panup
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What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
What's the best EQ available at the moment for mixing? 64 bit, no iLok.
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DeeringAmps
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 08:24:57
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FabFilter Pro-Q without a doubt!
Head and shoulders above all the rest.
T
Tom Deering Tascam FW-1884 User Resources Page Firewire "Legacy" Tutorial, Service Manual, Schematic, and Service Bulletins Win10x64 StudioCat Pro Studio Coffee Lake 8086k 32gb RAM  RME UFX (Audio) Tascam FW-1884 (Control) in Win 10x64 Pro
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Linear Phase
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 08:40:12
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DeeringAmps
FabFilter Pro-Q without a doubt!
Head and shoulders above all the rest.
T
LMFAO.. I wouldn't use Fabfilter on a bet.. I find all Fabfilter plugins to sound aggressive and harsh; they literally hurt my ears.
panup
What's the best EQ available at the moment for mixing? 64 bit, no iLok.
There is no, "best," only what is, "best for you." I think the EQ on the PRo-Channel in Sonar is absolutely amazing.
too many lasers...  Sonar = audio editing ninja of a music software!
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yorolpal
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 12:48:18
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The Band19 
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 12:49:13
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panup
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 13:44:13
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Linear Phase, can you describe FabFilter sound in more detail as others seem to recommend it... I'm looking alternatives for QuadEQ and Sonitus:EQ. They're great tools and but sometimes I need EQs outside SONAR.
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Linear Phase
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 15:55:07
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too many lasers... Sonar = audio editing ninja of a music software!
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Linear Phase
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 15:56:17
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panup
Linear Phase, can you describe FabFilter sound in more detail as others seem to recommend it...
check this out) https://www.box.com/s/9ed9e2de53392669d2ae That is not a scientific test.. but seriously.. anyways, you will have to download the demo of the entire FabFilter Product line.. check out each product 1, by 1... I am not the only producer in the world, who thinks their stuff is harsh panup
I'm looking alternatives for QuadEQ and Sonitus:EQ. They're great tools and but sometimes I need EQs outside SONAR.
http://pspaudioware.com/plugins/equalizers/
post edited by Linear Phase - 2012/08/26 16:02:04
too many lasers... Sonar = audio editing ninja of a music software!
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The Band19
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 16:06:29
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It might be better to try to get your hands on some demo versions and see what you like.
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Jeff Evans
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 16:08:09
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You should be able to use almost any EQ on anything and get a reasonable result. If harshness is being added, maybe it is you that is adding the harshness with what frequencies you may be boosting or cutting. Unless of course you set identical settings on say two EQ plug -ins and one sounds better than the other for some reason. Then you have a case maybe. One EQ that I have recently bought is the Pultec EQ from Nomad Factory and it sounds amazing. Especially in a mastering situation. I also use and like the LP64 from Cakewalk as well. It is very transparent and capable of some very precise work and it does not alter the sound of your mix. (integrity I mean EQ obviously)
Here is the Nomad Link for those who are keen: http://www.nomadfactory.com/products/pulsetec/index.html I was lucky to get it as a no brainer for around $30. It has a magic sound and even with no EQ being applied it has that elusive feel you get after passing anything through it. It takes a little getting used to as well as it does not operate like a normal EQ either. Be aware of what it does with everything set flat on it too! It is fantastic that you can switch any of the three individual areas or bands off and it works great in conjunction with another EQ like the LP64. Also anything PSP that Linear Phase mentions would be good too. I can vouch for their limiter that is for sure. Price is some ways is going to be a bit of a clue as to an EQ sounding good or better than average. If it costs over $100 then there is a good chance it will be pretty good at what it does. I find the areas that need the better sounding EQ's is mastering much more so that the sort of EQ's available for use within a multi track session. Most of the EQ's bundled with nearly every DAW sound pretty good to me being used in that mode. It is still much more about making solid and good EQ choices.
post edited by Jeff Evans - 2012/08/26 16:29:15
Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
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spacealf
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 16:15:20
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Parametric Equalizer probably already on your computer.
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panup
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 17:07:49
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The reason I got interested in EQ subject is that I tested Waves H-EQ. Sound On Sound: http://www.soundonsound.c...rticles/waves-h-eq.htm I like the idea of freq analyzer and ability to select EQ type for different bands . It sounded pretty good, too, but unfortunately I don't want to purchase Waves software anymore. FabFilter and PSP added to the test list...
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Linear Phase
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 19:30:26
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Jeff Evans
One EQ that I have recently bought is the Pultec EQ from Nomad Factory and it sounds amazing. Especially in a mastering situation. I also use and like the LP64 from Cakewalk as well. It is very transparent and capable of some very precise work and it does not alter the sound of your mix. (integrity I mean EQ obviously)
Here is the Nomad Link for those who are keen:
http://www.nomadfactory.com/products/pulsetec/index.html
I was lucky to get it as a no brainer for around $30.
