I'm working on an investigation/comparison on a couple of Pultec EQP-1A plug-ins and I could really use your help.
In order to compare the different plug-ins, I have a couple of different audio files which I send trough the plug-ins. All of the plug-ins have the same visual settings (if a knob is at +5 in one plug-in, it is at +5 in the rest of the plug-ins).
The audio that I send through the plug-ins are as follows:
Kickdrum
Piano
Acoustic gitaar
Vocal
Complete mix (EQP-1A is serving as a mastering EQ).
The plug-ins that I have at the moment are the Waves Puigtec EQP-1A and the IKM T-Racks EQ-1A.
I would really like to take the UAD Pultec EQP-1A along in the comparison, only problem is that I don't have it.
So; my first question: is there anyone on the forum who has a UAD Pultec EQP-1A and is willing to help me by sending some audio files through it?
My second question is about the fact that I would love to compare the plug-ins with a REAL Pultec EQP-1A.
Is there anyone on the forum who has a hardware Pultec EQP-1A and is willing to help me?
Thanks a lot, I'm really looking forward to reactions!
PS. when the comparison is done, I will post the results and the audio files so all of you can compare them for yourself.
Using the same control settings does not make too much sense to me. Especially on a non-surgical EQ like the Pultec.
Comparing the curves, harmonic distortion (if any) and possibly phasing and aliasing would make more sense.
The UAD version has a 1.3dB volume boost "built-in" for example that would need to be considered.
And the UAD boosts more lowend using the same settings than the IK, which makes them sound different at the same settings.
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@MelvinIII; Thanks a lot! I've just finished recording the last samples, I will send them tomorrow through We-Transfer, along with the settings and screenshots! It would be great if you could send them through both Pultec-emulationsWhat's your e-mail adress?
@RiF; I want to find out if and how the plug-ins sound different when they have the 'same' settings. If the UAD and the Waves both say that they are giving a 7 dB boost at a certain frequency, but listening reveals that the UAD is giving a higher boost at a slightly different frequency than the Waves, I have a useable result.
If you have an alternative way of comparing the plug-ins, i'm all ears!
I want to find out if and how the plug-ins sound different when they have the 'same' settings
Well, that's kinda the problem. They're not the same settings. It's hard to compare when you have them set in GUI the same, but it sounds like more high or low is being added in this plugin or that. They're not really comparable like that. You actually probably have to use your ears if you want to find out what they sound like "set the same". Just becasue a picture on a screen says 2..that doesn't mean that 2 means the same thing on each plugin. And everything going on behind that picture that allows that "2" to function, is what makes them different.
UAD makes fantastic sounding plugins...and they're hard to beat, by any manufacturer. Native vs. DSP is a fair argument. Yes, you can get more plugins not using UAD. Can you get a more accurate or better sounding 1176 emulation, EMT, Roland, Massive Passive,Harrison....well...in my opinion, if it's even an opinion, no.
If you have an alternative way of comparing the plug-ins, i'm all ears!
If you're on a Windows PC, I'd suggest Christian Budde's VST Plugin Analyzer.
It's very handy to display EQ curves and harmonic distortion.
Unfortunately, I never got it to work with RTAS plugins (of course) and Waves plugins because of their shell.
Another way to measure is Waves Q, which is basically an EQ curve capture tool but it displays the curves as well and works with RTAS and Waves plugins and even with hardware. Check out my thread here where I tried to match some major EQ plugins with Digi's EQ3.
The UAD version has a 1.3dB volume boost "built-in" for example that would need to be considered.
i noticed the Waves version also has a volume boost by just inserting...it was about .9 dB for a 997hz sine...
Waves also has a lot more THD/THD+N (vs. IK) and also significant DC content...
edit: also...it seems the Waves VU meter shows digital peak level and not VU...why...?
i ran some quick tests...
pic 1 = impulse/frequency response, 1 sample @44.1k, no filters applied ("bypass")
waves = green > has LPF...maybe slight hi and lo shelf...?
ik = pink > has HPF, high shelf...?
*source = 997Hz sine @ -18dBFS and 0dBFS...(44.1k/32bfp)...
(no filters applied...)
pic 2 & 4 = waves eqp-1a
pic 3 & 5 = ik eq-1a
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Last edited by stinkyfingers; 9th August 2012 at 10:41 AM..
Reason: better pics...
i noticed the Waves version also has a volume boost by just inserting...it was about .9 dB for a 997hz sine...
Waves also has a lot more THD/THD+N (vs. IK) and also significant DC content...
edit: also...it seems the Waves VU meter shows digital peak level and not VU...why...?
A lot of Waves emulation do, it's really annoying, I have user settings set as default for each of them so they're level matched.
The metering also seems a bit weird to me, you never know what the zero is really and what the plug's doing, just look at NLS...
A.
i noticed the Waves version also has a volume boost by just inserting...it was about .9 dB for a 997hz sine...
Waves also has a lot more THD/THD+N (vs. IK) and also significant DC content...
edit: also...it seems the Waves VU meter shows digital peak level and not VU...why...?
*2 pics attached of 997hz sine @ -18dBFS...(44.1k/32bfp)...
harmonics generated when inserting the EQ, no filters applied...
green = waves
pink = ik
**attached pic of impulse response of each/both EQs...
stinkyfingers, may I ask how you measured the EQ curve (that SPAN screenshot)? What signal did you feed into the plugins? I never managed to get a smooth curve reading. I tried pink/white noise and sinesweeps, but always ended up with messy and moving analyzer readings.
Is this thread still alive? I would also like to hear and see comparisons between all of them. I've once used the Nomad Factory PulseTec in another studio and loved it immediately. I'd love to have one for myself and - of course - THE BEST ONE
Maybe the new NI Enhanced EQ could be considered too. I know, it's also developed by Softube, but maybe there's a difference to their Tube-Tech emulation.
I compared the uad and NI and I really liked what I heard from the enhanced eq, granted it wasn't the most accurate way to do a comparison ( level matching by ear quick and dirty ect.) but it sounded great to me
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