Rmix is quite good at killing unwanted artifacts on Vocal tracks etc.

But, I find something like Ozone 5 better than Pro Channel in "cleaning" things up.

How the track/vocal is recorded is very important. 

A poorly recorded vocal can be nearly impossible to get sounding right, no matter how much EQ and compression would be used in the attempt to fix it.

On the other hand, a well recorded vocal track would need almost no EQ to make it stellar. 

A quality condensor mic, and good recording technique go a long way toward that result. 

Which EQ to use? That ends up being a personal choice resulting from knowing what to listen for, and trying as many of the EQ's that you have available to you to see which one you like best. 

In my experience, I have certain EQ's that I like on voice, different ones on drums and bass, and yet another on acoustic guitar. By playing around and experimenting, I have come to these conclusions and they seem to work for me. Another person upon hearing my selections for a specific instrument or vocal would disagree and likely have a totally different stable of EQ to use. 

Do not overlook the simple EQ and compression that comes in the cake default FX list. 

As a side note, reverb has not been mentioned but I use the Cakewalk Studioverb 2 almost exclusively even though I have quite a few others. I just like that way it sounds. 

There is no "Best EQ for vocals or any other instrument you can record and mix. Its all about personnel preference and what you need to make the sound you want.

The best thing for you to do is to learn all about EQ's.
1. The 3 different types of EQ's
2. The 6 different types of filters in EQ'a
3. The "Q Setting and how it effects the filters and frequencys
The linear phase option and the different type of latency that the linear phase can have. How that latency effects the audio signal.
 
Here are some things I wrote about the above list I stated - http://www.audio-mastering-mixing.com/faq---q-a.html#23
Here are some tips on hoe to record and get a good vocal track. - http://www.audio-mastering-mixing.com/faq---q-a.html#24
 
 
CJ

After you've multed, tuned and color coordinated your vocal track(s), found a static fader mix that works, and comped or automated any unstable faders,
any EQ you understand and can groove on the interface with will unblock your remaining frequency overlaps. If you want to sweeten from there...pick one and tweak it till it works for you.

Keep your eye out for comb filtering artifacts or use an EQ that doesn't phase shift your signal.

(Thanks Mike!)

At the level you are at, don't even BOTHER trying to get the best 'sounding' eq or anything like that. Complete waste of time. Look at a few of the eqs available in SONAR and see which you find makes most sense and is easiest for YOU to use.

Sonitus is very nice and easy to use. There is nothing wrong with it. The quad curve is good too, though you may find the controls a little more confusing as it's trying to be compact.
I'd suggest just using Sonitus for now as it has a nice graphic display showing you an idea of everything that's happening. I think it's a little more user friendly for a beginner. Once you master and fully understand it, all other eqs are really just the same.

mattplaysguitar


At the level you are at, don't even BOTHER trying to get the best 'sounding' eq or anything like that. Complete waste of time. Look at a few of the eqs available in SONAR and see which you find makes most sense and is easiest for YOU to use.

Sonitus is very nice and easy to use. There is nothing wrong with it. The quad curve is good too, though you may find the controls a little more confusing as it's trying to be compact.
I'd suggest just using Sonitus for now as it has a nice graphic display showing you an idea of everything that's happening. I think it's a little more user friendly for a beginner. Once you master and fully understand it, all other eqs are really just the same.

You should always try and urge to do the best you can.  
If you talk about get wonderful pro sound it all start what converters and preamps you use.
 
 
 
********About Gear ***********
 
 
Check your specifications. You want to  look for Dynamic Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 
This is a good measurement how good your audio card actually sounds. The difference can actually be like someone took of a blanket of your speaker's compared to low range gear.
 
Your audio card or converters dynamic Signal to Noise ratio SNR should be between minimum 115db up to 130db. 
 

 
Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 118 dB RMS unweighted, 120 dBA 
UAD Apollo, SSL Alpha Link, Lynx aurora, AVID HD I/O and some of the RME products reach that.
As you can see if you check, most common low range products reach up to 102-108db... (No names)
You get what you pay for. 
  
 

 
 
Preamps & Compressor. That is one of the biggest myth out there. Of course there are some really nice preamps compressors but sometimes low range sounds better then expensive unit. In my own opinion "Great River"products is just a joke. I have listen on other products from Great River too and I saying it's nothing special. Don't waste your money there.
 
Products from ART, DBX, FMR, SPL, NEVE, Focusrite, SSL, Manley, Daking, Chandler Limited, Elysia, Drawmer  all sounds amazing in their price range.
 
 
 
Great River VS ART  (ART sounds better for a cost of a fraction)
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-shoot-outs-sound-file-comparisons-audio-tests/495485-can-you-tell-difference-art-vs-great-river.html
 

Freddie H

mattplaysguitar


At the level you are at, don't even BOTHER trying to get the best 'sounding' eq or anything like that. Complete waste of time. Look at a few of the eqs available in SONAR and see which you find makes most sense and is easiest for YOU to use.

