https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYTCQeggyzo
 
This video helped me understand the differences.
 
I definitely do not reach for a linear phase eq first, but I do sometimes use them.

Yes I mix as I go along and use the Lp 64 at the end of the process if I have to tweak I delete it then make adjustments then use it again. Seems to work but its good to use to learn how to mix and master your own pieces.
 
http://youtu.be/gc6WX4otj8g

deswind
I am very curious to know what software eq Mr. Anderton loves.

 
The ProChannel is my go-to EQ because 1) it works as expected and doesn't mess with the sound, 2) the four different curves are very useful (especially on acoustic guitar), and 3) it has high and low pass filters to -48 dB.
 
But my EQ needs are pretty modest. High shelf/low cut on voice to compensate for using a dynamic mic, a little 3.5 kHz on the drums sometimes to make the snare "crack," high shelf on the bass to bring out pick sounds and on synth bass for accenting transients. Amp sims have their own tone controls, so I'm covered there. The rest is cutting in strategic places, for example, taking out a little 300-400 Hz on some instruments. Most synth sounds are fine the way they are. I do like the Blue Tubes Pultec; actually I'm a fan of any Pultec if done right. And I  use the Sonitus when I need multiple high or low pass stages in series to obtain extreme, brickwall-like responses. 
 
Sorry for the boring reply, but I'm not much of a "cork-sniffer" when it comes to EQ. Usually I just need a tweak here and there, so I don't place a lot of demands on them.

Some people are under the misconception that linear phase are automatically "better" rather than just different (but note that that doesn't mean they might not indeed be "better" or preferable in a particular situation).
 
Some points:
 
1. No analog EQ's are linear phase (because it's very impractical to create them in the analog world). This doesn't stop people from liking analog EQ's. 
 
2. Linear phase EQ's don't use more CPU because they are "better". They use so much CPU because FIR filters (the type used in linear phase EQ's) are inefficient by nature. 
 
3. Linear phase EQ's don't have so much latency because they are "better". They have so much latency because that's just the way they are (layman's explanation).
 
4. Linear phase EQ's start ringing before the signal. This might be a problem with transients and a steep EQ at high (but audible) frequencies.

jb101
Oh, and Happy New Year, by the way.

Happy New Year to you too!

Ah yes... the LP-64 used to cause a lot of crackling, dropouts, etc for me when I first installed X1 and was still using my old interface. It was annoying to use while mixing because the crackles or the fact everything would go silent while adjusting things during playback made it hard to really hear what it was doing. In X3 with the Scarlett (and increased buffers if need be) it can be used without all those distractions. Still not as useful to me for general mixing stuff. It's too much work to get the desired results for individual tracks.
 
Definitely good for overall cleanup on a master or a stubborn stem bus but on every track? Nah... hell nah.

dubdisciple

I just picked up the pultec EQ's on sale too.  i have a few vocal projects I have been wanting to try those on.

I would be interested to hear your views on it, when you have a chance.
 
I have often used Pultec style EQs on drums and bass, but the added Pultec Mid-Range Equalizer MEQ-5 adds so much more.
 
I was surprised at how good it can be on a final mix. I had just finished a practice track for some students when I bought it, and so tried it on the master bus and was blown away by what an improvement it could make.  Just adding one of the pre-sets sounded great..

jb101

dubdisciple

I just picked up the pultec EQ's on sale too.  i have a few vocal projects I have been wanting to try those on.

I would be interested to hear your views on it, when you have a chance.
 
I have often used Pultec style EQs on drums and bass, but the added Pultec Mid-Range Equalizer MEQ-5 adds so much more.
 
I was surprised at how good it can be on a final mix. I had just finished a practice track for some students when I bought it, and so tried it on the master bus and was blown away by what an improvement it could make.  Just adding one of the pre-sets sounded great..

I have been playing with it most of the day and I am very impressed. The first thing i did was follow a bit of advice from a forum member (may have been Jeff Evans) to run some noise or tones and start turning knobs to get an idea of what it's doing.  This gave me a much better perspective.  I then ran some solo vocal tracks through using presets and noticed a pleasant difference immediately.   I also  discovered that you can totally hose up a mix if anything goes into it too hot. Not very forgiving on that sort of thing at all, so  I would recommend being extra vigilent about gain staging (I think my next purchase is going to be a quality VU meter).
 
Next thing I tried was putting some drum sounds through it , both solo hits and on drum bus.  Again, very nice warmth but very easy to breach that fine line between pleasant warmth and muddiness.  Overall thumbs up, but when i did and A/B using the Vintage EQ from IK, i preferred the IK one for bottom end and the NF for top end.
 
Going to play with it on master bus later, but this is definitely a keeper. FYI, I tested this on EDM track, r & b vocals and rap vocals from one of my students.

You shouldn't have to buy VU meters. If you want EBU loudness measurement, I don't know how to do that with standard stuff inside Sonar, but sonar meters should be able to be set up to work like VU meters, I believe.
 
In track view > Options > Meters > Select Peak and RMS. This should give you average levels like a VU Meter while still enabling you to monitor peaks.

gswitz
You shouldn't have to buy VU meters. If you want EBU loudness measurement, I don't know how to do that with standard stuff inside Sonar, but sonar meters should be able to be set up to work like VU meters, I believe.
 
In track view > Options > Meters > Select Peak and RMS. This should give you average levels like a VU Meter while still enabling you to monitor peaks.

Thanks.  I find myself struggling with meters at times.    I will try your suggestion