Broughton Resonant Filter Equalizer or Empress Bass ParaEQ

[Jammy Jellyfish]

I’m new to EQing, and I'm trying to decide between the Broughton Resonant Filter Equalizer and the Empress Bass ParaEQ.

For an extra $180, the Empress can do everything the Broughton can do and way more, except for the resonance. But in theory, I guess I’m looking to simulate a cabinet more than I am looking for an EQ. I play through an Aguilar AG and headphones. My bass is a 6-string short scale with a 4-band preamp, and I have a 4-string passive short scale Serek on order.

 

[el murdoque]

IMHO the RFE is the better cab sim. I've owned and used the RFE, the Broughton Low and Highpass Filter and the Empress ParaEQ deluxe.
I still have the RFE.
You get the high and low pass, along with resonant spikes if you wish to have them, and a very well working mids EQ.

The ParaEQ, of course, has a bit more to offer - the question is do you need the two extra parametric EQs, the variable Q and the shelving filters ?

 

[Jammy Jellyfish]

IMHO the RFE is the better cab sim. I've owned and used the RFE, the Broughton Low and Highpass Filter and the Empress ParaEQ deluxe.
I still have the RFE.
You get the high and low pass, along with resonant spikes if you wish to have them, and a very well working mids EQ.

The ParaEQ, of course, has a bit more to offer - the question is do you need the two extra parametric EQs, the variable Q and the shelving filters ?

I'm not sure... do I? I'm still new to EQing. I wrote a longer post here, but I realize the question is buried under a thousand others, and not in the effects forum.

 

[darev]

I'm not sure... do I? I'm still new to EQing.

As much as I love the flexibility, depending on the situation, I find a parametric EQ can be too much control. It can be very unwieldy with a lot of precision that is specific to that moment or performance.

I have an RFE and use that on my bass pedal board for performance. Generally, I tend to use a para EQ when recording or mixing. There are times where it is helpful when live but generally I find a para EQ can get in the way when trying to quickly make room or band mix adjustments. It's a surgical tool that in many instances needs a very precise ear to tune in.

Edit: That is not to say you don't have or will not develop a precise ear. Just that when there's a sound problem on stage to solve quickly a performer with an instrument and a para EQ is usually not the one to solve the issue quickly.

 

[Jammy Jellyfish]

As much as I love the flexibility, depending on the situation, I find a parametric EQ can be too much control. It can be very unwieldy with a lot of precision that is specific to that moment or performance.

I have an RFE and use that on my bass pedal board for performance. Generally, I tend to use a para EQ when recording or mixing. There are times where it is helpful when live but generally I find a para EQ can get in the way when trying to quickly make room or band mix adjustments. It's a surgical tool that in many instances needs a very precise ear to tune in.

True. This would mostly be to play at home. My band rehearses in rehearsal studios. It's never the same room and never the same backline. I've long stopped trying to get a good sound there as long as I can hear myself.

 

[darev]

I don't want to discourage using a parametric EQ. Having and learning how to use one is awesome as well.

 

[Jammy Jellyfish]

I don't want to discourage using a parametric EQ. Having and learning how to use one is awesome as well.

I realize it is, hence my question. But at the end of the day, I think I'm looking to create a cab sim more so than I am looking for an EQ.

There are more details in the other thread, but I have the RFE -- the return window is closing tonight -- and in doing a frequency sweep on the mid knob with the gain at +15 dB, I found two "problematic" frequencies: around 200-400 and 800-900. It is what lead me to look at the Empress.

The two frequencies do somewhat match those on on my Aguilar, which are 300 and 800, although I do not know the Q. But then I realized when I scooped them too much, I couldn't hear myself in a mix. So now they're back up a little, which makes me think maybe the Empress is overkill.

I'm also wondering about the pertinence of the resonance. I "understand" that they create "a bump at the cutoff frequency, accentuating the effect of the filters," but I'm still playing with them. I find they sound off? at over +4 dB. Again, I don't know much about EQing, but couldn't I technically do that and more with the Empress? Put the HPF at 85 Hz and put the low frequency at around the same and bump the gain a little?

 

[el murdoque]

I'm not sure... do I? I'm still new to EQing. I wrote a longer post here, but I realize the question is buried under a thousand others, and not in the effects forum.

If you ask me, the more complexity an EQ gains, the harder it becomes to use properly.
Less is more can be true here, especially when the people who designed the circuit made good choices.

One viewpoint could be that the ParaEQ burdens you with way too much choice. Not only have you three bands where you can set the frequency, you will also have to decide on the Q. And then there's the shelving ones, too, which might even interfere with both the parametric ones AND the filters.
It's a great tool when you have a certain curve in mind that you want to reproduce, but it has a learning curve.

 

[Jammy Jellyfish]

Y'all are probably right — I'll keep the RFE. I've been playing some more and found settings I find sound great, which includes bumping both resonance to about 1 dB. I doubt I'll need more options.

