Digital EQ recommendation

[supoUSA]

Can anyone recommend, based on knowledge and experience, the best digital EQ avaiable - either in a box (like the Weiss or Millenia or ?) or plug-in (PC). I record acoustical/classical music - orchestra's, choirs, wind band, jazz, etc;

Thank you.

[lerone]

For OTB digital, look at the Weiss. The nseq is valve & ss, still be worth looking at though!

For ITB have a look at Voxengos HarmoniQ, Flux Epure, Tritone Digital Angeltone, Algorithmix Blue. For LP look at Algorithmix Red, Sonoris LP, Plpareq or PSP Neon HR. That covers your bases.

[William Bowden]

I'd say if you want a box check out the Z sys eq-2. I have an eq-6 but they're almost the same (if memory serves the EQ-2 has MS as well). Not a fancy looking box but I use it far more than my weiss, far more.

The King

[jayfrigo]

For digital EQ, the Weiss still rules the roost. The Massenburg MDW EQ option in the t.c. 6000 is also very good, and the Z-sys is the other one worth checking out in hardware. In plug-in land, the Algorithmix offerings lead the pack.

[Stereophonic]

+1 for the Weiss. With a little patience you'll be able to pick up a used box for peanuts. (relatively speaking) I have the minimum phase model and love it. I've used it on every project since the day it arrived. It's as pleasing as analog and as surgical as digital.

[Peakly]

Originally Posted by William Bowden

I'd say if you want a box check out the Z sys eq-2.

What do you guys use the z-q2 for? I had one here for a few days, and just couldn't get into it. It sounded kind of vague and undefined to me - I couldn't get it to grab in a cool way like a good analog.

Mychal

[Tropicana]

Originally Posted by Peakly

What do you guys use the z-q2 for? I had one here for a few days, and just couldn't get into it. It sounded kind of vague and undefined to me - I couldn't get it to grab in a cool way like a good analog.

Mychal

I had a Zeq. I never used it to correct things like I did with the weiss.
But for example, if you boost 2-3 db's with a medium bell around 5khz you will hear immediatly why its a nice tool to work with. It always keep the mix transparant.
Its a sort of silky thing.

With the Algorithmix plugins I have the feeling that I have a weiss, Zq2 and a millennia EQ all together. I starting this week testing the plugins and it just give me that 5% more then what I hear with for example the oxfordplugin.
I am not saying it beats weiss. But weiss also dont beat the Algorithmix eq's.

[turtlerock]

another vote for the weiss lp dyn, although i dont use the LP really

i have some z system boxes as well they sound good but i find the interface is really clunky

[Tropicana]

Originally Posted by turtlerock

another vote for the weiss lp dyn, although i dont use the LP really

i have some z system boxes as well they sound good but i find the interface is really clunky

A userfriendly interface is of course handy but if the sound is very good but the user interface shit I dont care. Sound always goes for me in the first place.

For dyn eq's I prefer brainworx. With the weiss I never liked it so much.
But compression with weiss I never liked so much although the de esser is great.

[William Bowden]

I use it for all sorts of things, if there's a weird boomy thing at 80Hz for example I find the z sys on a narrow q really nails it, and with 95 dB of attenuation there's plenty of power. For some reason I find the frequencies I want much more quickly and easily than on the Weiss (dunno why). It's great for cleaning up lower mid crap too, and sometimes deals very well with top end harshness.

Also the shelves are great, I guess I use it mainly for subtractive work here.
It's so powerful that you can really reshape something if you need to, I usually have it first in the digital chain. It takes a while to gel with it perhaps, but it's a very very useful tool.

Yeah the interface is simple, funnily enough I use it far more than my Sontec for example - am I mad, probably!

The King

Originally Posted by Peakly

What do you guys use the z-q2 for? I had one here for a few days, and just couldn't get into it. It sounded kind of vague and undefined to me - I couldn't get it to grab in a cool way like a good analog.

Mychal

[turtlerock]

its always the challenge for rack space real estate isnt it ?, the drag with the zsystems boxes is they are so big , i kept hitting my knees on them and they would not fit further in up the console , so at my own peril i moved them to the side , - then the interface is a pain . i might persist . i might sell them
on it goes

[William Bowden]

I've got mine of to the side it's so bloody huge - all empty space inside mind you, but well designed. Yeah I'll be having a yard sale soon I reckon, you flush for a pair of SS Pultecs Rick?

The (mad) King

[William Bowden]

You haven't got the Z sys compressor have you Rick?

The King

[Peakly]

Originally Posted by Tropicana

I had a Zeq. I never used it to correct things like I did with the weiss. But for example, if you boost 2-3 db's with a medium bell around 5khz you will hear immediatly why its a nice tool to work with. It always keep the mix transparant. Its a sort of silky thing.

I could see how that would work. It did sound kind of silky to me too.

i have some z system boxes as well they sound good but i find the interface is really clunky

It's great for cleaning up lower mid crap too, and sometimes deals very well with top end harshness. Also the shelves are great, I guess I use it mainly for subtractive work here.

It just goes to show you how this stuff is so subjective. I thought the ergonomics of it were alright, and I really wanted to like it, but I couldn't get into the sound of it. I wanted it for mostly subtractive use too, but I thought the gml 8200 was way better at that.

Mychal