Secret To Mixing - Deep Dive Into Passive EQs

[@Producelikeapro]

Do you use hardware EQs? Which ones do you use? Check Out The Full Dive Blog On Passive EQ's Here: producelikeapro.com/blog/exploring-the-world-of-passive-eqs-insights-from-audioscape/

[@craigiscanadian]

I don't use hardware eq's but I would love to use a passive eq like this! One day..

[@ItsMetabtw]

I love hardware EQs. have a pair of these audioscape EQP and MEQ, Neve 1073 EQ, a few channels from an old Neve VR console, API 550As, the Drawmer 1974 parametric, ssl violet, and the Carnaby HE2. I think that’s all of them

[@nicolaslefebvre-cloutier1312]

A sleeper is the White Instruments 4001 !

[@bobdhoffnar]

I'm into hardware EQ's including 2X Pultec MQM-1S3's , 2X Pultec MEQM-5's , Pultec EQP-500X and a Pultec MEQ 500. You did a great job describing what Pultecs do. There is nothing like them. The plug ins don't do the same thing. Something seems missing. Like eating fried chicken without getting your hands greasy. It's a visceral thing. It's not subtle either. It's a fantastic secret weapon when I'm mixing with a client. The only thing I highly recommend is don't A/B a Pultec with a recreation. I've owned a few pultec style units that were amazing that I was very happy with until I worked with an EQP 1-A. Next time I see an Audioscape pultec style EQ in a studio I'm going to spend some time with it . They seem like a great company. The other EQ's I currently use are API 5500, Neve 1073 EQ 500, GML 8200 and Tube Tech HLT 2A.

[@crymearobot]

Have you tried the a-designs pultec 500s?

[@gabrielr4329]

Every Audio Scape product should have an introductory video like this one. Many of the customers buying these products have not been around or into some form of music production prior to the in-the-box plugin era we find ourselves in. That gives rise to a lot of misunderstandings and frustration from people seeking to learn a bit.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

We are working on that!! Very grateful to Audioscape for partnering with us in these videos because this will be solid informational content for those using the originals or other recreations as well. a few weeks ago we released one on the optical compressors if you haven’t yet seen that. But there’s more to come.

[@shayneoneill1506]

Honestly this is a great intro for any of the pulteq clones. Well except maybe that dismal audio teknik one, which sounds nothing like its original

[@aleksamrkela831]

@@shayneoneill1506 Definitely. The Klark Teknik one is awful, and the Warm one isn't that great, either.

[@beigela]

Reminds me of all the people that went out and bought SSL Fusions with their stimulus checks and became mastering engineers overnight. 🙄

[@jamarwashington6419]

Theres a video on utube using plugin doctor to show what pultecs actually do to the signal in general. Everyone ought to watch it because it adds so much more understanding as to why it sounds like it does. When its cutting, its usually super duper wide almost affecting the entire frequency spectrum in some way(like a very wide tilt). When boosting, its never as wide & thats why when you boost & cut at the same frequency, you just get this new curve added(which is real musical like adding resonance bumps before & after where you cut). Its a sight to see & can change your whole approach to eq & choosing retro eqs & hardware.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, there's a wonder description here online!

[@thefivepoints]

No just use your ears.

[@jamarwashington6419]