I think part of it is being worried that I'm buying something (RFE) that I'll want to upgrade down the line (ParaEQ) while I can still return it and I have money for the upgrade. It's just not as obvious as say the ParaEQ -> ParaEQ Deluxe.

The only issue now is I hear that tubby frequency at 200-300 Hz, and I can't seem to find the line between remove it and still hearing myself in the mix

 

[docent_lol]

If you want a cab sim wouldn't it be better to get tonex one?

 

[LowWay]

That would be a whole amp sim.

Get a cheap IR loader. SONIC IR is $60 new. It'll hold 11 cab sims at a time. Cheap and easy. Even commercial IRs are cheap.

 

[darwin-bass]

I tend to think EQ often does more harm than good, especially in the hands of people not well versed on the topic.

 

[tidbits]

The only issue now is I hear that tubby frequency at 200-300 Hz, and I can't seem to find the line between remove it and still hearing myself in the mix

What else do you have with EQ on your board?

Assuming your lows are otherwise addressed, it might take a boost somewhere between 500-2k hz to make sure you’re still poking through.

Kinda depends on your other pedals and what kind of sonic territory the other instruments are occupying.

 

[Jammy Jellyfish]

What else do you have with EQ on your board?

Assuming your lows are otherwise addressed, it might take a boost somewhere between 500-2k hz to make sure you’re still poking through.

Kinda depends on your other pedals and what kind of sonic territory the other instruments are occupying.

A Strymon Deco and the new Cali76. The Cali76 is definitely adding something in the high mids.

In terms of mids, right now I’m cutting at 200 (10 o’clock), 300 (11 o’clock) and 800 (10 o’clock). It sounds good, I think, and cuts through.

10 o’clock at 200 seems like the sweet point between cutting through and too tubby, but I still hear the tubby. But at 9 o’clock I don’t cut through as much as I’d like. I’m playing with Sennheiser HD650s, though. I’m sure I wouldn’t hear it through a cab.

I’m also cutting at 4 kHz and 40 Hz (11).

 

[meisi]

You need a notch filter. SVF does that. Pair with the RFE and you’re grooving.

 

[Zbysek]

I think I'm looking to create a cab sim more so than I am looking for an EQ.

I would keep RFE then...

I found two "problematic" frequencies: around 200-400 and 800-900. It is what lead me to look at the Empress.

The two frequencies do somewhat match those on on my Aguilar, which are 300 and 800, although I do not know the Q. But then I realized when I scooped them too much, I couldn't hear myself in a mix. So now they're back up a little, which makes me think maybe the Empress is overkill.

I wouldn't cut both frequencies-the resulting sound would likely be too scooped. I would either cut at 300Hz and slightly boost at 800Hz for more aggressive sound or cut at 800Hz and leave the 300Hz alone for mellow sound....

I'm also wondering about the pertinence of the resonance. I "understand" that they create "a bump at the cutoff frequency, accentuating the effect of the filters," but I'm still playing with them. I find they sound off? at over +4 dB. Again, I don't know much about EQing, but couldn't I technically do that and more with the Empress? Put the HPF at 85 Hz and put the low frequency at around the same and bump the gain a little?

I only engage the resonance on lows when setting the HPF at 80Hz or higher. I never boost more than few dbs...

I don't own the Empress. Looking at the the feature set, I think you would be able to achieve results similar to resonance on RFE...using the parametric lows and HPF...

 

[Jammy Jellyfish]

I would keep RFE then...

I wouldn't cut both frequencies-the resulting sound would likely be too scooped. I would either cut at 300Hz and slightly boost at 800Hz for more aggressive sound or cut at 800Hz and leave the 300Hz alone for mellow sound....


I only engage the resonance on lows when setting the HPF at 80Hz or higher. I never boost more than few dbs...

I don't own the Empress. Looking at the the feature set, I think you would be able to achieve results similar to resonance on RFE...using the parametric lows and HPF...

Maybe it’s a stupid question, but since I’m cutting everything (10 o’clock), and only cutting the low mids at 11, am I not technically not cutting the high mids and boosting the low mids? Or is this now how it works.

Now that I think of it, if I feel the need to cut everything equally, shouldn’t that mean that maybe my gain is too high?

 

[Zbysek]

Maybe it’s a stupid question, but since I’m cutting everything (10 o’clock), and only cutting the low mids at 11, am I not technically not cutting the high mids and boosting the low mids? Or is this now how it works.

Now that I think of it, if I feel the need to cut everything equally, shouldn’t that mean that maybe my gain is too high?

I understand that you arespeaking about the AG preamp. I am not closely familiar with this device.

Generally, I would suggest that decreasing gain might be an alternative to cutting on all eq points...

 

[Dr McBalders]

This is my mini board. The one in the middle is my choice right now for that.

 

[WG Plum]

I have both and don’t use either at this point. Getting a Mesa B800D made pretty much all of my utility pedals superfluous.