Sonitus is very nice and easy to use. There is nothing wrong with it. The quad curve is good too, though you may find the controls a little more confusing as it's trying to be compact.
I'd suggest just using Sonitus for now as it has a nice graphic display showing you an idea of everything that's happening. I think it's a little more user friendly for a beginner. Once you master and fully understand it, all other eqs are really just the same.

You should always try and urge to do the best you can.  
If you talk about get wonderful pro sound it all start what converters and preamps you use.
 

       
I agree that you should always strive to have the best that you can afford, but you can't make an informed decision on that until you know what you're doing. You're best using what is free and comes standard in SONAR as it doesn't cost anything and still sounds GREAT. Once you have learnt it well, start to look into other areas. You're wasting your time (any maybe money) otherwise.

I really think that in general, most eqs sound pretty damn similar. You have the odd ball like the pultek that just adds something else, but they mostly do the same kind of job. I'm talking about the digital domain of course. Analogue is obviously a different ball-game. There is no point looking hard at what you're doing with eq until you are really getting your skills (and gear) up in the high 95% perfect area where the differences are worth it. Yes there is the cumulative effect of multiple pieces of quality gear, but if you don't select the right one at each stage along the way, you're wasting your time.

A beginner should spend 100% of their time learning and mastering the eq process before even CONSIDERING looking at different eqs.

mattplaysguitar

Freddie H

mattplaysguitar


At the level you are at, don't even BOTHER trying to get the best 'sounding' eq or anything like that. Complete waste of time. Look at a few of the eqs available in SONAR and see which you find makes most sense and is easiest for YOU to use.

Sonitus is very nice and easy to use. There is nothing wrong with it. The quad curve is good too, though you may find the controls a little more confusing as it's trying to be compact.
I'd suggest just using Sonitus for now as it has a nice graphic display showing you an idea of everything that's happening. I think it's a little more user friendly for a beginner. Once you master and fully understand it, all other eqs are really just the same.

You should always try and urge to do the best you can.  
If you talk about get wonderful pro sound it all start what converters and preamps you use.

       
I agree that you should always strive to have the best that you can afford, but you can't make an informed decision on that until you know what you're doing. You're best using what is free and comes standard in SONAR as it doesn't cost anything and still sounds GREAT. Once you have learnt it well, start to look into other areas. You're wasting your time (any maybe money) otherwise.

I really think that in general, most eqs sound pretty damn similar. You have the odd ball like the pultek that just adds something else, but they mostly do the same kind of job. I'm talking about the digital domain of course. Analogue is obviously a different ball-game. There is no point looking hard at what you're doing with eq until you are really getting your skills (and gear) up in the high 95% perfect area where the differences are worth it. Yes there is the cumulative effect of multiple pieces of quality gear, but if you don't select the right one at each stage along the way, you're wasting your time.

A beginner should spend 100% of their time learning and mastering the eq process before even CONSIDERING looking at different eqs.

Agree Matt! +1
 
I think that are more software's EQs then just Pultec that give your color ITB. Many software EQ's are superior the analogs at least as good.
 
 
Best Regards
Freddie
 

If you haven't seen it already, you might find this article interesting, Freddie:

http://rhythminmind.net/1313/?p=361

I'm very confident with EQs but I'm still yet to fully get most of the hype over different eqs. Pultek is just one example that I have come across where I really notice the difference. But in Sonar, I remember once taking the time to compare the stock FX EQ Cake thing to Sonitus to Quad Curve to LP64. I really think I could hear the difference. The cake one sounded the worst, but not by that much really. Sonitus was very neutral sounding. Quad curve somehow sounded ever so slightly more 'musical' (whatever that means) and it just seemed to have a bit of a smooth fit-ing-in type sound. LP64 sounded very surgical and precise yet stale and cold. I guess if I used the term color, I would say that the quad curve had the most, but so marginal.

In practise, I'd typically just use the quad curve because it's easiest as it's in the pro chan. Simple as that. I do love the pultek sound on bass though, but I wonder if that's just a low freq saturation thing. Don't know, but it sounds great either way!

So in general, I really don't get the hype... But I understand that there are differences. I guess once you fully learn those differences, you tend to 'hype' it up more that it really deserves. That's the way we like to work in this field ;)

Sorry to hijack the thread...

Oh, and just to clarify, I was talking about the free Pultec 'clones' that are out there (yeah, yeah I know, but I like the sound!). I've not yet had the fortune of playing with some nice analogue eqs. A pultec build is DEFINITELY on my list at some stage in the future! And maybe a nice LA2A as well :)