The SECRET 500 Series EQ from JCF Audio with DIGITAL RECALL

Could it be a modern classic? Overview, review and audio demo of the virtually-unknown JCF 500 series EQ inspired by the original 550A and featuring new, future-proof digital recall. A different approach from WesAudio and Bettermaker. Recall explained in a short Josh Florian interview.
Email JCF Audio directly with questions.
Studio Website and contact: www.oakhouserec...
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Oak House Recording Studio is located in the Pasadena area of Los Angeles, CA. David Peters is a producer, engineer and songwriter.

[@aleksamrkela831]

Digitally recallable hardware deserves all the attention it can get. The things WesAudio makes are truly amazing in this regard!

[@davidpetersmusic]

I've never tried any Wes gear directly but I've wanted to!

[@aleksamrkela831]

@@davidpetersmusic I can't think of anything bad to say about them. And they can work perfectly fine even without the recall plugin. :)

[@asmundma]

Quite cumbersome to operate compered to Wes equipment.

[@davidpetersmusic]

The Wes gear has a great reputation with the plugin operation. I'm eager to try it. The concern is that one day there is no plugin or matching USB cables. I'm thrilled to have both available. I think digital recall of analog gear is a win either way.

[@jesseharradine9861]

never ever miss an interview with Josh. awesome!

[@davidpetersmusic]

Truth. We talked a lot more, I just couldn't include it all in this context. ...perhaps on another video.

[@Rhuggins]

This is absolutely revolutionary. Not a fan of the screen interface, but the tone recall method is absolutely incredible. EQ sounds great too

[@davidpetersmusic]

What's funny is that this method is from the 80s! ...but it's a great fit for this purpose. I questioned the screen appearance at first but really love it now.

[@patrox247]

These EQ’s look and sound very nice indeed

[@davidpetersmusic]

@@patrox247 Clear, clean and deep!

[@1loveMusic2003]

The recall idea is great! Sounds great! Not as fast to set but the recall makes up for that.

[@davidpetersmusic]

@@1loveMusic2003 Showing the setup was a little slow but doing it has become pretty fast and habitual. I often use them in so many places I just print the results in so I can move them to the next instrument! But on busses the recall has been a real life saver. It would be even more effective if I had ten of them up and running together. One can dream.

[@jamescassidy4045]

Holy moly!!! That sneaky Devil!

[@davidpetersmusic]

At least it worked out to everyone's benefit! haha

[@reverendcarter]

a whole desk full of those eqs would be amazing

[@davidpetersmusic]

@@reverendcarter I’ve been considering something like a whole rack of them as my default channel Ed’s. The more you have the more useful the recall would be. It’s just quite an investment and I’m not rich!

[@reverendcarter]

@@davidpetersmusic his stuff aint cheap thats for sure!

[@AudioJanitor]

Fantastically produced video and subject matter Josh(The Mr Tesla of audio interfaces), please please make a AD/DA style Latte for well under $5000. Help UAD folks upgrade :)

[@davidpetersmusic]

@@AudioJanitor Thanks for the kind words again!

[@tekis0]

FYI: the photo of the API EQ was of the current 550A, not the original one. The current 550A has more frequencies than the original, which is not to be confused with the "550." The 550 had even fewer frequencies than the original 550A. The sound? Well, the tracks were very well recorded, so I had a hard time judging. With that in mind, I thought that they sounded good. Thank-you.

[@davidpetersmusic]

It's a good idea to show what gear can do on things that aren't recorded so well. I'll try that next time!

[@davidasher22]

So are these things not actually out yet? I’m sorry if I missed this info in the video but I don’t see them for sale anywhere.

[@davidpetersmusic]

Only directly from JCF. You can write him an email via the website.

[@davidasher22]

@@davidpetersmusic

[@eranddroory9987]

How cool is that ! Way better way to do recall - Nice 🙂

[@davidpetersmusic]

@@eranddroory9987 Not fancy, but solid and simple!

[@g_and_kikos_studio]

I love the plugin version of that Bettermaker EQ. Your the first person Ive seen who has the old version that looks like the plugin I use. Those JCF converters are killer right? Very cool you have the man hinself in the video. Also this seems like it takes away the probs with digital recall, that tone to recall is cool that no upgrades or updates will ruin it

[@davidpetersmusic]

I haven't tried the plugin version but the hardware definitely has fans out here. It sits across my instrument bus and allows for some nice subtle, but helpful MidSide tweaking. And And YES, I really enjoy how natural the converters sound!

[@g_and_kikos_studio]

@@davidpetersmusic that's the same way I use the plugin on guitar bus or drum bus. These EQs are very cool. Makes the digital controlled hardware problem, not a problem

[@jason.martin]

This is great, I like the future proof aspect but plug ins are so coinvent when having your units away from mix position. how about having both :) sounds great!

[@davidpetersmusic]

@@jason.martin i like the idea of « and » instead of « or »!

[@paulov9626]

Don't want to be a schmuck but did I hear clicks when certain parameters on those filters are tweaked?

[@davidpetersmusic]

Not a schmuck at all. You did hear clicks. The unit uses relays.

[@paulov9626]

​@@davidpetersmusic OK makes sense as relays provide huge isolation, less cross talk and better CMRR compared to digitally controlled pots and switches, as in the silicon ones ;-) The down side of course are clicks depending on what the relay contacts are switching. I'm assuming the audio section is analogue (versus DSP) so there will be DC voltages present along with the audio in the signal chain. The DC is what is causing those clicks as opposed to noise generated by the coil's back EMF which I'm sure in premium units like those, will be well filtered. And that ladies and gentlemen, concludes this week's boring technical waffling. 🙂

[@davidpetersmusic]

Your understanding is far more sophisticated than mine! I just know that when I turn the knob I hear the relays click. I also know the signal path is all analog, and very pure at that. The relay clicks don't bug me since they only happen as I'm getting my settings. This is not a unit that can be automated in real time during a mix like the Wes and Bettermaker units. (...though my BetterMaker also has noticeable noise in the audio path when switching settings, so I've learned I can't do that anyway)

[@sweetspike]

I love my jcf levrs

[@davidpetersmusic]

kevrs?

[@sweetspike]

@@davidpetersmusic levr. Auto correct got me

[@jesseharradine9861]

hahaha this is hilarious. great vid Droooool

[@davidpetersmusic]

Many thanks! Those preamps are super solid as well.

[@oldguitars]

Very Cool. Not sure useful this is in tracking, but mix recalls for busy mix rooms could be cool... if you have a bunch. I'll stick with settings photos of my 550a's for recall instead since i'm already having to do that with all my other outboard stuff.

[@davidpetersmusic]

It's true that the more you have, the more impact the recall would have. I've been considering such a setup myself. But also, despite that I don't need the recall when tracking, I still use them there all the time!

[@oldguitars]

I bet. I love the creativity of the design…

[@GingerDrums]

If you record voiceover with the same actors repeatedly it's super useful...

[@philipgalaura760]

What pricing on these

[@davidpetersmusic]

Probably best to write Josh directly. It may be different from back when I purchased mine. They're more than standard reissues, but not way more.

[@philipgalaura760]

@@davidpetersmusic talked to him about it today. Thanks for your reply.

[@GingerDrums]

​@@philipgalaura760and?