Api 550b vs Great River EQ-2NV vs Lil Freq EQ

[Rainchild]

I wanted 2 get a pair EQ. Which would be dfferent from what I already have:

1 x Massive Passive
1 x IBIS
2 x api 560
**********************************

I mainly use Massive Passive & IBIS Vocal.
I find API 560 is very good for Acoustic gtr EQ and Looking for a another pair of EQ of different character. I would mainly use it for kik, snr, and other guitar (electric & acoustic). Out of the below choices:

API 550b vs Great River EQ-2NV vs Lil Freq EQ. Please comment. And what would u choose?

[brownmouse]

i duoubt if very many people have even heard the lilfreq (i'm sure it will be cool though), but i gotta say i just got a great river eq-2nv in from mercenary and it is lovely!!!!!
joshua

[jbuntz]

Something tells me the empirical labs one will be the most versitile. I really dig the idea of the dynamic shelving eq. Sounds very useful. I'm guessing that it will also have the least color of the three...which can be a good or bad thing.

[Saucyjack]

I'm in a similar situation...already have an NV2 so the Great River eq seems like a natural fit.

Joshua what are you liking about the Great River eq?
I want something flexible but with some color/character.

[brownmouse]

Originally posted by Saucyjack

Joshua what are you liking about the Great River eq?
I want something flexible but with some color/character.

well, i've only had it for a few days, but in comparison to a pair of speck asc's (which are also on demo) i found the bottom end to be a good deal more 'solid' (for lack of a better term), and overall just sweeter than the specks (which are also cool in a different kind of way... plus to be fair, they are less than half the price of the great river). as far as tonal flexibility, the great river seems to be pretty versatile (especially with the mp-2nv.. which i also have). i'm gonna spend a few more days with it, but i'm pretty much certain that it is going to stay here.
joshua

[mixerguy]

anyone else?

[Poopants]

take my opinion with a grain of salt because I'm selling mine in the classifieds section (need the money, still in college!), but I had the Lil Freq for about 6-7 months and I LOVED it. Very flexible, very clean (can use the transformer output for some color). The ONLY thing I would have loved to have had on it was a low pass, but that would be pushing it considering that it has a hi pass, hi and low shelf, 4 bands and a hi-freq limiter.

But keep in mind that this was my first/only high-end outboard EQ so I don't know if my opinion is valuable to you.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by brownmouse

( plus to be fair, they are less than half the price of the great river).
joshua

Why should price have anything to do with it?

A great EQ is a great EQ no matter what the price is.

When you are mixing with it its just not something that crosses the mind.

It either works or it doesn't right?

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Why should price have anything to do with it?

A great EQ is a great EQ no matter what the price is.

When you are mixing with it its just not something that crosses the mind.

It either works or it doesn't right?

good point. thumbsup

I guess price only comes into it when the rent or mortgage is due!

[brownmouse]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Why should price have anything to do with it?

A great EQ is a great EQ no matter what the price is.

When you are mixing with it its just not something that crosses the mind.

It either works or it doesn't right?

Well sure, I see your point. On the other hand, I can get from point A to B in my '88 Dodge Caravan, but a more expensive Mercedes might be make the drive a tad more fun. The Speck's IMHO are great utilitarian EQ's, sometimes the Great River seems to "outclass" it in certain applications. (I realize the original poster didn't ask about the Speck's, it's just what I happened to have on hand to reference it at the time of my first post).
FWIW, I ended up buying the Great River, and since then I picked up a Lil Freq as well. I love them both in different ways (I wouldn't mind picking up another Lil Freq at some point- very nice EQ!), and some day I wouldn't mind having a pair of the Speck's as well!

Joshua

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by brownmouse

.. (snip)....
FWIW, I ended up buying the Great River, and since then I picked up a Lil Freq as well. I love them both in different ways (I wouldn't mind picking up another Lil Freq at some point- very nice EQ!), ..... (snip)....Joshua

So - in your own words - how do they differ, and how are they similar?

If you had to take ONLY 2 channels to a desert island - would it be Great River or Lil FrEQ?

and - what would you rather strap across the mix buss (or do quick mastering with) and why?

How do you use them?

and - what sort of music do you do?

[Bob Olhsson]

The API 550 has been my "desert island" eq for 34 years.

I've only compared it once briefly to the eq-2nv but didn't hear anything that would make me consider swapping. I did think the eq-2nv held its own with the API which is better than an actual Neve eq. has ever done.

[brownmouse]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

So - in your own words - how do they differ, and how are they similar?

If you had to take ONLY 2 channels to a desert island - would it be Great River or Lil FrEQ?

and - what would you rather strap across the mix buss (or do quick mastering with) and why?

How do you use them?

and - what sort of music do you do?

