Which 8 API eq's to pick for a 500VPR?

[paul999]

I don't think I could live without tonelux eq after using it on electric guitar and bass. With the "pultec" trick in the mids you can make a guitar or keyboard jump out of the speakers. Don't forget that if you buy a small console (which are pretty cheap these days) you'll have eq on every channel. My D&R has fabulous eq's. They are utilitarian but nice. Then getting a few eq's for flavor. Having 2 eq's in line makes it so you can eq yourself out of most spots.

I have a set up very much like yours and here is what I use.


Bass ->Tonelux
Kick ->550b
Snare ->550b
Lead Vocals ->console
Electric Guitar ->tonelux
Electric Guitar ->console
Ac. Guitar ->console
Ac. Guitar ->console

As a lot of us need to do "self mastering" these days to keep cash in the studio. Using a pair of tonelux and 550 a or b's in a mastering chain is awesome. This cured my lust for a massive passive.

[johnnyc]

I'm changing my previous vote to:

4 - 550B
2 - 550A
2 - 560

The 550A has more mojo but think the 550B is more versatile all-around.

[robertshaw]

Originally Posted by rob S

Not a fan of the 554.

prolly their most 'musical' eq
and parametric
I think 550a/b are sort of aggressive comparatively
and not as flexible

[Baz]

Lots of love for the API's (and rightfully so! I LOVE the 5500) but I'm looking SO SO forward to the JLM PEQ500's I have on the way right now. I went for bold, big bottom, with air to spare and something that I could use on a 2 buss. Looking forward to them

I did a shootout awhile back with an Alta Moda AM20(?) Speck, GR 32 and 550b and for the Flamenco guitar at least, the Speck flattened the rest. Like NO comparison and I think this is an underrated EQ which I could see loving a pair of.

The Alta Moda impressed me a lot and I was thinking 'man, this would be great for rock' and contrary to many opinions around here, the GR 32 impressed me the least - which kind of bummed me out as I love the GR MP2NV and EQ2NV. That EQ2NV is mind blowing..where the 32 didn't seem to blow me away nearly as much. But I'd love to try one again in another situation

[PTP]

Up to recently I still didn't found the time to do some serious testing so nothing changed until last week. A weak ago I accidentally stumbled upon a really great offer for a new Chandler Germanium Tone Control. This eq i didn't really check befor because i was really focussing on the 500 series range. But this was an offer i couldn't refuse. I read the manual and then i realised how well thought out this unit really was so i thought, what the heck, i'll take two....

Yesterday i've used them for the first time and it's by far the best thing i ever bought, what a great unit. It's versatile but it's extremely colourful as well. No plugin can do what this thing does, it's truly amazing. Mixing is more fun than ever before!! This is my first real analog eq (apart from the modded soundcraft ghost i previously had) and i expected it to be better than the waves plugins i have but his good, i didn't dare to dream....If all analog eq's are this good, life's going to be good!!

It works on anything i tried, vocals, oh's, ac git's, el. git's, bass, kick, hh etc.
So my searching days for versatility yet coulourful are over. I'll still try some 550a's soon and probably will buy 6 of them but i see no need for a 550b or a 560 anymore. I also see myself buying another pair of these GTC's as well.

Thanx a million for all your helpfull posts i'm going to mix with a smile upon my face from now on!

Grtz!

[airmate]

Originally Posted by PTP

Up to recently I still didn't found the time to do some serious testing so nothing changed until last week. A weak ago I accidentally stumbled upon a really great offer for a new Chandler Germanium Tone Control. This eq i didn't really check befor because i was really focussing on the 500 series range. But this was an offer i couldn't refuse. I read the manual and then i realised how well thought out this unit really was so i thought, what the heck, i'll take two....

Yesterday i've used them for the first time and it's by far the best thing i ever bought, what a great unit. It's versatile but it's extremely colourful as well. No plugin can do what this thing does, it's truly amazing. Mixing is more fun than ever before!! This is my first real analog eq (apart from the modded soundcraft ghost i previously had) and i expected it to be better than the waves plugins i have but his good, i didn't dare to dream....If all analog eq's are this good, life's going to be good!!

