Neve 1073 eq

[jeremycox]

Originally Posted by alligator

It's SO NICE I really enjoy using the 1073 EQ while tracking with my CM 7 mic and my AVEDIS MIC PRE. Then moving over to my STEP EQ for mixing. The only question I have is - is this overkill? too much saturation using EQ's for tracking THEN for mixing? I am not too sure.

That being said the 1073 is great I am enjoying it. However I noticed that SSL is coming out with a 500 series comp and EQ so I am going to have to do some decision making whether or not to go with SSL or stay with NEVE. I suppose its too early for anyone to comment on how the SSL modules are and yes I know its all subjective but at least I'd hope to get a good idea of what it entails so I can either keep my money or spend it on that.

The ssl and neve eqs are very different. The neve has much more color and character, while the ssl is more clinical. I much prefer the neve, but the ssl is very usable.
You can eq on tracking and again on mixing if you want. Just watch your gain staging and use your ear!

[alligator]

thanks for the advice. Yeah I am having trouble right now running some vocal track testing using first the neve eq with my avedis in my signal chain for tracking then switching to the STEP EQ for mixing then reverse it step eq for tracking and neve for mixing Dude I don't know if 1295.00 is worth this EQ I mean it sounds oversaturated to me like overproduced and that is probably one of the hardest things I have to overcome you think the more the better (don't get me wrong I HATE PLUGINS i use maybe one or two in a track so I am not one of those to patch in 10 different plugins on each track).

The question is not so much is the NEVE any good it is. However will it work for me only I can answer that question is it worth that much money? I will confess to my fellow comrades at gearslutz I actually don't know shit about the science of EQ'ing the frequencies filters all that stuff. I just turn knobs so the gear is probably the right gear I need to get educated and my stupid music production school is not teaching me this they are teaching me how to like use the THOR Synthsizer in REASON WTF?! who the hell wants to use that crap I hate samples. I'm analog all the way and playing all my instruments from the bottom up.

Alligator

[jeremycox]

Maybe you are hitting it too hard. They can be pretty transparent when used conservatively. try padding the output of the mic pre before you hit the eq? -especially if you are boosting anywhere.

[Tone Laborer]

Originally Posted by alligator

Yeah I am having trouble right now running some vocal track testing using first the neve eq with my avedis in my signal chain for tracking then switching to the STEP EQ for mixing then reverse it step eq for tracking and neve for mixing Dude I don't know if 1295.00 is worth this EQ I mean it sounds oversaturated to me like overproduced and that is probably one of the hardest things I have to overcome you think the more the better (don't get me wrong I HATE PLUGINS i use maybe one or two in a track so I am not one of those to patch in 10 different plugins on each track).

Alligator

One sentence. So wrong. On so many levels.

[jeremycox]

Yeah. Punctuation is helpful sometimes.

[alligator]

TONE LABORER - TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG with what I said? It's important if I can learn from you guys who are pro's then I can get ahead of the curve I admit I don't know crap about music production I just have high end gear I'm a moron I admit freely I simply have not been taught to be able to engage in these matters the correct way. Seriously tell me what is wrong. Listen you guys are light years ahead of me trust me I'm not very bright with this I am a musician I play most instruments and sing but I want to produce music as well so I have all the creative moxy one would need for prose, lyrics, song writing, instruments, singing, etc. but I don't know shit about 95% of what goes on at least in the high end,

[riffmachine]

Originally Posted by alligator

TONE LABORER - TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG with what I said? It's important if I can learn from you guys who are pro's then I can get ahead of the curve I admit I don't know crap about music production I just have high end gear I'm a moron I admit freely I simply have not been taught to be able to engage in these matters the correct way. Seriously tell me what is wrong. Listen you guys are light years ahead of me trust me I'm not very bright with this I am a musician I play most instruments and sing but I want to produce music as well so I have all the creative moxy one would need for prose, lyrics, song writing, instruments, singing, etc. but I don't know shit about 95% of what goes on at least in the high end,

Hey Alligator, there's nothing wrong with being a newbie. We've all been there at one time or another. However, I would refrain from representing yourself with negative descriptors like "moron". Most people don't feel overly inclined to help morons. IMO, you'd be better served by continuing to ask questions and keeping things short and concise. It doesn't hurt to use good grammar and punctuation as well. It helps us as the reader. Now, I don't mean to sound preachy, but I'm just relaying what has worked for me. You can do as you please, but if you are getting flack around here, maybe adjust your approach. My 2 cents.