@thefivepoints sigh....in that case, dont use metering of any kind. Practice what you preach. Dont even look at the frequency spectrum on an eq, just grab a knob close your eyes & figure it out. Being visually blind is called a handicap for a reason just as being illuminated in understanding is equated to "finally seeing". Not to mention, you cant trust your ears because they fatigue after long exhaustive listening....plus they arent perfect & lose hearing ability over time. Visually seeing doesnt inhibit your ears but not being able to see does inhibit your vision both physically & mentally. Using just your hands, its easier to waste time feeling for a solution that your eyes can notice. The fact that audio can be expressed via numbers & visual spectrums isnt a handicap but a plus. One shouldnt overly lean to either direction though as both can fool you(your ears & your visual edits). Try helping people SEE the problem as to understand rather than keeping them in the dark. Everybody knows what they know & knows things they dont know but nobody knows what they dont know that they dont know. Im showing people what they didnt know they didnt know...why would you inhibit that? You can just as well "feel" your way to the kitchen & poor a bowl of cereal with your eyes closed but that too makes you handicap & less potentially successful than the person who can see your milk is expired & your bowl is dirty with lint & hair in it that you failed to consider. Visual aids are a 2nd opinion...why would deny that its chance to speak even secondary to the opinion of uour ears? Even the best fighters on earth have coaches who can SEE them from angles they cant see themselves. Even knowledge doesnt require picture examples yet humans use visual metaphors to effectively teach things to adults & even more to children...why go against the grain of that to teach? Do better...dont interject when people are contrary to you. For all you know, i could be hearing impaired...visual aids & meters are effective & always have been(especially when managing time effectively, learning the nature of mix tools, & learning to problem solve the sonic differences between 2 similar style songs mixed good vs mixed crappy). Guns are greater weapons than knives 9 times out of 10, but its good to rely on both in self defense rather than to forsake the other "blindly". You dont have to forsake visual aids to rely on your hearings...mental understanding of audio comes quicker to most people via visual affirmation rather than audio. Theres a reason more people click on music videos than the song without a visual aid which isnt needed to enjoy a song. Level up, you are now without excuse(gave you & the many like you who read this umpteen examples to mentally meditate on before you go with your gut & say something that doesnt ring true, just like how audio mistakes are made by those lacking visual perspective of what theyre doing wrong). The whole point of visual aids in audio in the first place is to show you what you didnt audibly notice, know, nor understand beforehand...to dismiss that is elite level opposition to productivity; crappy unevolving results than dont advance audio undertanding & capability are then worthy. In fact, non user friendly DAW interfaces comprised of mere numbers & stats on a blue screen of death should suffice such a path of useless rebellion(rebels without a cause).

[@fm694]

after watching Marc Daniel Nelson’s demo I got a pair in my bus I love them. I still want to try the mid EQ. Great video

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you like them!

[@TheRealTMajor]

These pieces are beautiful.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

They sure are!

[@mikeymoo71]

Great video, really informative. I'm spending the rest of my day trying out all the new advice I've learnt - cheers!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@mikeymoo71 best wishes Mikey!

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

Nice video demo Joe. Those EQs look and sound great. I'll have to make due with my UAD Pultec bundle with the EQP-1A, MEQ-5, and HLF‑3C. I'm using both EQP-1A and MEQ-5 on my Studio One 2 bus. And yes, they're just awesome, despite me being rebellious with boost and attenuation at the same time. No doubt, it works very, very well still.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Those are great plug-ins! Best wishes 🎉

[@echothenatives]

G.A.S ‘ing big time! Sounds amazing, great demo on a vocal.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thank you !

[@DanielGlenTimms]

EQP-1A is still my favorite vocal eq.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Hard to beat on a lot of things right!? Thank you for watching Daniel.

[@DanielGlenTimms]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell Indeed

[@noahstickles]

I would be interested to see some 500 series passive EQ comparisons. Especially the Pultec EQP-500 vs the Wes Audio Prometheus. Space is precious in my home studio! 500 series helps me save space

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for the great comment! Yes, Wes Audio make great gear!

[@fakshen1973]

It can be used to create very nice sounding, complex EQ curves. The number of shapes are very limited. But they are nice shapes none the less.

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Wow thanks Joe (one of my favorite mixers) for this wonderful explanation of the Pultec! I have the UAD versions however did not quite understand how to use the MEQ5 and in conjunction with the EQP. I need to get my hands on this hardware from AudioScape. It would be too cool if they made these in the 500 series since I have an empty rack that needs filling. The space is bothering me 😂

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@PurpleMusicProductions I do love that mid band and sometimes forget about for months at a time. It’s like falling in love again 😂

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

@InTheMixJoeCarrell that last statement was so funny. I can relate more than you know 🤣

[@crymearobot]

Been using Apogee’s EQP-1A unconsciously. Some hardware would be nice, but that’s so much real estate.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous! Thanks for sharing!