You lucky devil! I got their british bundle on no-brainer.. for the liquid bundle II, lol.. I had to pay full price!!! I've been demo'ing Magma and it crashes Renoise.. So I am waiting on the next version, to see what the story is!!!!!!! OMFG, the Magma is such a great plugin! Its so amazing. If you like Nomad, you have to check it out! panup
The reason I got interested in EQ subject is that I tested Waves H-EQ.
Sound On Sound: http://www.soundonsound.c...rticles/waves-h-eq.htm
I like the idea of freq analyzer and ability to select EQ type for different bands . It sounded pretty good, too, but unfortunately I don't want to purchase Waves software anymore.
FabFilter and PSP added to the test list...
Waves has caught a bad rap.. perhaps fairly, perhaps unfairly. I don't use Waves, but I can see how that EQ in SoundOnSound article up there, must totally rock! I think what did Wave's in, was the amount of developers that came on to the market.. The market is totally saturated for things that are not totally unique... I am not sure what the cost of that Wave's EQ, I know Fab Filter isn't cheap.. Make sure you test all the Fabfilter product line! LOL, you might find yourself buying the Waves EQ instead... course erm, PSP does have a Parametric.. so.. either Waves or PSP is probably a better bet for real high quality imo...
too many lasers... Sonar = audio editing ninja of a music software!
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Middleman
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 19:59:52
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panup
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 20:29:23
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panup
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 20:41:16
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> Waves has caught a bad rap.. perhaps fairly, perhaps unfairly.
I have bought some Waves plugins in the past like Renaissance collection and Waves GTR. Poor technical support, compatibility problems with SONAR, many years problems with 64 bit systems, Waves Update Plan for paid bug fixes... It's time to look for other vendors as my studio don't need to be plugin compatible with all the major houses.
> LOL, you might find yourself buying the Waves EQ instead...
I try to avoid this scenario to the bitter end.
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bitflipper
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/26 23:38:37
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Not having used every equalizer on the planet, I am not in a position to guess which one's the very absolute bestest of the best. But among those that I have used and learned well, FabFilter's Pro-Q is easily the best, and by a wide margin.
The best feature of Pro-Q is the ergonomic way you can configure M/S processing. Although I'd had the ability to do M/S EQ since Ozone 4 it seemed like kind of a semi-useless gimmick. But Pro-Q made it easier and more intuitive, and once I got the zen of M/S EQ it was a revelation, and totally changed the way I apply EQ.
Pro-Q goes on almost every track and bus, although admittedly I could probably use just about any equalizer for that. It's as a mastering EQ where Pro-Q really shines.
I have no idea why anyone would say it sounds "harsh". I have never heard any harshness (although it's the kind of nonspecific adjective I'd normally avoid anyway). I can drive it as hard as I want and there is no distortion. I have tested it for aliasing or other frequency distortion and found none. I have compared it to other equalizers and it performs exactly as expected, even at the highest frequencies. If there is some kind of distortion happening in there it's neither audible to me nor measurable by any tools that I have.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Middleman
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 00:13:27
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backwoods
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 00:21:51
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I'm a Pro-Q man myself and have stopped looking at eq's.
My DMG Audio EQuick and Equality are up for grabs; perhaps we can come to terms.
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The Band19
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 00:23:20
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Linear Phase
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 01:05:34
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too many lasers... Sonar = audio editing ninja of a music software!
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Freddie H
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 04:46:57
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Pro Channel... 3part...Best of the BEST There is only one choice. Nomad Factory - especially Blue Series, but all Nomad Factory plugins is just outstanding. http://www.nomadfactory.com/
-Highly developed spirits often encounter resistance from mediocre minds. -It really matters!
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Freddie H
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 04:58:18
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Linear Phase
Jeff Evans
One EQ that I have recently bought is the Pultec EQ from Nomad Factory and it sounds amazing. Especially in a mastering situation. I also use and like the LP64 from Cakewalk as well. It is very transparent and capable of some very precise work and it does not alter the sound of your mix. (integrity I mean EQ obviously)
Here is the Nomad Link for those who are keen:
http://www.nomadfactory.com/products/pulsetec/index.html
I was lucky to get it as a no brainer for around $30.
You lucky devil! I got their british bundle on no-brainer.. for the liquid bundle II, lol.. I had to pay full price!!! I've been demo'ing Magma and it crashes Renoise.. So I am waiting on the next version, to see what the story is!!!!!!! OMFG, the Magma is such a great plugin! Its so amazing. If you like Nomad, you have to check it out!
