Outboard Parametric EQ Recommendations

by **Text_Edifice** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:48 pm

So,

I just missed out on a Urei 545 parametric eq and am looking for recommendations for something else that might fulfill a similar role. I want to use whatever EQ I end up with for sound sculpting (primarily at tracking stage rather than mix) so don't need a surgical tool so much as something with some flexible, flattering, broad brush strokes. Don't want a Pultec or clone but also don't want something completely transparent - guess I'm looking for something that has its own 'good' sound - the Urei probably would have fit the bill but haven't used one extensively so was looking at it on recommendation from a friend.

All suggestions welcome. Maybe Rick has something he'd sell me to help pay for his new V76...

Cheers.

by **13thbeach** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:35 pm

Hi there Text_Ed,

I still have a few Harrison 3232 channel strips available. Rob Squire has been racking them up and does a great job. These might just fit your bill as they certainly have a good sound.
Cheers,
Mat
matrobins at gmail dot com
0405 312 061

by **rick** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:45 pm

what about an orban parametric they as cheap as chips these days on evil bay and cleaner then the urie
i dont like them because they are duck egg blue:)
i can probably dig up a couple from a mate if its your thing

i have a stereo spl quire eq somewhere as well if you have $1000 its very very flexable but turned out to be not my thing for mastering

dunno about those
545/546 ureis though - they always looked so promising and sounded so cranky
a bit like the girl i knew at the time i had some :)

by **Text_Edifice** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:30 pm

Thanks guys -

Mat - thanks for the offer, but don't need channel strips so much as I'm pretty happy with the pre's I have already, not that more options are a bad thing but I'd rather just have the EQ.

Rick - Orban's sound interesting, am familiar with some of their comps / limiters but not their EQ's. Just did a quick google and forum hype falls into 'they sound noisy with no headroom' and 'their useful tools with a bit of character'. Is it really just the blue colour that puts you off?

SPL looks good but don't really need stereo and would prefer not to drop a grand on eq in this instance (though maybe you can talk me into it).

Will take your word on the Urei's â€“ after all it's character, not superficial appearances that really matter ;-)

by **HA_DA_JA** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 2:42 pm

Rick is that the SPL unit with the 3d enhancer knob?
Cheers
Dale

by **HA_DA_JA** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 3:09 pm

No I see the Qure thing is a large gold unit.
Does yours have the optional Lundahl input and output transformers installed?

by **TimS** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:02 pm

I agree with Rick here..
I have the Orban 622B which I picked up from Gearslutz - cost me $250US + shipping and it was in excellent condition.
I had to mod the power transformer for 240V use (thanks to Rob Squire too)..
I watched Ebay for ages looking for the right one, but I got a great deal thru a private sale on GS..
Tim..

by **13thbeach** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:06 pm

I came across Orban stuff where I used to work and found them to be big blue noise boxes. Love the 70's knobs however.

by **TimS** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 2:50 pm

13thbeach wrote:I came across Orban stuff where I used to work and found them to be big blue noise boxes. Love the 70's knobs however.

:(

by **Text_Edifice** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 4:52 pm

thus goes the debate...

by **13thbeach** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:45 pm

NO NO NO! I won't be held responsible for a debate like this. I shouldn't really comment as I have no idea about the history of the units I heard, or their condition.
I'm sure if a good tech were to go through one of these units, they would brush up nice.
I used to have an old NOVA eq which I really liked until someone said it was crap, so I believed them and sold it. I should have kept it as I was happy with what it did.
Tim, be proud if its working for ya.

