Recommendations Wanted for a Tracking EQ

Hi Folks,

I'm currently putting together a little studio for songwriting/demos. I'm a bit old-school in that I like to get things right as I record them (and it's more interesting) so I'm looking at building an EQ that I can use on the way in to my DAW.

Seems that a lot of the DIY EQ projects (here and elsewhere) are for mixing/mastering (although I realise that EQ is EQ and these can be used anywhere). I'm looking at something specifically for tracking, like a console EQ.

I've had a quick look at the Harrison Ford filters and while they look like what I'm after I'd like some sort of switchable or sweepable midrange control. Also, I'd prefer a solid-state design and something not too complicated (as I'm still relatively new to the world of DIY).

Any suggestions?

Cheers,

Chris

there's a lot of nice channel EQ's around here, all useful, choosing will depend on taste.

Search for:

SSL EQ
Helios EQ
Calrec Gyraf EQ
Neumann W492 (easy to do)
Studer 169 EQ

I like them all

Thanks for the info. The Neumann looks good!

Cheers!

The Neumann is nice and easy. No inductors needed, if you use the right pots it requires minimum wiring.

Whoops said:

The Neumann is nice and easy. No inductors needed, if you use the right pots it requires minimum wiring.

Click to expand...

Am I looking at the wrong schematic? The one I have has 18 op amps in it. Not what I call easy or minimal wiring.

Cheers

Ian

ruffrecords said:

Am I looking at the wrong schematic? The one I have has 18 op amps in it. Not what I call easy or minimal wiring.

Cheers

Ian

Click to expand...

Hi Ian,
you are looking at the wrong place, don't look at the schematic but at the pcb that was made here some years ago.



I did 1 channel in 30 minutes.
All Pots soldered to pcb, really minimal wiring.

Easy also for less experienced members to build as it's just like building a puzzle.

Sounds really good also.

Regards

The W492 eq is great and a simple DIY project. The EQ curves sound quite narrow to me - I prefer something a little less "pointy". If you like wider curves (lower Q) you might prefer a parametric equaliser. Or someone on here may have a tweak to broaden the curves in the 492

Dan DDT does individual front panels for the 492 that look great

A quick search reveals a post about this EQ. Seems it was written by me..

https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=28332.msg716336;topicseen#msg716336

Nick Froome

Thanks for the info.

The following link doesn't seem to be working:

http://sound.westhost.com/articles/state-variable.htm

cpsmusic said:

Thanks for the info.

The following link doesn't seem to be working:

http://sound.westhost.com/articles/state-variable.htm

Click to expand...

use Way Back Machine for old pages that are not online anymore:

https://web.archive.org/web/20160108131716/http://sound.westhost.com/articles/state-variable.htm

cpsmusic said:

Thanks for the info.

The following link doesn't seem to be working:

http://sound.westhost.com/articles/state-variable.htm

Click to expand...

All of Rod Elliots posts have been moved to .whsites.net instead of .westhost.com

No need for the wayback machine in this case.
I just read that article a few days ago.

I'm a bit old-school in that I like to get things right as I record them (and it's more interesting) so I'm looking at building an EQ that I can use on the way in to my DAW.

Click to expand...

What are you looking to use an EQ for  when recording a demo?
I ask cause I would much rather have a nice mic into a good preamp in the right position than mess with EQ at tracking.
I've built a bunch of nice EQs and hardly ever use them!

dmp said:

What are you looking to use an EQ for  when recording a demo?
I ask cause I would much rather have a nice mic into a good preamp in the right position than mess with EQ at tracking.
I've built a bunch of nice EQs and hardly ever use them!

Click to expand...

I don't,
I use it as needed and prefer to set the sound right in tracking.
I much rather have an EQ an not use it if it's not needed for that particular instrument, than needing an EQ an not having it.

cpsmusic explained quite clearly his intentions in the first post:

cpsmusic said:

I'm a bit old-school in that I like to get things right as I record them (and it's more interesting) so I'm looking at building an EQ that I can use on the way in to my DAW.

Click to expand...

Actually thats not Old-School is the way it's done by professional engineers since EQ was easily accessible in consoles.
Going from the Mic directly to soundcard or Mic Pre is a practise from the home recording community, where less knowledge and experience and normally bad monitoring conditions made people insecure about using EQ while tracking leaving all the decisions to the mixing stage.

Getting things right while recording is really important and makes mixing a breeze. Using EQ while recording is one of the different tools you can use to get the sound right.