Stand alone units and detailed EQ

[ditnoj]

Howdy.

For the folks using standalone units:
What are you guys doing to make precise eq adjustments. I've read alot on the site about a boost around "*" and a cut right at "#". However, the only eq I have at the moment is what is integrated in my unit (DPS16). So I'm thinking about an external eq unit, but at the same time I'm thinking that it would be good to have a frequency display of some kind as well.

Even my 'puter (450 with a sound chip, not a card, right?) should be able to just receive the input so I can monitor it and see what's going on frequency wise.

So what suggestions do you all have for eq units, programs, etc.? Or... those of you that are just using your DPS16, how are you approaching this deal?

Thanks in advance!

D out ITNOJ

 

[darrin_h2000]

I use a graphic eq in the chain after my hard disk recorder on the way into my sound card.

real player has a builtin spectrum analizer and is a free download.

 

[lazyboy]

I've found the EQ on DPS16 to be remarkably able for the kinds of adjustments I want/need to make. I don't really have to vocab to talk much about EQ's but the midband width (if I'm making sense) on the DPS is adjustable for notching out or boosting very specific frequencies. My working assumption is that if I have to make too many eq adjustments I must have recorded incorrectly.

I agree that it would probably be a good idea to add an outboard or something at somepoint. I'm most inclined to suck it up and buy the Waves plug-in package for my computer. I tried the trial download with N-track and thought it was great! Are you mixing down to computer? Maybe you'd want to give that a shot.

 

[ditnoj]

Are you mixing down to computer?

Naw, my 'puter has an "integrated chip" for a sound card and I would lose going from the dps16 to it. I bounce to 14 channels, then those 14 to the last 2 and then any other stuff to the final 2 track. BTW, have you got the newest upgrade with the normalising and multi band compression, yet?

What I'm looking for more than anything is a way to visually monitor the frequencies to help in the cutting and boosting process. It gets real tedious in my work space and also the PS6's I have sound fine but there are things that just don't seem to come through on them that GLARE, for instance, when I run the sound tracks I do at the church. Of course, it could have a lot to do with the church sound system as well...

But anyway, visual frequency monitoring is what I'm looking for first. I agree, the sweepable and "sharpenable" mid is great!

D out ITNOJ

 

[lazyboy]

If you're only interested in reworking stereo mixes, you could burn a CD and load it into your computer as a wav. file. Then you can tool around with plug-ins including a spectrum analyzer..

I don't have the upgrade, but it sounds killer. They really need to add a dither upgrade so that you could follow this or a similar procedure after you've recorded in 24 bit. Akai seems to be pretty good about upgrades for this machine, so lets keep our fingers crossed.