@ Linear Phase I have the INTEGRAL all plugins + BBE Sweet. I can really recommend that you check out the whole BLUE Series. In my opinion its the best series of all Nomad Factory. Love the EQs and the comp but all that is included are just great. Best included De Esser in the business too. Even better than SPL http://www.nomadfactory.com/products/bt_bundle/index.html   Specially designed to meet the most demanding studio tracks, the BT Equalizer PEQ322 features 3 parametric bands with center frequency, bandwidth-Q and amplitude controls, high-pass and low-pass filters as well as low-shelf and high-shelf filters. The BT Equalizer PEQ322 delivers the controls and the amazing results of a true analog EQ. The PEQ322 is the perfect choice when a truly vintage EQ sound is what your music requires. One of the best musical EQ.s I have ever heard.   The BT Compressor CP2S emulates analog tube compressors in terms of looks, functions and sound including RMS and Peak compressions. A compressor words, but the warm analog sound of the BT Compressor CP2S is something you need to hear for yourself. One of the best compressor I have ever heard... But be aware my friend. Its is very Risky business! If you Demo them and you will definitely have seriously need to use your credit card!!!  
post edited by Freddie H - 2012/08/27 05:03:23
-Highly developed spirits often encounter resistance from mediocre minds. -It really matters!
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panup
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 16:12:18
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I just installed FabFilter bundle 30 day trial...
One quickie: after setting Pro-Q (in Master Bus) Processing to Linear Phase - Maximum Latency Kontakt5 player stopped playing drums. High latency setting causes Kontakt5 player to skip half of the notes. All other latencies work perfectly. Is this normal or possible to avoid somehow?
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bitflipper
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/27 20:23:05
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Use minimum-phase mode on tracks while mixing, low-latency linear-phase mode on the 2-bus when mastering. You won't notice any difference...at least, I don't. But then, I don't use linear-phase mode. The benefit of the high-latency mode is supposedly better resolution at low frequencies, but in the mastering stage (which is when you'd use linear phase mode) it's rare (for me anyway) to employ precision high-Q filters in the low end of the spectrum, just broad cuts. The high-latency mode should only rarely be needed, if ever. I'm not sure why Kontakt would weird out like that. Pro-Q's high-latency mode does allocate an unusually large buffer (24kb). This would be a good question to pose to the CW guys. I'd like to know the answer. Increasing your audio buffer size might help. EDIT: while digging through the FabFilter forum I ran across this interesting comment by one of the FF guys, perhaps giving another reason for not using LP mode: ...low frequency edits in linear phase mode easily result in a "pre-ring" effect which can smudge transients
post edited by bitflipper - 2012/08/27 20:42:03
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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JonD
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/31 03:22:52
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IMO, the best EQ value has to be the EQs from ddmf... In particular, IIEQ Pro and 6144. Great-sounding and very-reasonably priced: http://www.ddmf.eu/products.php
SonarPlat/CWbBL, Win 10 Pro, i7 2600K, Asus P8Z68 Deluxe, 16GB DDR3, Radeon HD5450, TC Electronic Impact Twin, Kawai MP11 Piano, Event ALP Monitors, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Too Many Plugins, My lucky hat.
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Kalle Rantaaho
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/31 09:53:13
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JonD
IMO, the best EQ value has to be the EQs from ddmf... In particular, IIEQ Pro and 6144. Great-sounding and very-reasonably priced:
http://www.ddmf.eu/products.php
I agree. I like them very much.
SONAR PE 8.5.3, Asus P5B, 2,4 Ghz Dual Core, 4 Gb RAM, GF 7300, EMU 1820, Bluetube Pre - Kontakt4, Ozone, Addictive Drums, PSP Mixpack2, Melda Creative Pack, Melodyne Plugin etc. The benefit of being a middle aged amateur is the low number of years of frustration ahead of you.
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panup
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/31 15:17:19
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Thanks Bitflipper for the info! :)
Now I've used Pro-Q for a few days. I love analyzer, M/S implementation and interface in general. However, sound of the EQ has not totally blown me away - I hoped it turns my harsh and muddy mixes to gold but it didn't. Just kidding. Sound quality is great but my best hardware EQs still sound more 'musical', whatever that means.
I will probably buy all FabFilter plugins...
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bitflipper
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/31 18:43:49
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A good EQ won't have a "sound". It should simply do what you tell it to do, and let you tell it in a quick, straightforward manner. Pro-Q's ergonomics are its best feature. Be sure to watch Dan Worrall's videos on the FF site. They're inspiring. Two are dedicated to Pro-Q and two others demonstrate mastering techniques and feature Pro-Q prominently.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Linear Phase
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Re:What's the best EQ, I mean the best of the best of the best?
2012/08/31 19:00:36
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bitflipper
A good EQ won't have a "sound".
I disagree.. Big time! The whole point of a Neve, or an SSL, or Nomad Factory, or the Pro-Channel eq, is because they do have a sound. The do impart a character. I find, "Eq with no sound." boring.. Sterile.
too many lasers... Sonar = audio editing ninja of a music software!
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