In regards to your original question, when there is an issue with gear or the sound you are getting, it's usually about limiting variables and narrowing down the problem so it can be isolated. Someone above mentioned putting your EQ after the mic Pre. That is what I typically do when it comes to creating a signal chain. Adjusting how much gain on the Pre may help you dial down the amount of saturation you are getting. Or, it could be that the gear you have isn't fitting your tastes. These are all tools after all. Some gear is great for this, and others are great for that, but only you can educate yourself as to what your tastes are. I do not have an MA-5 or a Neve EQ, but I do have a Step EQ. It is more towards the clean side in my opinion. Try putting the EQ after the Pre and see what that does. Try it with the Neve, and then try it with the Step. Watch your levels. I don't typically track with EQ, but when I do, I try to get the sound to be exactly how I'd want it to be in the mix. This takes some foresight and good instincts. Adding more EQ in the mix can be necessary to correct the tracks tonal balance to fit the mix better. As long as you made good decisions with your tracking EQ, all is well, but you can definitely paint yourself into a corner. Having a good selection of hardware and plug-ins helps to give you options. I hope this was helpful. Best of luck. - Paul

Ps- it's cool to see the SSL stuff coming to the 500 series format. I have an X Rack with 4 E series EQ's and 4 E series dynamics. They sound great to me, and they are very tweakable. I use them all the time, and I have a lot of EQ's and Comps if that means anything. I would imagine the 500 series stuff is up to snuff, but it lacks the total recall which I find very useful.

[Gearz_head]

Originally Posted by jeremycox

Maybe you are hitting it too hard. They can be pretty transparent when used conservatively. try padding the output of the mic pre before you hit the eq? -especially if you are boosting anywhere.

What if you are tracking and mixing through a NEVE desk, with 1073 eqs, and then mixing in the same desk, would that not be the same as using the 1073 twice? Once on tracking & then mixing? So I suppose it's good to be cautious but as you said one should use his ears.

[Tone Laborer]

Old Alligator, you're too much! Look, I don't like being the grammar narc, but my god bro...you're way beyond bad grammar. You're into the gobblety goop mind F territory, and not just on this thread. Paragraphs, sentences, periods, commas--c'mon man, they're bound to have taught you some of this shit, no? Consider it tough love. You need to learn how to write better if you want to be taken seriously. In life, not just on GS.

But let's forget about that failed English class for a moment.

Ok, so you're a newb. Albeit a newb with deep pockets for things like Great River, API, Neve, Wunder, Avedis, etc. That's not a crime. It should be, but it's not.

All of the gear you've used, tried, passed judgement on in your threads is highly professional gear. There's something particularly galling about an inexperienced recordist publicly slagging on pro gear, but it's not your fault, that's the way things go.

You've asked for help. It's shooting in the dark, but here goes.

Over EQ ing is a sure fire way to screw up good tone. Do a good job capturing the source, then eq as little as possible, and only if needed. PHYSICIAN DO NO HARM.

What you need is experience with the pro gear you already have. Like a few YEARS worth. Playing the "I've got to try every new pre eq comp to come down the line is just a distraction at your stage. As far as I 'm concerned, your preamp and eq search should be done, at least for awhile. Get some mics to complement your wunder, and start tracking and mixing. And always, listening.

And lastly, forget about forming some OPINION to go post on GS. Get some foundation first. Some basis for your judgement. Search and learn. It takes years, brother. It is not easy to wear all the hats and pull off pro mixes, arrangements, etc. YEARS,

Sorry if I'm coming down hard on you. In fact, I like alligators. One of my cousins is an alligator. You seem like a honest and decent soul, if not a Rhodes scholar. I hope you take my comments as constructive, and not as an attack. That is how they are intended.

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by Gearz_head

What if you are tracking and mixing through a NEVE desk, with 1073 eqs, and then mixing in the same desk, would that not be the same as using the 1073 twice? Once on tracking & then mixing? So I suppose it's good to be cautious but as you said one should use his ears.

It used to be done a lot, and the music wasn't worse (or better) for it.

[Rockinrob]

I agree with Tone Laborer in the fact that the first thing in my signal chain is always the mic pre. If you look at all in one channel strips usually the decision about eq is either pre or post compression in the signal chain. Sometimes you may want to use both pre and post compression eq depending on how you are sculpting your sound. I myself do not prefer to track with eq (although some people may). For me personally it is difficult, at best, while tracking to make the decision about how the vocal sits in the mix eq-wise. I prefer to capture the vocal first and then during the mix process take whatever eq-ing measures may be needed. It can really be a pain to print a vocal track with eq only to find later on in the mix process that what you have captured does not set well within the confines of the mix. Most mic pres have their own character and some eq's do as well. Neve is renowned for the tonal qualities that they impart on recorded tracks. You may be experiencing the fact that the "Neve" sound isn't particularly to your liking, all well and good. I have a Neve 1073lb and a 2264alb. I know the harder I drive the 1073 the more coloration there is and the same with the 2264alb. If your mic has a pad try engaging the pad. If that doesn't work then try not running your mic pre at it's peak output. Work with it and you will find a setting that will work for you.