"The Myth of Digital EQ"

[Bassomatic]

As a followup to my EQ Roundup thread, I thought I'd see what folks here have to say about this hot-button barnburner of a thread at gearslutz.

Scary? Encouraging? You be the judge.

Yikes!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/330874-digital-eq-fact-myth.html

[Bassomatic]

I know the thread is on the long side, but I would've thought the subject would have generated some more interest around here. Any one get a chance to check it out?

[headstack]

I looked it over and it was SCARY to me:D
My feeling about EQ, is that the individual components in the circuit add certain nonlinearities to even most of the bet liner phase EQs, and even that changes with gain and frequency. This is a good thing, and what gives each "box" it's particular character.
It is a good thing AFAIK. Could you imagine if we only needed one make and model of guitar and one make and model of EQ? That would really be a bummer, eh!!

[teleharmonium]

That is an interesting thread, but I don't understand the sonic differences between linear phase and traditional parametric EQ, so I don't quite know what to make of a lot of it. I do use various EQ plugins according to the task at hand, but I pick them based on how many bands I need and how easy vs. flexible the interface is, rather than sound quality, and I have been ignoring the linear phase plugins. I guess I should give them a try.

It's pretty funny that at least one of those EQs just adds some noise if you turn on the "analog" button. A little of the right kind of noise can help a sound or a mix, but I probably would never use that switch if it was labeled "lo fi" or "vintage noise" or something.

[Sunbreak Music]

I did some reading on the assertions when this first started stirring up, and frankly I just don't think it's a big deal. I think it falls under "analysis paralysis" to sit around trying to get all these different eqs to null--it has nothing to do with workflow.

The modeled eqs are going to have a vibe others don't, or at least a different vibe because of the harmonic generation. For someone who want a big bass boost on a track, it makes sense to grab a UAD-1 helios and get after it. Could you get another eq to so the same thing? Probably--but at what learning curve?

Take the UAD-1 Cambridge for example--how about all those curves? Ain't they great? Could you get that sound by bending another parametric EQ? I really doubt it--at least in an effecient way that would serve you. Those are some of the differences that aren't revealed in a null test.

If I'm not using outboard, there's a good chance I'm using an LP EQ of some sort (or the combination), and the two I mentioned in the other thread are certainly unique for a variety of reasons.

So I guess it doesn't matter to me, and maybe the bigger point is that you should work with what you're comfortable with. :)

[kludge]

This is why I wind up using BOTH linear phase digital eqs and analog emulator eqs. I'd use hardware too, if I could afford some quality hardware eq - mostly for the hands-on aspect of knobs.

There is no "right" way to do things.

[Bassomatic]

There is no "right" way to do things.

Sure there is - the way it sounds "right" to *you*.:)

However, that's not really what the thread's about.

[LSchefman]

>>I think it falls under "analysis paralysis" to sit around trying to get all these different eqs to null--it has nothing to do with workflow.<<

I couldn't agree more.

I'll go further and give an example.

A few months ago, I spent a lot of time comparing the URS "A" series EQs and the Waves API series EQs. Putting the Waves on tracks made me instantly say "Wow" wherever I set the dials.

With a few extra minutes of more effort, the URS could be tweaked to sound so close it was hard to tell the difference. But I spent more time getting there using the plugs.

I already owned the URS. But I bought the Waves. Why? Because in the heat of a mix, the Waves version simply worked faster for me, and sounded great. Is it the interface? The programming? The "analog" button? Don't know, don't care. I can get where I want to go a little faster with the Waves set than I can with the URS set. So that was enough for me, and moreover, totally worth spending the money on IMHO.

I feel that way about lots of plugs.

I'll tell you what I have trouble with more than EQs when it comes to deciding which plugs are best, and that's reverbs.

With hardware, it was easy to decide which one to use for a track, each one had a "sound." For some reason, I find this less so with plugs. I have good reverb plugs, Sonnox, CSR, and some others by small European makers, and to me, they all sound great and I could use pretty much any of them on a track interchangeably. This was not the case in my hardware days. I had one box I liked for vocals, and one for drums, and one for other stuff, etc.

I will admit that I don't use a ton of reverb, I like my tracks a bit on the drier side, so maybe this is why.

I guess my point is that there is a lot of validity to noticing that the interface of the plug makes a big difference, and how quickly you can get good sound out of it makes a big difference, so I don't really care about the theory behind why I like something.

I have some soft synths that I rarely use just because dialing up a sound is tedious, and some that I use a lot because dialing up a sound is instant joy. But in many cases, with a little work, I could get them to sound alike.

[Bassomatic]

I guess my point is that there is a lot of validity to noticing that the interface of the plug makes a big difference, and how quickly you can get good sound out of it makes a big difference, so I don't really care about the theory behind why I like something.

I tend to agree. I like friendly GUIs that help me get there faster.

I think what's going on int hat particular thread is a bit of a backlash toward some of the OTT marketing hype and "snake oil" aspects of the reputation of some EQs over others. I also get the sense that a lot of these cats who have the time to sit around "almost" nulling files may not be the most creative folks in the world. I tend to be swayed more than those busy *doing* and posting their impressions, especially when they unabashedly provide stellar mixes to back up said impressions.

As to reverb, I'm not a big user, and I don't keep up to date on what's cutting edge. If ther's anything out ther that can displace my love for UAD's EMT 140 emulation(s), I'm all ears. The 3 different units they modelled (all from Oceanway?) just sound so good and work so well in a variety of situations, each bringing distinctly different characters to the package/plug.

Also on the UAD front, I'm a few days into a demo of their SSL-modelled "4k" buss compressor and it is one of those "magic button" plugins you described earlier. I'm pretty blown away (and I'm jaded where great comp plugs are concerned).

[LSchefman]

>>Also on the UAD front, I'm a few days into a demo of their SSL-modelled "4k" buss compressor and it is one of those "magic button" plugins you described earlier.<<

Sounds like fun!

[headstack]

I tend to agree. I like friendly GUIs that help me get there faster.

I think what's going on int hat particular thread is a bit of a backlash toward some of the OTT marketing hype and "snake oil" aspects of the reputation of some EQs over others. I also get the sense that a lot of these cats who have the time to sit around "almost" nulling files may not be the most creative folks in the world. I tend to be swayed more than those busy *doing* and posting their impressions, especially when they unabashedly provide stellar mixes to back up said impressions.

As to reverb, I'm not a big user, and I don't keep up to date on what's cutting edge. If ther's anything out ther that can displace my love for UAD's EMT 140 emulation(s), I'm all ears. The 3 different units they modelled (all from Oceanway?) just sound so good and work so well in a variety of situations, each bringing distinctly different characters to the package/plug.

Also on the UAD front, I'm a few days into a demo of their SSL-modelled "4k" buss compressor and it is one of those "magic button" plugins you described earlier. I'm pretty blown away (and I'm jaded where great comp plugs are concerned). I was lucky enough to have one attached to a console for 3 years and I liked it a lot. I will have to see if I can use the demo with Ptools and no UAD card just to play with it.
The more time I am spending evaluating my budget for plugs, It looks like I am going to get a UAD 4 chip Nevana card.
I am glad you like it:AOK

[ben_allison]

If two things can be made to sound the same, fine. But I'd rather use the one that I can interface with and make use of more easily... I want to tools to make my job easier.

If one gives up the good sooner, then I'll use it!

So what was the conclusion of the article (lacking patience)?