[@aaronlove3263]

I need to win the lottery

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I hope you do! Haha. Thank you for watching.

[@victorloya1590]

Just sell a lung and kidney😂

[@dougleydorite]

These are the most affordable units too

[@maxatorium]

Just make music. The gear will come. A crappy recording of a good song is much better than a great recording of a bad song.

[@marmotman]

Even though I know exactly what a Pultec (style) EQ does, and even though I have absolutely no need for or intention of buying (another) one, I watched this whole thing from start to finish because who doesn't want to listen to Joe's ASMR voice talking about EQ?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@marmotman 😂😂😂 thank you for watching!!

[@rafaelgiuliani]

Fantastic

[@Producelikeapro]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@rafaelgiuliani thank you for watching!

[@gh0stransist0r]

It would've been cooler if Audioscape showed the pink one.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@gh0stransist0r this was filmed a few months back before that product existed. That is a flashy box though!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha PINK!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Suits you Joe!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@Producelikeapro have you seen it?! It’s so different that it’s Pretty cool

[@thefivepoints]

Tegeler Audio VTC and EQ1A 🙌🙌

[@KernSound]

Loved the explanation, I've used them before in different studios and just twisted nobs and used my ears. I think I learned more about the pultec eq's from using the plugins of them. But this was a great vid on them. Looks like my wallet is going to get a little lighter also. LOL

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@KernSound Twisting by ear is not a bad strategy with these units 😂😂 Hard to make them Sound bad! Best wishes

[@bboymac84]

Im a kid from the hood and I learned a lot…

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@bboymac84 great! Glad you enjoyed it

[@bboymac84]

@ I just subscribed to your channel now👍🏽

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@bboymac84 Best wishes!

[@carbonvibes]

Now if they could push out a stereo version 🙏🏼

[@Producelikeapro]

Hmm, that's a good idea, I don't know anyone that does that yet? Do you?

[@nashbeuh]

The Summit eqp 200 is not as faithful a Pultec clone but also sounds superb in the treble (quite good on the lows too) and is stereo. This EQ seems to me to be undervalued in general. There are often second-hand ones for a price that remains affordable.

[@carbonvibes]

@@Producelikeapro For stereo Passive EQ units Manley, and WesAudio ngTubeEQ come to mind. There are more stereo passive EQ units but not sure if they use Tubes. However the prices for those units are considerably higher. If AudioScape made a stereo version of these and doubled the price it still be a steal. I don’t think even Tube-Tech or Pultech have done this, so maybe it’s not as easy as I thought. Well, I can dream I guess…

[@carbonvibes]

@@Producelikeapro Looks like I found one, Tegeler Audio Classic Equalizer EQP-1 Passive Tube EQ

[@TheMaddoxfam]

“Sibilance doesn’t get harsh” proceeds to rip my head off with 8k 😂

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

That’s not actually correct…that frequency range got louder yes, but stayed audibly smooth. Not increasing in harshness. Try that same boost with an active circuit and you’ll understand the difference. As we learn in the design section in the beginning of the video, The way passive circuits work is very different than most eqs and why they can achieve such seemingly unattainable top end clarity. Best wishes.

[@TheMaddoxfam]

@@InTheMixJoeCarrell I’m just going by what I “audibly” heard brosef. Once you were done with her vocal it sounded great! But right after you said that, I had to laugh a bit

[@wadeteo8282]

How does the Audioscape compare to the Tegeler eqp-1 Pultec?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@wadeteo8282 I have never used the Tegeler so I honestly don’t know. I do know from Audioscape’s perspective, they are only concerned about how it compares to the originals that they are recreating.

[@marklholloway]

How does Pulse Techniques feel about Audioscape making these?

