KVR Audio

Monkey1777 · Post by **Monkey1777** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:00 pm

I think I need new ears! I have A/B'd alot of EQ's and Compressors to see what all the fuss is about on certain models (eg Sonalksis, Kjaerhus e.t.c), but to me the difference seems very minimal. Some people say 'Oh yeah I go for the Sonalksis for this sound and the Crunchessor for this sound', but really unless I heard them back to back {soloed even!), I cant say I'd know the difference. I know linearities change as Ratio increases and Attack times vary e.t.c but I still feel like all Eq's and Compressors sound pretty much the same to me. What am I missing here!?

cron · Post by **cron** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:10 pm

If you're not missing anything, you're not missing anything. Think of it as a money saving blessing.

orangesuite · Post by **orangesuite** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:19 pm

other points that i take into consideration are the gui, not for how good it looks but for how easy it is to use and the visual feedback you get. saying that, if it looked like a peice of shit but sounded great I would still make a purchase though in most cases unless the gui was so unfriendly as to render the plug more hassle than its worth. Another one is CPU usage. No point having a great sounding plug if you can barely run enough copies of it (ahem, Hydratone PC!)

rSphere · Post by **rSphere** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:35 pm

I think that to a great degree the sound and distinctions of plugs and even hardware is overhyped - must of us here are gear sluts - so it comes with the territory. On the other hand they certainly do have different sounds and ways of working - and one can sometimes get something unique out of a plug - that they cannot get elsewhere... or at least without a lot of work. One of the reasons I see great potential in software plugs - is that the newer more visionary interfaces can allow you to really tweak a sound in ways not possible via a hardware interface - good example for me is the Curve EQ by voxengo.

But if you're expecting apple and and orange difference in tone - like between a fender and a gibson - i personally don't think that really what's going ... but others may disagree.

cron · Post by **cron** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:57 pm

The main area where plug-ins compete for sound quality for me is when they both sound f**ked up, but one less so (e.g., in a time/pitch shifter).

When it comes to stuff like EQ though, which plug sounds imperceptibly better when both sound fine is a non-issue for me (certainly not an issue worth spending a month's worth of food money on, at least).

Monkey1777 · Post by **Monkey1777** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:21 pm

I'm not crazy I'm not crazy! My ears are okay! Thanks for re-enforcing my initial thoughts on the 'this sounds better than this' debate. I agree, if it has a decent quality sound in the first place then it really is a non issue. Having said that I know there are really crap plugs out there too

cron · Post by **cron** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:31 pm

I'm sure the pro (in the true sense of the word) users will be able to tell the difference easily and will refuse to use anything but the best.

Ironic then that it's going to sound like shit anyway once the iron curtain (brick wall doesn't really cut it) out-house mastering job has been done.

androidlove · Post by **androidlove** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:35 pm

"good enough for rock n roll"

Funkybot · Post by **Funkybot** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:51 am

Download the demo of PSP's MasterQ and flip between the FAT mode being on and off. You'll clearly hear a difference. FAT, is basically just oversampling the filters to make them smoother and fatter, and this difference is audible. Without MasterQ is a fairly mediocre EQ (I'd rate it as just above average against commercial native EQs), with it, it's quite a fine EQ. Too bad a static, compensatable, latency hasn't been introduced yet.

Also load up several EQs on a track and increase things like Bass and Highs, and listen to how they sound. You'll start hearing a difference. Not hearing one at first isn't that big a deal either, it'll start coming to you if slowly start training yourself.

If that doesn't work, just use your eyes and buy the EQs and Compressors that you think look the nicest

.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:08 am

What I don't get is when people say certain EQ's sound more "real" and "analog". EQ is just amplifying certain frequencies. It's a very mathematical job - how would analog and digital do a different job? The EQ on my mixer sounds the exact same as any spft EQ i apply to me.

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:20 am

Chase wrote:What I don't get is when people say certain EQ's sound more "real" and "analog".

"I don't feel tardy.."

kilroy · Post by **kilroy** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:23 am

cron wrote:I'm sure the pro (in the true sense of the word) users will be able to tell the difference easily and will refuse to use anything but the best.

Audio mag interviewer: "So Dusty, what's your very most favorite EQ?"

Super Pro Engineer: "Golly Bob, which ever one is closest."

Audio mag interviewer: "Way too cool, Dusty. Thanks for your time."

Super Pro Engineer: "No problem, Bob. Glad to help out."

orangesuite · Post by **orangesuite** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:31 am

Ha ha. I like it...

egbert · Post by **egbert** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:46 am

kilroy wrote:Audio mag interviewer: "So Dusty, what's your very most favorite EQ?"

Super Pro Engineer: "Golly Bob, which ever one is closest."

Audio mag interviewer: "What about you Ultra Pro Engineer?"

Ultra Pro Engineer: "Why, my sponsor's Eq - what else"

Personally, I don't think they are all the same but the decent ones are often pretty close to each other. HarmoniEq has its own sound but it is doing more than just Eq - it is adding harmonic coloration.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:48 am

Super Pro Engineer wrote:Golly Bob, which ever one is closest.

Classic!

Forever,

Kim.

Hearing the difference?