I am getting the Hammer HM2EQ, will I regret it?

[Rev. Robb]

I have decided to get the Hammer for my mix buss to go along with my Manley Vari MU. I hope they will be a good fit with each other.

[Dirty Halo]

Originally Posted by Rev. Robb

I have decided to get the Hammer for my mix buss to go along with my Manley Vari MU. I hope they will be a good fit with each other.

I LOVE mine! Don't know what to tell ya, Peter hit the sweet spots

-andrews

[drew]

I like mine as well. It's like a tube Massenburg EQ plugin IMO. Clean, open, airy, but with a hint of tube character is how I would describe it.

[waldie wave]

I like mine too. I often use it with my Manley VariMu and SSL G Series. It gels with both units regardless of whether you place it before or after the compressor. It excels at the high end (10 & 15k) and low end at 400K. No matter how high you increase the gain the higher frequencies will never sound harsh. If it is not your thing you can always flick it on to me. I have my strapped across the 2 buss. I have also used it on tracking vocals and guitars and achieved excellent results. I recently used it on stems which I sent to a mastering facility in the US. The feedback I got was most positive. While it is not a surgical eq it provides broad strokes of magic. Each band can span 5 octaves. If you increase one band at a certain frequency you most likely will have to decrease another at a certain frequency to compensate. I often have the low cut filter engaged. It should be an excellent fit with the Manley VariMu. Get the side chain mod done to the Mu of it is a pre-2004 model.

[Rev. Robb]

Originally Posted by waldie wave

Get the side chain mod done to the Mu of it is a pre-2004 model.

I just got the Manley so it has the HP SC.

I am excited to finally have made a decision.

[waldie wave]

The Mu is an excellent choice. You will love it. It is great on 2 buss and tracking vocals/instruments. I have had mine for 8 yrs (and my Massive and Voxbox for 15 years - all have performed well to this day without any issues). They are very very very well built. I have never replaced the tubes even though I have replacement tubes. My technician told me the tubes in them are fine and not to replace them yet. My technician is one of the best in NZ. I am lucky he lives in Northland, NZ only a 1.5 hour's drive away. The pots on Manley gear will never get scratchy. My technician did a thorough check and the Mu (and the other units) is performing to its specifications. You may have to replace the back light on the MU at some point in the future as they have a tendency to burn out. Mine burned out after 2 years of use. The Mu will get extremely hot. You can use them to heat your studio/home in the winter. I once read about a guy in the UK that switched his Mu on at the start of each day and left it on all day to heat his studio. I lived in the UK (and in NY) for many years and it can get pretty cold there. So make sure you have at least 1 U space between it (above and below) and other units if it is racked.

[Quint]

Wait for it....

Kittonian will let you know the TRUTH about the Hammer.

[superwack]

Originally Posted by quint

wait for it....

Kittonian will let you know the truth about the hammer.

+ 1,000,000! =)

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by drew

I like mine as well. It's like a tube Massenburg EQ plugin IMO. Clean, open, airy, but with a hint of tube character is how I would describe it.

Its a great unit... but pretty f*ckin' far away from a Massenburg anything.

Open - airy I would agree with [I have less than zero idea what "tube character" is so I can't comment on that]... and while the Hammer is a damn good sounding unit it doesn't have a third of the function of a Massenburg anything - and it doesn't sound like a Massenburg anything.

Damn fine unit in its own right... and should be judged on its own merit... nothing more - nothing less.

Peace

[drew]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Its a great unit... but pretty f*ckin' far away from a Massenburg anything.

Open - airy I would agree with [I have less than zero idea what "tube character" is so I can't comment on that]... and while the Hammer is a damn good sounding unit it doesn't have a third of the function of a Massenburg anything - and it doesn't sound like a Massenburg anything.

Damn fine unit in its own right... and should be judged on its own merit... nothing more - nothing less.

Peace

Have you actually A/B'ed the unit to the MDW EQ2 TDM plugin? I have.

Not sure why I did it, but I did and those were my thoughts.

Tube character refers to a subtle rounding of transients etc, but of course you know that.

[Fletcher]

No - I have never taken the time to A/B a MDW plugin to a Hammer... yes, I have used both... comparing the Hammer to any plugin - even one that is as excellent as the MDW really does the unit a disservice... but I suppose that if I could fall back on 'marketing tripe' statements like "tube character' I could probably come to a similar conclusion you did... which was basically - they're both equalizers that can work as equalizers without a significant degradation of the tone.

If your comparison works for you... no harm, no foul... enjoy it.

Seriously!!

Peace

[drew]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

No - I have never taken the time to A/B a MDW plugin to a Hammer... yes, I have used both... comparing the Hammer to any plugin - even one that is as excellent as the MDW really does the unit a disservice... but I suppose that if I could fall back on 'marketing tripe' statements like "tube character' I could probably come to a similar conclusion you did... which was basically - they're both equalizers that can work as equalizers without a significant degradation of the tone.

If your comparison works for you... no harm, no foul... enjoy it.

Seriously!!

Peace

Based on this line of thinking, Jules ought to just shut the whole thing down now. Now that I think of it, not a bad idea!!

and no, you enjoy. seriously.

[Nishmaster]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

No - I have never taken the time to A/B a MDW plugin to a Hammer... yes, I have used both... comparing the Hammer to any plugin - even one that is as excellent as the MDW really does the unit a disservice... but I suppose that if I could fall back on 'marketing tripe' statements like "tube character' I could probably come to a similar conclusion you did... which was basically - they're both equalizers that can work as equalizers without a significant degradation of the tone.

If your comparison works for you... no harm, no foul... enjoy it.

Seriously!!

