a-designs hammer vs. p-eq

[spoonie g]

Two different designs, I know, but which would be best for the rock genre?

[AMIEL]

Both are great! and very musical!

I would say that actually both compliment each other inmensevely...

The hammer have beautiful top end and the P-EQ very tight robust low end.

Anyway any of these pieces sounds amazing so maybe if you just want one of them think where you want to use it....but again any of these pieces are just excelent!

[Brad McGowan]

The EQ does not know if you are passive rock through it or classical. And the wizards at A Designs are very good at creating designs that seem to sprinkle the same magic on all musical signals.

So the correct answer is both.

Brad

[spoonie g]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

The EQ does not know if you are passive rock through it or classical. And the wizards at A Designs are very good at creating designs that seem to sprinkle the same magic on all musical signals.

So the correct answer is both.

Brad

Well, I understand this, but one could be more aggressive and the other sweeter, etc.

[RCM - Ronan]

I gave a pretty in depth response in this thread

******//www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...lown-away.html

[Brad McGowan]

Originally Posted by spoonie g

Well, I understand this, but one could be more aggressive and the other sweeter, etc.

True, but aren't both of those attributes desireable when doing a rock mix? To me they are. I think the Hammer can be both aggressive and sweet. And I would make the same argument about the PEQ too. It all depends on the source and how you use the EQ. I'm not trying to be difficult, but I'm not sure I really understand what kind of feedback you are looking for. There's a lot of good info in the thread that Ronan linked. I have a number of lengthy write-ups in a couple of those Hammer threads too. I'd start there.

Brad

[spoonie g]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

True, but aren't both of those attributes desireable when doing a rock mix? To me they are. I think the Hammer can be both aggressive and sweet. And I would make the same argument about the PEQ too. It all depends on the source and how you use the EQ. I'm not trying to be difficult, but I'm not sure I really understand what kind of feedback you are looking for. There's a lot of good info in the thread that Ronan linked. I have a number of lengthy write-ups in a couple of those Hammer threads too. I'd start there.

Brad

Well according to rmc's review, the hammer is more smooth and the p-eq more aggressive. Sounds pretty close to an answer to what I was asking.

[Brad McGowan]

Originally Posted by spoonie g

Well according to rmc's review, the hammer is more smooth and the p-eq more aggressive. Sounds pretty close to an answer to what I was asking.

I didn't find the EM-PEQ to be very "aggressive" sounding, but that's just my opinion. I guess it's as aggressive as the Pacifica is since that's the heart of its make-up amp. So if you've heard a Pacifica and you think that's aggressive then sure, call it "aggressive". What the heck does "aggressive" mean in the context of an EQ anyway???

Brad

[spoonie g]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

I didn't find the EM-PEQ to be very "aggressive" sounding, but that's just my opinion. I guess it's as aggressive as the Pacifica is since that's the heart of its make-up amp. So if you've heard a Pacifica and you think that's aggressive then sure, call it "aggressive". What the heck does "aggressive" mean in the context of an EQ anyway???

Brad

Come on, people. Gear is not completely transparent, eq's included. It will lend its own sound to things. If they didn't everyone might as well use the same ones.

[AMIEL]

Brad, just for a record which Modern EQ do you consider very agressive and great sounding?

[Brad McGowan]

I didn't say that either the Hammer or the EM-PEQ was transparent. They both have a "sound" and of the two I would say the EM-PEQ has more "color". The "color" it has is similar to that of the Pacifica IMHO.

Amiel--I don't think I've used enough hardware EQ's to give you a good answer, if hardware was indeed what you are referring to. And I only have one hardware EQ in my rack...a CL 7602, which I bought to replace a Great River preamp I sold. I tend to think about EQ's more like this:

Does this piece of gear pass signal through it without F-ing up my original source?
Does this piece of gear pass signal through it and add some extra sonic bonus sauce?

