SOUND ON SOUND

[cc.]

Does any one make a nice sounding parametric EQ without valves anymore? The only one I've found is the focusrite red 2, but that's a bit on the expensive side.

[Cruttox]

TFPro P9, also very expensive, but sweeeeeeeeeeeet

[Microwave]

Presonus make a tiny one channel. It's cheap so it is feasible to get two. Do a Google search and it will come up. If you're on a very tight budget there's also the Behringer one, which is decent.

A.

[xandyreverex]

Alesis PEQ-450

2 stereo channels,
5 bands per channel, (you can Chain A+B for 10 bands)
q(with Hi and Lo Shelf), Frequency, Gain controls per band.
HPF + LPF for each channel

ermm yeah.
it's a nice eq, and nice price

Andy

[cc.]

Thanks for the answers!!

TFPro P9, also very expensive, but sweeeeeeeeeeeet

Great, so now there are two that are too expensive :headbang:

Presonus make a tiny one channel. It's cheap so it is feasible to get two.

Interesting, I was thinking of spending more than that, but maybe I'll try one of these (the presonus eq3b I presume you mean) - Does it sound nice?

Alesis PEQ-450

I think that one is digital, I'm looking for an analog one.

Any onther ideas? Somewhere between the 100 euros of the presonus and the 2000 euros of the tfpro p9 :headbang:

Maybe I should just get a channel strip - there's much more choice there...

[cc.]

Right, the next person who posts an expensive one gets reported to the moderators :bouncy: :bouncy:

I was actually thinking about that diy calrec one - it looks pretty easy to make (the sontec one looks like a nightmare, but I guess it is much more sophisticated) - it was to put a stop to these diy thoughts that I decided to buy one!!!! But now you've got me thinking again (I even popped down to the basement and plugged in my UV box, to check it still worked after all these years)


:headbang:

Are you building either of these?

[Scottdru]

I've heard some very good things about the Speck EQs as being relatively reasonably priced, and sounding very good for the money (Jack or Zoesch or maybe Max can probably speak more on this, I think).

FWIW, if you are looking for inexpensive/bang for the buck (particularly on ebay), you might try checking out one of the Rane parametric EQs (e.g., the PE17). I just picked up a Rane FMI 14 recently (basically an MS-1 preamp with an EQ section and inserts, etc.), and I'm finding the EQ on it quite good (most particularly in comparison to the Mackie or Behringer boards I've had my hands on over the last number of years, which isn't saying a whole lot ;)).

TBH, it's been so long since I've had my hands to a really good quality hardware parametric EQ (either on a proper studio desk or standalone), so I'm probably not the best one to take a recommendation from in this regard . . . but it might be worth at least checking one out yourself in the shop if you get a chance. Maybe someone will come along and say it's sh*t, but I can say it would be better than the cheap Presonus jobbie (which I wasn't particularly impressed with -- and I didn't like the Tubepre from that same series too much either).

I'd actually be curious if anyone here has used the Rane para EQs, and their impressions as to sound compared to some of the other EQs.

[Frank Eleveld]

The Focusrite Green 2 (discontinued, but you might be able to pick one up s/h) is cheaper than the Red. It's solid-state, and very transparent and open.

Might worth trying out

Cheers
Frank

[forumuser729356]

Are you building either of these?

It's on my list
I have just about finished a 48v phantom power PSU to drive multiple mic pres (it generates 100mA - enough to power a shed load of condensers)
Next on the list is a dual 18v PSU to drive the actual boxes - after then I haven;t decided which one to do...
It's either the Calrec or a Amek Mozart Mic Pre (aka - the "Green Mic Pre" - the easiest one to build) or a Opto Compressor (the "What Compressor" - a updated "better" Joe Meek)

[mattneighbour]

I picked up a Focusrite Green 2 when Turnkey ( :roll: ) were selling them off cheap, it cost me £350 (they retailed at nearly £1k). It is only a single channel unit but has a Green series mic pre and is very nice! It excels at adding 'air' by boosting 12kHz - normal rules of 'do not boost excessively' need not apply!

Matt

[Nat]

I've built that Calrec EQ - it's a really, really nice EQ and cost something like £35 per channel - not bad, eh? It's the easiest thing I've bult from that site. The only little problem I had was lining up the holes on the faceplate with the buttons, but otherwise it was completely trouble free. I got the electronic side finished in about 2 hours as well, so you could probably have one up and running in the studio within a couple of days.

[Scottdru]

Good to know, Nat. That's a pretty reasonable price for some good EQ, and it looks like it could be a good first project (for me, at least). I may just try that myself. Also, just a heads up in case you hadn't seen it yet, there is now a new DIY forum here, so I hope you (and some of the other DIYers around here) will jump in and share your experiences there. :)

[sybil8]

nat can where did you get the components? maplins?online?

regs

[RegressiveRock]

Alesis PEQ-450

2 stereo channels,
5 bands per channel, (you can Chain A+B for 10 bands)
q(with Hi and Lo Shelf), Frequency, Gain controls per band.
HPF + LPF for each channel

ermm yeah.
it's a nice eq, and nice price

Andy

Andy

I had one of those for a while and sold it on... It just wasn't my cup of tea... :frown:

Glad it suits you thoough... :lol:

[forumuser729356]

I put a list of component shops in the DIY section