Has anyone used the Speck ASC EQ?

[Jay Kahrs]

I have a pair of the transformerless models that I use all the time. It's an EQ that tends to stay out of the way and doesn't really add a color of it's own. Very musical too.

[Dave Martin]

And the transformer version adds a nice thing as well.

[ZEUSS]

Kick ass!! Great bang for the buck. I have 4 of them and am very happy with them. The gain adjustment is a nice feature as well. Great combo with a MP2NV in the insert.

-Z-

[NathanEldred]

There isn't anything else in there price range that is worth using in a professional situation. They are more neutral than an API 550, about the same technical performance.

[chessparov]

Not to sound silly (like that ever has stopped me!), however,
the EQ on the Joe Meek units sound pretty musical to me.
Although they are WAY more limited than the Speck,
it does have me wondering how the more experienced would
compare them to the Speck just for a handy frame of reference.
I read a post by Steve Albini FWIW, where he said he likes the
low end cut (dial) on a Meek unit.

Thanks
Chris

P.S. Yeah, the Speck is on my eventual gear slut list too!
(along with everything else)

[Jay Kahrs]

Well, musical just means that it's useful EQ and doesn't bring out nasty things in the sound. Mackie EQ isn't musical. Tascam EQ isn't musical (though I do like the sluggish low shelf on those boards) either. The Speck is a very clean EQ that doesn't have a lot of character to it. The Daking EQ's and Neve, API etc. are also musical and have character. About the only thing I can compare the ASC to is a GML or Sontec. Even if you haven't used one hopefully that helps a little bit.

[chessparov]

Thanks Jay, it does give me a better idea.
Unless I find a Pultec at a garage sale, the Speck seems like the ticket.

Chris

[Jay Kahrs]

Ummm... I dunno about that. Pultec's are very cool for some things but it's not a general purpose EQ like the ASC. I'd compare the Meek to a Pultec before I put the ASC next to it. YMMV on that one.

[chessparov]

Hmm.
Maybe that's why Joe Meek himself also used the Pultec in addition to his
home grown "boxes"?! For relatively neutral flavoring, however, then the
Speck ASC EQ is to EQing as the RNC is to compression more or less.

Chris

[Jay Kahrs]

Yeah, that's more or less it.

[chessparov]

Except when less is more!
(starting to sound like an Abbott and Costello routine)

Chris

[Drumsound]

Originally posted by chessparov
Hmm.
For relatively neutral flavoring, however, then the
Speck ASC EQ is to EQing as the RNC is to compression more or less.

Chris

Isn't that why Mark McQ put his EQ on hold and focused on the Really Nice Mice Preamp?

yuktyy

[chessparov]

RNMP really stands for "Really Not Mentionable Pre".
If bbs moderators got a dollar for each time this pre was brought up
they'd already have this unit paid for! (...when it comes out)

Seriously, I look forward to when it REALLY comes out.

Chris

[Jay Kahrs]

And that's enough about that until the damn thing is actually shipping. In the meantime here's some alternitives for the same kind of price;

Grace 101, the new Summit 1/2 space thing, PV VMP-2, Presonus MP20, Sytek, Old School Audio preamp but... you need a rack to put it in. That just about doubles the price but by the time you fill it out with 8 modules it's damn cheap. Or you could put the pre in an API rack.

So again, until the RNMP is actually shipping and you can go buy one I don't wanna hear another word about it!!!tut

[chessparov]

At the risk of straying somewhat off topic...

Jay, (or anyone else) is the Peavey VMP2 a bit noisy for low
sensitivity microphones like a SM57 vs. LD condensers?
There was a review at Sound On Sound where that was brought
up by Hugh Robjohns.

Somewhat on topic...
Is the EQ on the VMP2 good for what it is?

Chris

[Jay Kahrs]

I've never thought of it as noisy but you have to remember that most of the gear I'm using is a little noisy and it's not as quiet as an all digital rig. I've used my VMP-2 for vocals and acoustic guitar without problems all the time. When I'm using it with high output mics like the 103 or Baby Bottle I need to use the -20dB pad or an in-line 10dB so it doesn't clip and distort all the time.

The EQ is cool for what it is. I've used it on overheads while mixing, even in a few mastering sessions when people bring me all digital stuff that needs a little grunge. You can get a little more versatility out of the low band by boosting that and putting the high pass filter in. Don't buy it for the EQ because you won't be happy. But it's a nice bonus.

[chessparov]

Thanks Jay.
As long as it's under reasonable bounds a little noise is nothing worth
getting "hiss"-terical over, especially if it adds character.

Chris

[Jay Kahrs]

Keep in mind I've never tried to measure the noise from it. I work mostly on analog tape which has it's own noise floor. Also, any time you put a mic near something that says Marshall, Fender, Vox or Boogie the noise floor is pretty much destroyed anyway.

[chessparov]

Thanks for the info!

Chris