I'm not really sure what adjectives I would attribute to both of those criteria...perhaps "clean" for the first, and "with mojo" for the second?

So in terms of tools that I use on a regular basis that EQ "with mojo" I like:

Tritone Digital Valvetone '62 (on vocals)
Chameleon Labs 7602 (on drums, and use filter during tracking)
UAD Pultec Pro (on bass guitar)
UAD Neve 1081 (on drums and guitars)

But more often than not I think I tend to favor "clean" EQ's...those tools that just allow me to change the frequency balance without F-ing up the sound I worked so hard to capture in the first place.

I currently have a Hammer EQ sitting on top of my rack. I would place it somewhere in the middle of the "clean" and "with mojo" scale. It definitely is adding something musically interesting to the sound, but it's also doing it in a rather refined and unobtrusive way. At least that's the way I hear it. In other words the sound doesn't change too much just by passing signal through it (like a Neve style circuit).

Anyway that's my take on EQ's. And for the record I have no allegiance to hardware or software. I just like things that are affordable, versatile, and help me get from point A to point B.

Brad

[Mastering101]

I just got my hammer..i just fired it up

[ericzang]

Congrats! If you or others get a chance, it'd be great to hear some before and after .wav/aif files showing its high end. Thanks!thumbsup

[Brad McGowan]

I posted some sound clips a while back in one of the other HAMMER threads. I think it was in the New Product forum.

Brad

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

Both are great! and very musical!

I would say that actually both compliment each other inmensevely...

The hammer have beautiful top end and the P-EQ very tight robust low end.

Anyway any of these pieces sounds amazing so maybe if you just want one of them think where you want to use it....but again any of these pieces are just excelent!

+1

[Deif]

how does it compare to the API 5500?

[JohnRodd]

FYI

If anyone wants to hear a pretty substantial 10k boost on a mix run thru a HAMMER compared to a 10k boost done to the same mix using a EM-PEQ - check out this thread

******//www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-...vs-em-peq.html



John

[amd]

Originally Posted by Deif

how does it compare to the API 5500?

Good question, I would like info on this as well!

[ToneRexx]

I would get the Hammer istead of the API.....just sounds so good!

[amd]

Originally Posted by ToneRexx

I would get the Hammer istead of the API.....just sounds so good!

How would you describe the differences?

[STARSKI]

Just thought I'd let you guys know I have a EM-PEQ for sale.

******//www.gearslutz.com/board/gears...-peq-sale.html

[Dirty Halo]

First, BOTH are AMAZING! thumbsup

Given what you seem to want, I'd recommend a pair of the EM-PEQ. They have what I think of as a more classic rock punch and musicality to the (adjectives feel so weird, sorry).

I know they get that Pultec comparison, which is true, but they are also very much their own thing.

I also find more precicse control with them.

The Hammer is beautiful and maybe this is just lazy, but it simply gives euphoric results much easier (not to be mistaken with better), it is just simpler and more "refined sounding (again, not better).

I use both.

And here's the kicker... per Pete's suggestion "the gear devil" himself, he had me try the EM-PEW into the Hammer... OH MAN!

No one wants to hear that because it'll make you do things to your credit card that you are best left unsaid

IN SUMMARY, for more aggressive and that classic rock edge, I'd suggest a pair of the EM-PEQ. FWIW.

Hope that helps!

-andrews

[neon]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

First, BOTH are AMAZING! thumbsup


And here's the kicker... per Pete's suggestion "the gear devil" himself, he had me try the EM-PEW into the Hammer... OH MAN!

No one wants to hear that because it'll make you do things to your credit card that you are best left unsaid
-andrews

well...Robust bass (PEQ-1) and great top end (The Hammer)...so is 2 buss paradise shaping kit!

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

And here's the kicker... per Pete's suggestion "the gear devil" himself, he had me try the EM-PEW into the Hammer... OH MAN!

No one wants to hear that because it'll make you do things to your credit card that you are best left

Scary, but true.