Well, I really don't know how to put in words... but I suppose if I *had* to pick one of the two, I'd go with the pair of Lil Freq's (simply because of their versatility). I tend to use the Great River on things like bass, electric guitar, kik, snare and 2 buss (I only have 1 channel of the Lil Freq). I bet the Lil Freq would sound great on the 2 buss, but I imagine it'd be easier to setup the EQ-2NV (which sounds stellar as well). The Lil Freq sits on lead vocals. In tracking, I tend to prefer it on acoustic guitars over the Great River. On kik and snare it's 'flip a coin' for me. THe Great River seems a bit more solid and tight on the bottom to me, but the Lil Freq is just so versatile and is great sounding in a different way.
I mostly do acoustic and rock. Sorry if this is kinda vague... it's really hard to describe. There is no way I'd be sorry owning either.
Joshua

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by brownmouse

Well, I really don't know how to put in words... but I suppose if I *had* to pick one of the two, I'd go with the pair of Lil Freq's (simply because of their versatility). I tend to use the Great River on things like bass, electric guitar, kik, snare and 2 buss (I only have 1 channel of the Lil Freq). I bet the Lil Freq would sound great on the 2 buss, but I imagine it'd be easier to setup the EQ-2NV (which sounds stellar as well). The Lil Freq sits on lead vocals. In tracking, I tend to prefer it on acoustic guitars over the Great River. On kik and snare it's 'flip a coin' for me. THe Great River seems a bit more solid and tight on the bottom to me, but the Lil Freq is just so versatile and is great sounding in a different way.
I mostly do acoustic and rock. Sorry if this is kinda vague... it's really hard to describe. There is no way I'd be sorry owning either.
Joshua

Totally awesome answer Joshua. You rock. Great info. Thanks!!!

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

[mixerguy]

anyone else?

[bsteeve@ozemail]

Well, I think there must be a reason why every great engineer i know uses API 550 eqs. A very well respected engineer I know in Oz, got 24 of them fitted in his neve console. Next to that, he's got all the great other EQ you can dream of (Neve 1073, pultec...), he also has a great pair of hears... Obviously, API 550 is his cup of tea! I personally own a 550b EQ and I love it. Just running a sound through it without eqing it make it fit better in the mix. It really is a great EQ with a great reputation and sound. You can also push things hard without making them sound horrible. I've hear good thing about the great river and the Lilfreq seems pretty great, but i haven't heard either of them. I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them to be honest but if you get a 550b, get a pair.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by bsteeve@ozemail

Well, I think there must be a reason why every great engineer i know uses API 550 eqs. A very well respected engineer I know in Oz, got 24 of them fitted in his neve console. Next to that, he's got all the great other EQ you can dream of (Neve 1073, pultec...), he also has a great pair of hears... Obviously, API 550 is his cup of tea! I personally own a 550b EQ and I love it. Just running a sound through it without eqing it make it fit better in the mix. It really is a great EQ with a great reputation and sound. You can also push things hard without making them sound horrible. I've hear good thing about the great river and the Lilfreq seems pretty great, but i haven't heard either of them. I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them to be honest but if you get a 550b, get a pair.

I used a API 550 the other day and cut 9 db at 400 hz on something, and boosted top a bit.... and it sounded AWESOME...

[Fletcher]

If you cut 9db on something you should really explore your microphone collection/technique... but I suppose that is a discussion for another day.

I used a pair of Portico 5033's on Overheads last night with a lovely shimmer and sheen to the audio [while pulling out a couple db in the lower mids to let the bottom 'bap' of the snare drum come through a little more from the close mic than from the overheads].

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If you cut 9db on something you should really explore your microphone collection/technique... but I suppose that is a discussion for another day.

...(snip)....

Ah yes - I should have been more clear....

My client came in with a sound already in ProTools that he had recorded himself, and he asked me to fix it.

The fix was minus 9 at 400 Hz.

[gabler]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If you cut 9db on something you should really explore your microphone collection/technique... but I suppose that is a discussion for another day.

I used a pair of Portico 5033's on Overheads last night with a lovely shimmer and sheen to the audio [while pulling out a couple db in the lower mids to let the bottom 'bap' of the snare drum come through a little more from the close mic than from the overheads].

I sometimes cut 400 8-9 db on some kick drums. If I remember correctly I thought
Russ long and Chuck Ainley also do or close to that amount. Over all though for most things you are right that is a big cut...

[Jason Poulin]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If you cut 9db on something you should really explore your microphone collection/technique... but I suppose that is a discussion for another day.
].

really?



Jason

[zboy2854]

To me the API 550s are more for broad EQ strokes, whereas with the EQ2NV or LilFreq you can be broad and musical, but you can also be very surgical if need be. On that count alone, if I was forced to pick only one EQ, I'd take the EQ2NV if for no other reason than maximum flexibility.

[Confusionator]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If you cut 9db on something you should really explore your microphone collection/technique... but I suppose that is a discussion for another day.

Actually, I'd much rather discuss it now.

If you've got a boxy room, you may well want to take out 9dB in the nodal region. If you're thinning out some male harmony vocals, taking out 9dB might work great. If you're going for an AM-radio type effect, taking out 9dB or more might help greatly.

I'm so sick of these guys who make blanket recommendations without knowing your room, your music, or your artistic intent. Sheesh!

[GYang]

Originally Posted by Confusionator

Actually, I'd much rather discuss it now.

I do sometimes very radical equing, too. Depends in what I hear, I never look at box controls wheteher it is 5, 8 or more db.
It´s true that sometimes result is not pleasing, but various EQs react diferently to materials.
LILFreq is doing fine in this respect, but I would not say it is universaly better than API or Great River (for this reason I am forced to keep whole collection of EQs, as you never know which will exactly do the job.
I think that mature engineeres (opposite to us with 6-7 years of experinece) prefer to use what they know very well. They are not often ready to spend lot of time experimenting with new boxes and their ears/brains are well adjusted to particular sound they expect to hear.
For aforesaid reason I stopped to listen their recommendations and do homework by myself (although time consuming, expenses, etc...).
As result, some well known brands disappeared from my racks due to what sometimes (fooled by engineers) clients and chartered engineers complain.
Still, as totally independent from commerciaal effects of studio (anyway it´s not profit making) I can afford to do exactly what I think is the best.