Peace

Not to further derail the topic, but I agree with Fletcher here: "tube sound" is really in the iron. Try a transformerless tube amp and you'll see that tubes don't have much sound at all.

More on topic, I'd love to hear how things go with the Hammer. It is a unit I've had my eye on, to be sure.

-Matt

[drew]

Originally Posted by Nishmaster

"tube sound" is really in the iron. Try a transformerless tube amp and you'll see that tubes don't have much sound at all.

Tell that to Phil Moore. Retro Instruments | Home

[superwack]

I think what Fletcher's point is there is no "tube sound" in other words, just saying something has a tube doesn't mean anything (he's not saying a particular tube in a particular circuit won't have a sound)

Tubes can go from clean to colored so can transformers, so can guitar amps... Knowing a piece of gear has certain components won't tell you anything about the sound (Pendulum v. V72, Retro EQ v. Nail v. Pultec = same type of bits, all different types of sound)

[emfrank72]

I wouldn't think of printing a mix without my Hammer.

[Fletcher]

There is no "tube" sound - there is no "transformer" sound - there is the sound of any given piece of equipment and that sound is the sum of the parts in that unit.

End of story.

Making racial statements like "tubes sound like _____" or "transformers" sound like ____" is just wrong. Yes, stereotypes are indeed very often true... but you can often find a plethora of examples that invalidate any [and all] racial statements thus making them irrelevant for any kind of serious discussion.

I can understand the lazy factor of using these racial statements... and I am WELL acquainted with the marketing aspect and employment of these racial statements... but at the end of the day - this board should be about the free flow of valid discussion and hopefully free of blanket racial statements and hopefully of 'pure marketing' fodder.

Peace

[Rev. Robb]

The Hammer is transformerless so I wonder how much sonic footprint it will add just running audio thru it?

[Nishmaster]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Making racial statements like "tubes sound like _____" or "transformers" sound like ____" is just wrong. Yes, stereotypes are indeed very often true... but you can often find a plethora of examples that invalidate any [and all] racial statements thus making them irrelevant for any kind of serious discussion.

That's not what I'm saying. All I meant was that people make blanket statements about the sound of a tube, and a tube used as a linear gain element (ie, before clipping) has very little sound at all.

On the other hand, I've never heard a transformer that doesn't impart some character to the signal. That's not to say that iron itself has a specific sound, it's quite dependent on the topology, core size, ratio, series resistance, core material, etc.

I can understand the lazy factor of using these racial statements... and I am WELL acquainted with the marketing aspect and employment of these racial statements... but at the end of the day - this board should be about the free flow of valid discussion and hopefully free of blanket racial statements and hopefully of 'pure marketing' fodder.

Agreed.

-Matt

[drew]

Originally Posted by Rev. Robb

The Hammer is transformerless so I wonder how much sonic footprint it will add just running audio thru it?

Send me a file and I'll run it through at various settings if you like.

[Rev. Robb]

Originally Posted by drew

Send me a file and I'll run it through at various settings if you like.

Yes I will, thank you!!

PM Sent

[RCM - Ronan]

Almost all of my mixes from the last few years go through a Manley Vari-Mu and a Hammer. can't say if you will be happy with the combo, but I obviously am.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Nishmaster

That's not what I'm saying. All I meant was that people make blanket statements about the sound of a tube, and a tube used as a linear gain element (ie, before clipping) has very little sound at all.

On the other hand, I've never heard a transformer that doesn't impart some character to the signal. That's not to say that iron itself has a specific sound, it's quite dependent on the topology, core size, ratio, series resistance, core material, etc.

We agree in every regard... whatever perceived disagreement there might be is purely semantics.

There is no "tube" sound per se - and every transformer sounds different [for all the reasons you listed] so there is no "transformer" sound per se either.

These sounds can not be racially classified as they are all individual components that assist the actual product to achieve whatever sound that product achieves.

That said - in the interest of ending the tangent this thread is taking... the Hammer is a damn fine sounding tool no matter what the topology may be. I have a feeling that if the OP takes the time to try said unit he will A) be able to form his own opinion - and B) I'd say the chances are at least 90% that he will agree with all who have stated that the Hammer is a top shelf / quality product.

Peace

[nomoreflakes]

he sallies forth yet retreats in a fog of semantics

[Dirty Halo]

Originally Posted by emfrank72

I wouldn't think of printing a mix without my Hammer.

I do the same... but I often second guess myself, not wanting to step on any mastering toes.

How are you using it on the 2-buss, meaning, what kind of tweaks do you tend to make, I'd love to learn and compare.

Thanks!

-andrews

[SoundWeavers]

Originally Posted by Rev. Robb

I have decided to get the Hammer for my mix buss to go along with my Manley Vari MU. I hope they will be a good fit with each other.

*ENVY* I've been saving for it and the NAIL, too. It's the sweetest sounding thing to hit the mix buss. Heard it at Ronan's bootcamp and been lusting for it since.

[Rev. Robb]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

I do the same... but I often second guess myself, not wanting to step on any mastering toes.

How are you using it on the 2-buss, meaning, what kind of tweaks do you tend to make, I'd love to learn and compare.

Thanks!

-andrews

Me too! Please share your approach.

[Mike333]

You won't regret buying the Hammer EQ. Fear not!

[diamondjim]

Originally Posted by emfrank72

I wouldn't think of printing a mix without my Hammer.

I use it all the time on the mix bus.
you won't regret it.

[diegua]

Much Love for the Hammer!

Depending on the song it may be the em-eq2!

Last week I got a pair of electrodynes 511. You may believe that +2 dB at 10k and at 100Hz may be too much but these are so sweet!!! And the recall in those eq is simply the best!

To add Mr. Montessi has provided a phenomenal customer support for his products.