[@ronmoes42]

I could never get used to the MEQ, it is always sounding not that great...I believe that you choose a microphone for a good reason, if you need to change the mid frequencies that much you have not chosen the right mic, the EQP on the other hand is much smoother by nature, the low end adds body or meat, and the top end adds openess and air.. that is all you want, besides, most mixers have a set of Ns-10's any way, they know what is going on in the mids anyway, I find that adding warmth is not coming from the mids.

[@Tony-yp7ok]

I’m pretty sure the numbers printed on Pultec dial aren’t calibrated to db? eg. If you turn the boost to 5, you’re not actually boosting 5db?

[@Producelikeapro]

That's very true! Lot's of people assume that though, c'est la vie. I used to assume that myself! No judgement here!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

That’s correct Tony. The silk screen goes to 10 but the number that is stuck in my head on the high frequency boost is 18 on the top end. I think it’s actually lower on the low end though. So the halfway point is somewhere between six and 9 dB in my head. I stress “in my head”. 😂😂 I would have to look up specifications to know 100 %. For me the Pultec is a “twist until it sounds good” piece.

[@Tony-yp7ok]

@ it definitely is! Ears are far more important than numbers 👊

[@splashesin8]

❤😊

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@realraven2000]

they could really improve the layout by using matte black for the jobs instead of shiny plastic which creates all these false setiing lines by reflection. in the video is impossible to see what values you are actually setting.

[@justin.johnson]

Anyone else experiencing the EQ-PA creating low noise just from the unit itself without signal going through? The tubes aren't dead silent.

[@jesseharradine9861]

Shots fired at Stam at 12:00ish hahaha

[@dougleydorite]

More than just Stam modifies the eqp

[@alexnasla]

He says it's better...but doesn't say why or how. Just...trust me, bro.

[@jesseharradine9861]

@@alexnasla Hey, I LOVE audioscape, have a bunch of their gear and they are top notch class acts, and he does indicate the line amps in the separate mid eq make a big difference. I'm sure he's right, also the stam mid band is a great add-on. I have 2 stam pultecs mono and the new stereo pultec. They all rule, just thought it was funny haha

[@julienzimmermann]

I noticed that too! He also did it in a video about their Fairchild clone.

[@joeblack007forever]

💕💕💕

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

🎉

[@denismkitchen]

So many eq videos make me wonder if I'm either tone deaf or I'm being pranked. In... Out... I can't tell even a little difference.

[@denismkitchen]

I can hear it on the drum source though.

[@hoobsgroove]

how much is it? how can it be passive if it's got tubes does it make sense.

[@cyberhawken]

The eq section is passive, the amp obviously not.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@cyberhawken it comes with an amp what built-in? do you know what it's output is? fixed or variable?

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

​@@hoobsgroove it's not an amp like you'd plug an acidic guitar into, I think of it more as an amp for the audio signal running through the EQ

[@sebbityseb]

Hi @hoobsgroove : ) It works like this - the EQ is entirely passive. However, running your signal through all of this passive circuitry causes a volume/gain loss. So, the Pultec designs also incorporate an internal amplifier that comes after the EQ section. This internal amplifier is for “makeup gain”, which is just to say that it is used to make up the volume loss caused by the passive circuitry, so that one’s sign as l level is more or less the same coming out of the box as it is going into it. The makeup gain on a Pultec is not independently variable/adjustable - it is fixed - so there is no volume knob anywhere to be seen. Other passive effects boxes made by other companies do not have any internal amplification of power section at all! Where these boxes cause a volume loss, one needs to use some kind of line amplifier after them in order to bring one’s signal back up to level. Does this make sense??

[@hoobsgroove]

@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579 a preamp?

[@Steviee8]

Love your videos but you got to stop saying “with” or “bypass”. Just do it. We can see what your hands are doing. When you say without or with is distracting right before we hear the samples. Just do it man.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

@@Steviee8 I was having a hard time watching telling if it was in bypass or not in bypass visually so I was glad I said it audibly 😂

[@danield2000]

Speaker angle. Whacky stuff.

[@darbukausa]

you're headphone are in the wrong side the cable suppose to be in you're right ear not left