by **Chris H** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:06 pm

I have used a Nova parametric eq quite a bit. It did a great job with subtractive or surgical eq but wasnt great for adding something nice. The one i used was about 4 ru high and had the small faders horizontal for sweeping through the eq, and a pot for cut and boost. I have an older TC 1140 parametric eq that is great. I use it if needed on acoustic guitar, bass, keys, vox etc, for a bit of surgical eq. Still i find the wide band non sweep eq's best for additive or sweetening.
While i'm at it i always thought the Ueri you mention was primarily a surgical eq, and used a lot in film/video post, like the smaller little dipper. to hone in on a problem eq and get rid of it.
,

by **TimS** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:43 pm

The 622B is quite well regarded as a quality "70's style" surgical EQ.
I bought one as I wanted a stereo unit and could split both sides between my 2 Auditronics mic pre's and Purple Actions..
Hasnt got a real good workout so far as my 003 died and I'm hoping it arrives back on Wednesday after having the FW chiip and protection diodes replaced!!
:-{

by **13thbeach** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:43 pm

YEEHAA!!!

by **Barney Loveland** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:13 pm

Isn't that an oxymoron - replacing the protection diodes????

by **TimS** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:30 pm

Barney Loveland wrote:Isn't that an oxymoron - replacing the protection diodes????

I'm not an electronics engineer, so I just said fine - it was a warranty repair anyway!!
I've no idea on what they are!!

by **Chris H** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:19 pm

TimS wrote:
Barney Loveland wrote:Isn't that an oxymoron - replacing the protection diodes????

I'm not an electronics engineer, so I just said fine - it was a warranty repair anyway!!
I've no idea on what they are!!

............ "I've no idea on what they are!!"..........what, oxymorons or protection diodes??????

(..I tried an oxymoron joke in the ream thread and me thinks the recipient thought i was insulting him........or more likely it was just thought of as a really lame joke...Yours is much better Barney!)

by **Chris H** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:23 pm

by **TimS** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:38 pm

C'mon guys, gimme a break, I've been on holidays!!!
I did state that I wasn't an electonics engineer (I was just going from memory what the tech told me over a week ago)

Sheeesh!!!

:-(

by **13thbeach** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:07 am

YEEHAA!!!........again.

by **Damien** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:25 am

i used to own 2 nova parametrics.... sold 1 to 13th i think...

there great bit noisy, ugly beautiful... i didnt need them so i sold them.. miss em now

by **13thbeach** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:06 pm

That's right Damien,
They were a tad noisy, and yes ugly beautiful is a good description. They were handy to reach for, I could do with them now.

by **beatmad** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:18 pm

What about the Speck ASC or ASC-T eqs has anybody tried them? They seem quite reasonably priced but I've wondered if the price is a reflection of their limitations.

by **HA_DA_JA** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:37 pm

by **HA_DA_JA** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:43 pm

Picture of the speck
It also has the wide or narrow Q knob which is quite useful.

by **JulienG** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:11 pm

Speck also do an EQ in the 500 series format:
http://www.mercenary.com/spelaseqfor5.html

by **rick** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:46 pm

the orban gear was really high spec in its day but its all ic based stuff , so they did not age gracefully so there is usually something with them which gives them a bum rap :(

recapp them ,clean the switches and pots and they are a real sonic bargain
but a baby ugly duckling egg blue bargain all the same :)

they just look so not "tough" its no wonder everybody on the forums around the place kicks them in the guts and calls them names
cowards ! i say all of them are cowards !

by **Kurt** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:19 am

I have an old ARX parametric, it seems to have lots of headroom and is very configurable. How many bands depends on where you plug into it. eg I have it set as two 3 band eq's (inserts for kicks in my PA) but it could be used as 1x6 band, or 6x1 band or any other combination.

by **mfdu** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:13 am

there was a Nova EQ on evilbay recently. god i was shitty i missed out on it. especially now you're all talking about "beautiful ugly" - that's a phrase that works well for me.

bastard bastard bastard

by **mfdu** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:15 am

rick wrote:cowards ! i say all of them are cowards !

i'm hearing ya.

Outboard Parametric EQ Recommendations

Outboard Parametric EQ Recommendations

nova - sweedish for heavy

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