square state solid state EQUALIZER model one b

[warhead]

Originally Posted by monkeyxx

+1 for this, anyone want to report back with a glowing report?

Actually Gary's post was before I launched the Clipalator gear test page on the site. You can hear the Model One B vs tons of other name brands here:

Clip-A-Lator: Audio and Video | Studio Gear Shootouts @ ZenProAudio.com

War

[Marcocet]

Yeah, here's a short version of my Tape Op review:

I love it.

[Guitar Zero]

War,

I've listened to tons of samples on the clip-o-lator and find that while they reveal some information about the overall tone of each EQ, it's hard to really know what's going on without knowing what frequencies were cut/boosted on each track. How are you standardizing all these EQ's when the EQ points are so different on many of them?

[monkeyxx]

I thought the same thing at first.... but/and: (as with most critiques of well done audio clips)

warren, that was awesome! having never owned a hardware EQ myself, hearing them back to back like that, and also checking out the videos, really showed me the "character" of these EQs in a way I've never experienced before. Just like a preamp or a compressor, they each seem to have a "sound." I guess that's the nature of any analog piece of gear with an amplifier stage in it. of course the different EQ points and Qs are going to make a difference etc, etc, et. al

I have to say, both of the great river offerings really impressed me in those clips, in a quick and not exhaustive listening. it'd be awesome if you could get some API sounds in there for comparison (I guess you're not an API dealer, sorry). The SSSS impressed me as well on certain sources, and the similarly priced Chameleon Labs on others (snare SSSS and kick Chameleon, for example.) I'm going to spend some more quality time with your Clip-A-Lator later tonight and try to formulate a wish-list for my first forays into HW EQ. guess I'm going to need to wire up that patchbay after all... thumbsup

[monkeyxx]

P.S. The Thirsties impressed me too! A pleasant surprise.

[kbshearer]

Hey Warren.... not to put you on the spot, but you're one of the only people I know that's been in the same room as these two eq's.....so....if you could do either, would you rather have the dual channel Black Lion eq, or two of the Model 1b's? I know the Black Lion has an extra band an more frequency choices, but which would you prefer sonically?

Thanks,

Kirt Shearer
Paradise Studios

[monkeyxx]

Originally Posted by kbshearer

Hey Warren.... not to put you on the spot, but you're one of the only people I know that's been in the same room as these two eq's.....so....if you could do either, would you rather have the dual channel Black Lion eq, or two of the Model 1b's? I know the Black Lion has an extra band an more frequency choices, but which would you prefer sonically?

Thanks,

Kirt Shearer
Paradise Studios

oh man, you recorded Fashion Nugget! That album actually got me to buy an old Guild Starfire II guitar because I was so smitten with the sounds on that record. any stories or tidbits? good work!

[kbshearer]

Hey, thanks man! Those were fun projects to work on. I actually own a Starfire now too...So as not to hijack the thread too badly, I'll just post a link from an earlier discussion on some of the production.

'Cake's signal chain for bass

THANKS!

Kirt Shearer
Paradise Studios

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Guitar Zero

How are you standardizing all these EQ's when the EQ points are so different on many of them?

No standardizing is done, hence...the video for context. The issue is this: a RETRO 2A3 might completely knock a home run on certain sources...but it only has a few freq points available so it simply will not do what a Rupert Neve 5033 will do. To standardize them would not be possible (without cheating the 5033 out of 2 or 3 of its bands!), and the closest you could get might to be to examine every piece of gear in a category and say "OK, they all have something near 10k so that will be the only cut or boost point" but then you aren't really letting a piece of gear work with you. Then there's new gear that hits the market...and another function of the Clipalator is that 2 or 3 years from now I am still adding gear to it using the same files, converters and cables even.

Originally Posted by monkeyxx

I thought the same thing at first.... but/and: (as with most critiques of well done audio clips)...they each seem to have a "sound."

Yes, they do all have a sound and some are quite distinct.

Originally Posted by monkeyxx

P.S. The Thirsties impressed me too! A pleasant surprise.

I've been making records with those guys since like 2003, love working with them.

Originally Posted by kbshearer

Hey Warren.... not to put you on the spot, but you're one of the only people I know that's been in the same room as these two eq's.....so....if you could do either, would you rather have the dual channel Black Lion eq, or two of the Model 1b's? I know the Black Lion has an extra band an more frequency choices, but which would you prefer sonically?

Thanks,

Kirt Shearer
Paradise Studios

Kirt, they are vastly different boxes. Overall the more gentle TONE of the Black Lion Audio EQ as well as the smooth control lend itself better to things like 2 buss, vocals and acoustic type music. The Square State Model One B is definitely a more rock and roll EQ, and for things like drums, bass, vocals, guitars that need more deep carving...I would reach for it first.

Those are VERY general statements about both, and the thing is I actually find the Model One B to be quite nice on 2 buss as well but certainly a more electric sort of tingle vs the smooth transformer based BLA. The Model One B bell curves start out pretty gentle so they can do smooth pretty well also, but man can they dig DEEP too.

The lack of the 350 range on the BLA and the inclusion of it on the Model One B also means drums are greatly preferred on the Model One B since it's such a common range to scoop out on kick and toms (one of the things people dig about 1073 EQ's = the 360 scoop).

War

[warhead]

Also worth a mention, the acoustic tracks being done by I-9 I thought was excellent as well. Those guys had more than one popular song on the radio and are an interesting pop group featuring cello, female vocals and guitar.

They happen to live in my town here in SC.

War

[Deckdaddy]

Just got a pair in the mail today! So far: SO GOOD! From the hours I have played around with it, it sounds really nice. It's a super useful tool and enhancer. I like that I can cut and boost this much, sometimes that's needed. I like the way they look, like unboxing a brand new vintage piece! I like them on both individual sounds and the mix bus. Bypassing them always sounds dull and lifeless. Very glad that I got them! You should too

[Isle of Weight]

So
how are you guys feeling about this eq these days?
Is the honeymoon over, I'm interested...

AA

[farhadkd]

...from War, and I can convincingly say that they have a pretty fatal flaw...Every time I use them, I feel this strange need to buy another couple pairs!!!!

What can I say? They are lovely!!! And at that price, they are astonishingly lovely!!!

Buy a pair for yourself and see...

Farhad

[evangelista]

Any word on the HPF/LPF unit? I'd likely buy a couple immediately.

[square state]

Originally Posted by farhadkd

...from War, and I can convincingly say that they have a pretty fatal flaw...Every time I use them, I feel this strange need to buy another couple pairs!!!!

What can I say? They are lovely!!! And at that price, they are astonishingly lovely!!!

Buy a pair for yourself and see...

Farhad

farhadkd,
Thanks for the kind words! I may have to quote you with "Astonishingly lovely!!!"

Originally Posted by evangelista

Any word on the HPF/LPF unit? I'd likely buy a couple immediately.

evangelista,
Our HP/LP filter has made it's way through R&D, and we're very happy with it. To finance it's full production we're focusing on selling more of the EQ's, we'll get there at some point.

[ForgottenG]

Any 2012 news on the HP LP units? I love my EQ One b by the way. It's a favorite of mine.

[Saudade]

Originally Posted by warhead

Actually just so not to confuse the issue, there are almost no "linked" analog equalizers on the planet. GML, Great River, API, Cranesong are all dual mono units in one chassis.

War

Hey Warren, I may be wrong but I vaguely remember linking channels on an AMEK medici I got to play with many years back. Anyways congrats to the gearmaker on this great priced EQ! Cheers!

[warhead]

The Bettermaker EQ is digitally controlled but 100% analog signal path...and linkable!