Parametric EQ unit with editing software?

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Kevzmusic

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I'd really like to get MY hands on a parametric EQ rack unit (5 or 7 band) that has PC editing software capability.

I have all the para-EQ VST plugins I need for my DAW direct recordings....but, I'd also like an external rig for live work.

It's SO MUCH easier to 'tweak' n save presets via a PC screen, rather than fiddling with small knobs, or squinting a tiny LED displays on the unit itself...

Funny thing is, with todays' high-tech/software, etc...you'd THINK that pretty much ALL hardware gear would have PC (USB) linkup...

But, they don't :(

Anyone know of a para EQ with software editing???

IF ya do, please gimmee a shout...

Cheers,

KEV
 
SonicAlbert said:
The DBX Quantum II has editor software for the PC. It's four band parametric though, not 5-7 bands.
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Yeah but,

that's a complete mastering unit, and costs $2500 or so, all I want is a decent para-EQ rack unit for my guitarzzzz, for live use.

I have all the VST plugins I need for mixing down, etc...

KEV
 
If it's for live use with guitars, why the need for the computer editor? Will you have the computer onstage with you?

I really find most built-in editing interfaces to be pretty easy to use. Especially for live, I prefer to have a little editing screen to make easy changes. I'd suggest you find yourself an old Yamaha DEQ7. It doesn't have a PC editor, but it's really pretty simple to edit from the front panel.

Another option would be a Roland E-660, which has a *great* user interface, plus you can store your setting in presets. The E-660 has one of the most analog like user interfaces for a digital eq that I've ever seen. Really a piece of cake to use, no PC editor needed at all, and easier to program than the DEQ7. I've owned both by the way.

I may be missing something, but I expect any currently available digital eq (and OS compatible with current computers) with software editor is going to be pretty darned expensive.

Check out the Roland E-660, it really is a breeze to use and edit, sounds good, and allows storage of presets. I think, if I remember correctly, you can stack both channels to make a mono eight band eq. Not totally sure about that, but I seem to remember something of the sort.
 
If it's for live use with guitars, why the need for the computer editor? Will you have the computer onstage with you?

Sonic,

I LIKE to create my presets via the PC, and then store them to the hardware unit for use in a live situation. NO, I wouldn't have a PC onstage, but I don't need to, coz the EQ presets, would be already saved in the EQ unit., etc.

WHY do I prefer editing software, simply coz my "vision" isn't great, and I hate fiddling with small LED screens or tiny knob parameters, etc....I find it so much "easier" to work on a large 21" LCD computor monitor screen.

I'm amazed, that today, ALL external hardware isn't software controlled...

KEV
 
In the absence of an actual product like what you describe at anywhere near your price range, I'll again suggest the Roland E-660. It's perhaps the closest you can get, as far as a digital eq with saveable settings, yet very analog-like in it's ease of use. All adjustments are made with front panel knobs. And once you memorize the button presses to save and recall patches, you barely need to look at the screen.

I believe there's also a new Z-Systems product coming out called the Z-Qualizer, but I haven't heard about any PC editor for it. Front panel operation seems pretty simple though.

The other thing you might want to do is look through the Sound Diver list of supported devices and see if they have editors for anything like what you need.
 
SonicAlbert said:
In the absence of an actual product like what you describe at anywhere near your price range, I'll again suggest the Roland E-660. It's perhaps the closest you can get, as far as a digital eq with saveable settings, yet very analog-like in it's ease of use. All adjustments are made with front panel knobs. And once you memorize the button presses to save and recall patches, you barely need to look at the screen.

I believe there's also a new Z-Systems product coming out called the Z-Qualizer, but I haven't heard about any PC editor for it. Front panel operation seems pretty simple though.

The other thing you might want to do is look through the Sound Diver list of supported devices and see if they have editors for anything like what you need.
Click to expand...

I'm concentrating on 'DI recording at the moment, so I'm not anxious for an external EQ unit, as I do have all the para-EQ VST plugins I need.....However, I do think that co's will be incorporating software into their rack gear soon-ish...it does seem to be the 'logical' way to go...I may just wait for a bit and see what comes onto the market.

KEV
 
In your first post you mention wanting an external eq rack unit, and now you are saying you using a DI and don't want an external rack unit. What do you in fact want?

As far as the unit you describe waiting for, I think you may have quite a wait coming if you are looking for an affordable guitar oriented box that's rack mountable and has software control. But maybe the Line6 Pod has a software editor available somewhere?

Other than that possibility, what you want exists right now but is expensive, and any future units probably will be so as well. Think of the development costs. As far as software control of hardware being the next logical step, I think if anything the industry is moving away from that. Except for you, I don't see people clamoring for dedicated hardware boxes with software control. They are looking for software with hardware control.

The other side of the coin is plugins migrating to hardware. Plugzilla for example. Perhaps that is what you are looking for. I'm not sure, but perhaps you can program the plugins in your PC and then transfer that programming over to the hardware unit. That might be nearest to what you are looking for, although I'm not really sure what you are indeed looking for anymore.
 
SonicAlbert said:
In your first post you mention wanting an external eq rack unit, and now you are saying you using a DI and don't want an external rack unit. What do you in fact want?

As far as the unit you describe waiting for, I think you may have quite a wait coming if you are looking for an affordable guitar oriented box that's rack mountable and has software control. But maybe the Line6 Pod has a software editor available somewhere?

Other than that possibility, what you want exists right now but is expensive, and any future units probably will be so as well. Think of the development costs. As far as software control of hardware being the next logical step, I think if anything the industry is moving away from that. Except for you, I don't see people clamoring for dedicated hardware boxes with software control. They are looking for software with hardware control.

The other side of the coin is plugins migrating to hardware. Plugzilla for example. Perhaps that is what you are looking for. I'm not sure, but perhaps you can program the plugins in your PC and then transfer that programming over to the hardware unit. That might be nearest to what you are looking for, although I'm not really sure what you are indeed looking for anymore.
Click to expand...

Sonic,

You aren't reading my posts properly...

I said I do mostly DI recording....however, I would like an external para EQ rack unit as well, IF I can find a good one that I can edit in software...

MY Line6 gear (XTPRO rackmount and POD 2.3) both have USB/MIDI software editing capability, so no probs in that department...

All I'm looking for is an external para-EQ unit, for live work, that can be pre-programmed via PC software...

That's it...

KEV
 
Actually, there's probably a fairly reasonable number of units currently available that will fit your description, now that I think of it. A hardware unit that has a full midi implementation, allowing deep editing via midi cc's, will certainly be perfect for what you are looking for. All you need is software like a fully featured sequencer and you can easily create your own PC editor for the external unit.

I use Digital Performer on the Mac, and it allows the user to create what it calls "consoles". These can be whatever you want them to be, and can have whatever layout you wish. So in DP I create a console with faders, knobs, parameters readouts, etc., laid out just like I want, with the various controls sending midi cc's to the external hardware unit. Voila, software editor for external unit.

This technology is already available, has been for some time, and is actually what manufacturers are using to allow people to do PC editing of hardware units. So I'm not exactly sure what you are waiting for, as it's already here. And I'm also not sure what manufacturers are going to do in the future that would be different than this. Midi is a standard protocol, after all.

So I think that since the technology you want is already widely available, the main thing to do would be to find a digital parametric or multi-fx with a good eq, with a deep midi implementation. Then just build your own software editor in a sequencer and you're done.
 
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