my house) then I would have some better options. But part of the fun is sorting out how to use your own particular space to best advantage.

Since you have the whole basement and are starting from a blank slate, you have a great advantage and can put together a fantastic place I'm sure!
 
SonicAlbert said:
Eric,

Yes, the "plan" is all-important! But to come up with the plan you have to do some real serious thinking and soul searching. You need to sort out exactly what you will be *doing* with your studio, and how you *like* to work. Once you have figured that out then you can start deciding how to meet those needs with your gear selection and studio design.
Click to expand...

Well Albert, what I'll be doing and how I like to work are pretty well established after 33 years of being involved, though having the opportunity to build a studio has never come up before, so some variables will enter that I'm not even thinking about now...

A great place for studio ideas is on message boards like gearslutz.com, when they have threads like "post pictures of your studio", or "let's see your control room". I download the pics of studios that have features or layouts that I like.
Click to expand...

I too have downloaded pics to where my eyes glaze over, some are way overkill for what I'm doing, don't want to get too ambitious...

The important features are the layout of the gear and how that affects work flow, plus of course the choice of gear.
Click to expand...

My current situation has me well aware of this... :)

Work flow can be the real hard part. It took me forever to get that to a point where I was happy, and it involved building a bunch of my own studio racks/furniture. It's not fancy, but I've packed a lot of rack space per square foot! And it's all within easy reach.
Click to expand...

Fortunately for me, I'm involved with the building trades because of my business, and have several cabinet and furniture builders at my disposal...I've also downloaded numerous pics of workstations and desks, and will build my own... :cool:

But part of the fun is sorting out how to use your own particular space to best advantage.
Click to expand...

Yeah, ain't it though...

Since you have the whole basement and are starting from a blank slate, you have a great advantage and can put together a fantastic place I'm sure!
Click to expand...

That's what I'm aiming for Albert...I also have the option of buiding a separate structure (we bought five-and-a-half acres) to house my studio, but the sound damping of several tons of earth really appeals to me... :D I have lots of time to decide and plan, will be building slowly and soundly (not done much anymore), and the room will be my focus at first. I've found a great floorplan at acoustics101.com, and with luck and dough I hope to have a little studio I can obsess in... ;)

Eric
 
The separate building might be nice if you will be having a lot of people over to record. Especially if you will be recording bands or people where you are not friends. Then you can avoid having strangers in your house, even if they can come in a separate entrance to the basement.

The thing about studio pics is that I typically will take just one idea from someone's studio and apply it to my own. My eyes don't glaze over from pictures anymore (mostly), although they do sometimes when I work in a studio that has a great mixer and nice outboard.

Which studio plan at acoustic101.com did you pick out?
 
Thanks for the input sajs, I just wish there was an outlet close where I could audition some gear...There are a couple "stores" in Fargo (40 miles west), but they cater to an economy crowd for the most part and Berhinger appears to be their main product line (for processing, anyway)...

Eric
 
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