Your favorite EQ brands for each application

  • Thread starter Thread starter RecordingMaster
  • Start date Start date
RecordingMaster

RecordingMaster

A Sarcastic Statement
Since there are so many options of either hardware or software emulations of eq's, I'm just wondering what all your favorite eq types are for each given application and why.

Unless you're using all just one type for everything which is what I did, until i recently bought a pretty decent pack of URS eq plugins. I'm finding slowly where each of them shine, but I want to know what YOU are doing.

Let's keep the limitations and applications fairly general, so choose from the ones I am supplying if you can:

Choose between:
a) your stock DAW eq
b) API
c) SSL
d) Neve
e) Pultec

Applications:
Kick
Snare
OH's
Toms
Drum Room
Percussion
Electric Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Bass
Vocals
Pianos and synths

Thanks for your input!
 
I use ReaEQ on pretty much everything. I rarely use more than 4 bands on anything, and almost never boost, almost always small cuts. For the amount of EQ'ing I do, which is very little, I don't really hear a significant difference between one EQ and another. If there is a difference, it's so subtle that it would be the least of my concerns if I wasn't happy with the sound of something.
 
The stock Quad Curve EQ in sonar X2a is sufficient for nearly all of my EQ needs.

I might use TRacks Linear Phase EQ for broad tonal shaping on the master buss, nothing much else these days
 
I tend to use the stock eq unless there's some reason not to. The URS eq I've used sounds quite nice but isn't truly parametric so sometimes I resort to something with more control. The ReaEQ's interface is better than the stock channel eq in my old version of Vegas. The ReaFIR is quite versatile and a great "special case" eq. Mixed filter/dynamics processors like Vintage Warmer can also be useful on tracks, submixes or on the master bus. I find that in most cases a good interface and predictable sound is more important than anything esoteric.
 
Waves Q-10 for all my cutting (everything)
I like the Waves SSL Gchannel EQ section for vocals and Acc Guitars
 
EQ Mix Bus - PSP NOBEL-Qex (I wish I could make this font bigger for this one) Anyway musical, smooth, depth almost as if a real subtle stereo field is imbedded in this things DNA, I dont know just opens up the sound, um tad bit of sparkle, warm..um cherry on top, icing on a red velvet cake, parmesan cheese on Italian spaghetti, nuts on ice cream, whip cream on pie, sour cream on fajita, spoiler on ferrari, white walls on an old school....I think you get the picture lol.
 
I have all of the URS eqs and compressors. I definitely like the SSL stuff on drums, I tend to stick with the non mix versions.

For pulling out specific stuff (surgical) I'm really digging the waves Q10 I just snagged.
 
I have a habit of using an API 2500 on drums.
waves q3 for the little cuts
try and avoid them unless theres an issue generaly.
 
It's amazing really. I would have kept life simple and just used the stock PT digi EQ3 plugin, but when i got my URS eq's I just tried them out and A/B'ed with the exact same settings. It blew my mind and I feel silly having used just the stock eq, after hearing how much, for lack of a better word, "better" the modelled eq's sounded.

For example, I tried it on some tracks i was already content with. I tried the API eq model on my drum OH's. I was using the digi eq3 7 band. So I opened up the API eq side by side amd mimicked all the same boosts/cuts, q's and freqs as on the digi eq. I was blown away at the difference. I pretty much had to take most of the high end boosts right out of the API because it was already so bright (but not brittle). It was also less muddy/boxy sounding in comparison.

It's amazing that our ears can "like" and be satisfied with a sound because you think you can't do much else to it eq-wise to make it sound any better, and then something else comes along and somehow does an even better job, when you didn't think it could get any better.

Just some food for thought. I still use the the digi eq for certain things, but I'm really liking using different eq's on stuff just for shits. I tried the SSL on toms and holy crap - without even boosting, the mid-highs are really punchy and have an almost aggressive tone to them. I tried the Neve on kick and bass and I can say that I found this eq to be one that was a little of an acquired taste for the sound it produces.

So as my ears learn the differences these different eq's can produce, I'm not about to slave and try each and everything out. I opt to not dick around and just grab whatever my instinct or curiosity is telling me to. So if I mix some vocals today, i might just grab the SSL and go with it. Only if I am unsatisfied,will i try another eq. Dilemma solved. haha

But was just curious what characters of the ones I mentioned you found you liked and on which sources.

Thanks.
 
Sometimes you just get used to one and anything different is refreshing though not necessarily better. I just got into ReaFIR with the Reduce Artifacts box checked. There seems to be a sort of clarity other eqs lack, and I like the interface.

I've used the URS N4 (I think) and sometimes it's just right, but the limited parameters often don't allow the specific settings I need.
 
Perhaps I'm stupid but the stock logic eq works just fine for me. Sometimes I use a pultec type plug on drums but thats about it. Maybe its just that im comfortable with the grapic interface of logics eq. Recording Master: Perhaps I'll give copying the eq curve onto different eq sims and see if I hear the difference.
 
I use standard Reaper EQ for everything: ReaEQ.

Maybe there is better, but I'm ok with ReaEQ; it does everything I want.
 
jaynm26 said:
EQ Mix Bus - PSP NOBEL-Qex (I wish I could make this font bigger for this one) Anyway musical, smooth, depth almost as if a real subtle stereo field is imbedded in this things DNA, I dont know just opens up the sound, um tad bit of sparkle, warm..um cherry on top, icing on a red velvet cake, parmesan cheese on Italian spaghetti, nuts on ice cream, whip cream on pie, sour cream on fajita, spoiler on ferrari, white walls on an old school....I think you get the picture lol.
Click to expand...

I will have to agree with you here. Bigger font needed. Hands down, the most used/best sounding eq I have purchased. There is logical debate over EQ being nothing more than basic manipulation of frequencies. This EQ (NobleQ) has actual flavor. Whatever algorithm is used, is just sweet to my ears. The same boost of frequency in the stock Cubase eq, sounds like total ass. I love this eq like parmesan cheese. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top