It works on anything i tried, vocals, oh's, ac git's, el. git's, bass, kick, hh etc.
So my searching days for versatility yet coulourful are over. I'll still try some 550a's soon and probably will buy 6 of them but i see no need for a 550b or a 560 anymore. I also see myself buying another pair of these GTC's as well.

Thanx a million for all your helpfull posts i'm going to mix with a smile upon my face from now on!

Grtz!

This would be my humble suggestion. I am a 550a guy, too...
To my ears they sound fuller, rounder and more pleasing than 550b's. I could imagine the 550b on a heavy guitar buss that needs more edge. But i do not do that too often.

The Chandler Tone Control is great, but you should have a look at the Electrodynes as well. Those are mighty nice.

[IMG]******//i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1/mangaeden/api01.jpg[/IMG]

[PTP]

Thanks for the tip! After my Chandler-experience i'll definetely try more than just the API's. What are your favourite Instruments to use the Electrodynes on and what is so nice about them?

[airmate]

Originally Posted by PTP

Thanks for the tip! After my Chandler-experience i'll definetely try more than just the API's. What are your favourite Instruments to use the Electrodynes on and what is so nice about them?

The pair on the right side is hard-wired to my drum buss, after the 2500. Very often I just do a 2 dB boost at 40 Hz to make up for the sub bass loss of the compressor - very important for electronic music.

The pair on the left side goes to the inserts of two channels on the console. I use them for all kinds of signals, whenever I need tone shaping with broad curves. Recently I have enjoyed them on Wurlitzer Piano, Pedal Steel Guitar, a synthesizer buss and some percussion.

To my ears a big plus of the Electrodynes is that you can boost (and cut) heavily without losing immediacy and a "natural" sound. The highs sound smooth and the lows can get huge but never too woolly. To me this is a perfect balance between aspects I like from Neve and Pultec EQs on the one side and API on the other side. They have the big tone from the former, but the tighness of the latter. Very special, a great console EQ!

[PTP]

Sounds like a great eq for drum overheads. The only thing i usually do on OH's is cutting some lowend and a little boosting on the top, but it definately needs to stay as natural as possible. I will check them out.

Grtz!

[airmate]

Originally Posted by PTP

Sounds like a great eq for drum overheads. The only thing i usually do on OH's is cutting some lowend and a little boosting on the top, but it definately needs to stay as natural as possible. I will check them out.

Grtz!

I'd say it would be a GREAT choice for overheads...!

[digitrax]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

...you should look at the Purple Audio ODD and TAV and the Harrison EQ32 ... they are pretty dang good ...

Couldn't have said it better myself. I'd get a couple of 550b's* for that API flavor, but augment with an Odd, Tav, Harrison 32, or Electrodyne 511 (glad to see these getting some love - I've been espousing them for a long time - ******//www.gearslutz.com/board/4955217-post30.html - ******//www.gearslutz.com/board/4681382-post9.html)
You won't be sorry.

*Yeah, the 550a is a little sweeter than the 'b', but the Odd/511 would cover the sweet side just as well or better. To me, the 550b (or the 560) has more of the sound we associate with API.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by airmate

This would be my humble suggestion. I am a 550a guy, too...
To my ears they sound fuller, rounder and more pleasing than 550b's. I could imagine the 550b on a heavy guitar buss that needs more edge. But i do not do that too often.

The Chandler Tone Control is great, but you should have a look at the Electrodynes as well. Those are mighty nice.

[IMG]******//i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1/mangaeden/api01.jpg[/IMG]

dude, you are sportin some of my favorite in that rack!
sweeeeet!

Originally Posted by airmate

but you should have a look at the Electrodynes as well. Those are mighty nice.

yep

They are mighty nice!
mighty mighty nice!

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by robertshaw

API 554 is one of the best