SSL eq

[gareth_fx]

For inspiration listen to any of the great recordings from the 60's and 70's I mean darkside of the moon ........ EMI console with no Eq other than some basic filters.....

You think they had 10000000 eq's and compressors inserted? NO.... knowing how to record and mix was the skill involved not how many plugins you can use..... Vocal not sounding right... change the mic , the positioning , room... same for everything else... Ok sure not every one has the luxury of lots of microphones to choose from but the rest you can sure work with.... change the room , the acoustics , position etc.

The same works with electronic instruments.

Relying on plugs to get your out of trouble is not the way to do it. Good solid technique is , people made amazing sounding records for a long time before plug in culture took over.......

Gareth_FX

[krhen]

just wondering...which criteria makes an eq sound "good"?

I'm guessing, the subjective one [/quote][/code]

[isdjan]

just wondering...which criteria makes an eq sound "good"?

I'm guessing, the subjective one

oh - *that* one

still curious about objective criteria here.

[RandyHancock]

What the ssl did offer which is a superb is the bus compressor on the main stereo mix bus. This compressor was excellant and can be heard on many many many records. Check out Nirvana never mind to hear the SSL bus comp in action. Drums and who knows what else were all processed with it.

Gareth_FX

What plugin can get me THAT sound?

I've heard the Golden Compressor is capable of a range of emulations. Anyone have an SSL preset for it?

[ghost666]

..."musical" but how to explain...

Man, I guess you'd do some A-B listening tests & comparisons referencing the "musical" device concerned.

You might wanna start with an industry standard digital chain, set flat, as "A" your control recording medium - but again things become subjective here ie; which industry standard? Probably a lot of people might agree that a Pro Tools HD rig would suffice here? A lot of people might also say though, that Pro Tools has its own coloured sound when compared with other digital solutions! Whatever, you have to use something!

Moving on...

Compare your "A" rig recorded session with your "B" rig where "B" is your SSL or whatever... obviously both A & B have captured the same source material thru the same mics in the same room blah blah blah etc...

Then to the interesting part - assuming "A" the digital rig is as transparent as you can possibly achieve (subject to the subjects subjectivity!) then everyone would sit around, maybe have a spliff & then proceed to try to come up with fun, exciting & original adjectives to explain why "B" might sound better than "A" ie: warmer , more musical , breathier, hornier, more air, more sophisticated, wider, deeper, tighter, denser, fatter, softer, more rounded, shinier, more expensive, more retro... blah blah blah!

But after all that you & ya buddies won't be able to agree on who came up with the coolest descriptive blurb, so you'll end up setting fire to each other!!!

?

Cheers everyone!

[jotb]

yeah, that`s it!!
does not really help, but is true

[StudioTan]

What the ssl did offer which is a superb is the bus compressor on the main stereo mix bus. This compressor was excellant and can be heard on many many many records. Check out Nirvana never mind to hear the SSL bus comp in action. Drums and who knows what else were all processed with it.

Gareth_FX

What plugin can get me THAT sound?

I've heard the Golden Compressor is capable of a range of emulations. Anyone have an SSL preset for it?

Not a plugin, but maybe some inspiration...

http://gyraf.dk/gy_pd/ssl/ssl.htm

[fxe]

For inspiration listen to any of the great recordings from the 60's and 70's I mean darkside of the moon ........ EMI console with no Eq other than some basic filters.....

You think they had 10000000 eq's and compressors inserted? NO.... knowing how to record and mix was the skill involved not how many plugins you can use..... Vocal not sounding right... change the mic , the positioning , room... same for everything else... Ok sure not every one has the luxury of lots of microphones to choose from but the rest you can sure work with.... change the room , the acoustics , position etc.

The same works with electronic instruments.

Relying on plugs to get your out of trouble is not the way to do it. Good solid technique is , people made amazing sounding records for a long time before plug in culture took over.......

Gareth_FX

I am in total agreement with you here. Some of the great productions of the 60's and 70's are still unmatched to this day. But I can't help wonder though, if they had had the ease of todays technology would some of them still have followed the less is more approach. On a side note, and something I am guilty of myself, is always reaching to boost the filters.I wonder if someone should come up with an eq that is upsidedown so users who instictively push those faders up will learn to cut instead of boost.

Tom

[Funkybot]

Tom, I can go you one step further on the idea front at least, how about an EQ that doesn't even allow you to boost, but one that only allows for cuts. Use that on an entire project and you'd probably end up with a very natural sounding recording.

[bmanic]

I am in total agreement with you here. Some of the great productions of the 60's and 70's are still unmatched to this day. But I can't help wonder though, if they had had the ease of todays technology would some of them still have followed the less is more approach. On a side note, and something I am guilty of myself, is always reaching to boost the filters.I wonder if someone should come up with an eq that is upsidedown so users who instictively push those faders up will learn to cut instead of boost.

Tom

I'm exactly the opposite. Only now with voxengo HarmoniEQ, Hydratone and the hardware sintefex unit am I finally learning to do boosts also. I've very rarely boosted anything with digital EQs (except high end shelf boost and sometimes, very rarely, low end bass boost).

Cheers!
bManic

[gareth_fx]

bmanic

lets not start a arguement here.......weve discussed this unit many times in the past.....

Cheers



Gareth_FX

[gareth_fx]

A follow up from the Gyraf posting........ Heres some gyraf audio inspired units.... http://colourofsound.8088.org/comps.jpg

Apologies for blurs......phone picture...

Gareth_FX

[Jaeson Merrill]

bmanic

lets not start a arguement here.......weve discussed this unit many times in the past.....

Cheers



Gareth_FX

doesnt matter what unit you use, cutting is better than boosting.

[electro]

Compare Sonalksis SV-517 to SSL Black EQ.

[brianbrian]

doesnt matter what unit you use, cutting is better than boosting.

That's definately not true! Have you ever used a EQP-1A or an API 550/560? It's all about adding character! Subtractive EQ is only superior when it comes to making corrections and minimizing the amount of damage lower-quality EQs do to your signal (for whatever reasons, a lot of software EQs can really degrade the sound, and cuts are much less obvious than boosts).

What if you want some really shiny 16Khz air? Cutting everything below 16Khz isn't going to do a good job, but using a Pultec can sometimes create air that doesn't even seem to be there in the original (notice I said "seem"...HF Pultec boosts are pretty unique and it's almost like they can add new harmonics up there). Even the Tubetech clones do a great job at this, and Millenia EQs are great for adding "sheen" too. I don't mean to totally shoot down your statement, but there ARE some exceptions to that rule. API 550s have a huge amount of character and boosting drums with them can add an exaggerated punch that sounds awesome. They are also great at making guitars sound "larger". Of course, only boosting is not practical, there are definately applications that are more appropriate for either boosting or cutting (although I have also found that I use cuts much more, and lots of high-pass filters).

Anyway back on topic! Can I ask why you want a SSL EQ specifically? I have access to a SSL 6048 G+ with both E & G eqs as well as a 48 channel Neve VR desk. I would choose the Neve desk any day of the week over the SSL. THe only thing I like about the SSL is the compressors, automation, and the fact that the EQ is pretty good for doing corrections and surgery. A lot of people say it has color but I find it to be pretty clean-sounding. I guess it can be good for getting that clean modern rnb or hip-hop sound.

I haven't heard any software EQs that have the SSL sound. However, I have heard software EQs that sound better to me than SSL ones, mainly GlissEQ, UA's PultecPro and Precision EQ, and especially Hydratone ( ). The Sonalksis EQ almost sounds similar to SSL desk EQs but it has a softer and less-solid sound to it IMO.