So I'm deciding between two channels of Speck ASC EQ or the Toft AFC-2 unit. Of anyone who has actually heard/used both; what are the SONIC differences.?
PLEASE DO NOT MENTION that i get two decent pres withe Toft model.......I know.
I plan to use these, in stereo, primarily on overheads during DRUM tracking to boost the shimmer (10-15k) and cut some flab (under 250hz). Also plan on using as my general purpose tracking EQ on bass, vox, guitars, etc. Obviously the Toft is supposed to be Trident-flavored, now what would most compare the Specks to....SSL?
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Apples and Oranges... both excellent... both different. The Toft will have a "sound" that is reminiscent of a Trident 80 series desk... if you've ever worked on a Trident 80 series desk then you'll know what I'm talking about... the Speck is very clear and very flexible. You have the two fully parametric mid bands, the low band which is switchable between peak/dip and shelf and a shelving hi band.
The Toft will work in a manner that is more like 'regional tone shaping' the Speck can get very specific.
It's kinda like trying to decide between a Nissan and and a Mazda... they're both good... they're just different.
About the best course of action is to try both and return the one you don't dig for a refund.
Best of luck with the search.
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mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
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I like the sound of the Toft eq much more than the Speck Eq. The Trident Eq has a very special sound while the Speck sounds ordinary. I actually prefer some high end plug in Eq's over the Speck. It's not that it sounds bad, but it does not sound high end. More like a decent mid range Eq.
I've got 6 channels of the AFC-2 and they are some of the best bang for the buck I've ever tried ( hence 6 channels ). For the 2 buss it's hit or miss. They have a very large fingerprint that won't work there every time but when it does it's wonderful. The down side is that I think they're discontinued ( can't imagine why they made that decision, they're great and were cheap to boot )
If you can find one they really are all around great.
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Well, a couple of Specks would clearly enhance every mix (assuming it needed any enhancing of the frequency response sort) if used correctly and wisely. So that's not an issue. It's a clean, neutral EQ that does it's job, which isn't the same thing as 'not good'.
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Well, a couple of Specks would clearly enhance every mix (assuming it needed any enhancing of the frequency response sort) if used correctly and wisely. So that's not an issue. It's a clean, neutral EQ that does it's job, which isn't the same thing as 'not good'.
I found it a little phasey compared to the clean and smooth Toft (Trident EQ). I prefer the Softube and UAD Trident EQ plug in's over the hardware Speck. I got the Speck EQ from Mercenary a while ago and A/B it against several plug ins as well as the Mini Massive which was a lot better. But then again, the Speck is not all Class A like the Mini, and the Mini cost a lot more. Still in it's price range the Speck is good.
So I'm deciding between two channels of Speck ASC EQ or the Toft AFC-2 unit. Of anyone who has actually heard/used both; what are the SONIC differences.?
PLEASE DO NOT MENTION that i get two decent pres withe Toft model.......I know.
I plan to use these, in stereo, primarily on overheads during DRUM tracking to boost the shimmer (10-15k) and cut some flab (under 250hz). Also plan on using as my general purpose tracking EQ on bass, vox, guitars, etc. Obviously the Toft is supposed to be Trident-flavored, now what would most compare the Specks to....SSL?
The Tofts are awesome! I'm not sure you're gonna be that happy with the pres but the eq section is fantastic and the comp is the ultimate snare-spanker. I choose it over the 1176 8 times out of ten for the job. Great bang for the buck here. Specks are a lot more surgical but that's about all I can say about them. Not much personality. Definitely not a character piece.
Plugs can get as surgical as you need , I'd say go with the Toft.
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So does the AFC-2 have stepped controls?
Or does one channel control both if being linked?
I own EC-1s. They are essentially the same except for minor differences in the eq section (4 peaking bands as found in Trident series 80 consoles, instead of 2 peaking and 2 two shelves like in Toft ATB and AFC). Since mine are separate units I couldn't tell you how the link function works on the AFC, but I would assume left channel compressor should have the master controls but eqs should be separate.
Two mid bands on the AFC are fully sweepable and low and high shelves have two frequency selections each. The eq curves are very broad and in my experience are just tight enough for drums.
I found it a little phasey compared to the clean and smooth Toft (Trident EQ). I prefer the Softube and UAD Trident EQ plug in's over the hardware Speck. I got the Speck EQ from Mercenary a while ago and A/B it against several plug ins as well as the Mini Massive which was a lot better. But then again, the Speck is not all Class A like the Mini, and the Mini cost a lot more. Still in it's price range the Speck is good.
The Mini Massive has far broader strokes (only 2 very broad bands of either bell/shelf) - so the phasing is not obvious when used in broad bell (the narrow bell with extreme boosts when used in mix on say kick and snare will introduce phasing as against the overheads and rooms - buts thats what happens with extreme eq). The speck has many bands parametric that even in the widest "broad cuts/boosts" of bell is generally much narrower than the Mini Massive when mini massive is wide bell- so phasing would be more apparent.
Its a function of the design of the two eq's, not any deficiency.
For me the speck was less phasey on the 2 buss than UAD plugs-everyones experience will differ.
There seems to be a bit of misinformation on this thread. First, the Trident 80 series EQ's are Hi and Low shelving and the 2 mid-bands are peaking. In other words, the 80 Series does not have 4 peaking bands as stated previously.
Also, the Toft AFC-2 is a 4 band peaking EQ, no shelves. All four bands have continuously variably frequencies.
To answer the question about whether the AFC-2 has any stepped controls, no, it does not.
There seems to be a bit of misinformation on this thread. First, the Trident 80 series EQ's are Hi and Low shelving and the 2 mid-bands are peaking. In other words, the 80 Series does not have 4 peaking bands as stated previously.
Also, the Toft AFC-2 is a 4 band peaking EQ, no shelves. All four bands have continuously variably frequencies.
To answer the question about whether the AFC-2 has any stepped controls, no, it does not.
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). For the 2 buss it's hit or miss. They have a very large fingerprint that won't work there every time but when it does it's wonderful. The down side is that I think they're discontinued ( can't imagine why they made that decision, they're great and were cheap to boot
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