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Epifani Quest Discontinued?

#182
I got comments directly from Epifani today, and fwiw, they make good points...

First, they pointed out that both the Quest and the UL502 have not had limiters for quite some time, and unfortunately, the pictures are just very old. I'd assume they haven't updated the pic because it's going away anyway.

Anyway, the reason they got rid of it was because, in their older versions, the preamp design used to simply have too hot of a signal for FOH or the stage rig sometimes. They've since redesigned the preamp to have more sensible levels and also noted the adjustable level on the DI out. Basically, they said they redesigned the preamp to not need one anymore.

They also commented that limiters shouldn't be necessary if your technique is good and/or you set your levels for your heaviest playing instead of your lightest.

Whether that eliminates your personal desire for a limiter or not, is up to you, but after talking to them, I thought about it a bit, and here's what I came up with...

I must admit that I've always hated the effects of every limiter I've ever heard, so really, I've worked hard to develop a technique where I didn't really need one anyway, so in retrospect, this is really no big deal to me after all (NOTE: compressors and limiters are TOTALLY different animals when used optimally).

So I'm back on-board for the QII as long as the tone knocks me over hard. Otherwise, it's goin' back and is someone else's deal, 'cause I totally don't have money to just blow on "extra gear" right now... no matter how good the deal is... especially since I'd have to go out and spend more to really even use it (SW2.1).

I do have one pre-nit tho... I think it's really tacky that it doesn't come with rack ears... especially at its intended price point.
 
#183
You don't want to go there.....

Trust me... if at $1049 street this thing still didn't include rack ears and the footswitch.... it's have to freakin' walk on water!! But it didn't... it's a $500 pre... bottom line. And it's a really good one!!!
 
#184
Mario Lewis said:
You don't want to go there.....

Trust me... if at $1049 street this thing still didn't include rack ears and the footswitch.... it's have to freakin' walk on water!! But it didn't... it's a $500 pre... bottom line. And it's a really good one!!!
Click to expand...
Don't get me wrong, if it was a big problem for me at this price point, I woulda' cancelled my order. However, if I'd paid the full 1050, I'd be seriously upset. That's all I'm saying (I believe as you are, too). That's why I said "nit"... as in minor.
 
#185
Vic said:
They also commented that limiters shouldn't be necessary if your technique is good and/or you set your levels for your heaviest playing instead of your lightest.
Click to expand...

Of course you want to set your level for your heaviest playing. However, as player with 30 years experience live and in the studio, and with an engineering background, the technique comment raises an eyebrow.

It's a great pre but I'll probably return it because the limiter was part of the appeal for me.

Peace,

Joe
 
#186
joereda said:
Of course you want to set your level for your heaviest playing. However, as player with 30 years experience live and in the studio, and with an engineering background, the technique comment raises an eyebrow.

It's a great pre but I'll probably return it because the limiter was part of the appeal for me.

Peace,

Joe
Click to expand...
That's why I raised the point about compression vs limiting. Just out of curiosity, what would you rely on the limiter for, and do you have/use a compressor at all?
 
#187
Vic said:
That's why I raised the point about compression vs limiting. Just out of curiosity, what would you rely on the limiter for, and do you have/use a compressor at all?
Click to expand...


Vic,
I use an RNC. I suppose I use it more as a limiter, in that I'm not hitting it all the time. I set it so the slap stuff or a crazy aggressive something or other gets compressed. I'm often doing live gigs which cover everything from dinner music, ballads, funk, and hard rock and the compression works well for me and the sound guys/gals. It also provides a wee bit of speaker protection. I'll probably love the Quest but, my reason for ordering it was that it just about had all the features I've been looking for and would really simplify my set-up ( oh ya... and it was a great price). BTW - sorry if that last post sounded pompous. My technique certainly has room for improvement.

Peace,
Joe
 
#188
joereda said:
I use an RNC. I suppose I use it more as a limiter, in that I'm not hitting it all the time. I set it so the slap stuff or a crazy aggressive something or other gets compressed. I'm often doing live gigs... ...BTW - sorry if that last post sounded pompous...
Click to expand...
Nah, no prob, and I don't wanna come off as pushy or some Epi-rep (which I'm not).

However, you just said what I thought you'd say, which sounds to me more like you need a compressor, not really a limiter. Just cause you're not into compression all the time doesn't mean it's behaving exactly like a limiter.

IMHO, the main diff between a limiter and a compressor, is a limiter is typically strictly for protection, and usually has a fairly harsh effect, whereas a compressor is for dynamic control, which is what I think I hear you talking about. I've spent some time in the studio and I have yet to see a limiter in use on an instrument, but I've seen TONS of compressors being used. Same story for FOH at live gigs. :)

My ThunderFunk head has a limiter in it, and my goal is to avoid activating it.

So at the end of the day, even if these had limiters, if you were looking for my advice (I know, you're not, but...), I'd say get/use a great compressor and avoid the limiter for your own tone's sake. :)

FWIW, anyway...
 
#190
Mario Lewis said:
You don't want to go there.....

Trust me... if at $1049 street this thing still didn't include rack ears and the footswitch.... it's have to freakin' walk on water!! But it didn't... it's a $500 pre... bottom line. And it's a really good one!!!
Click to expand...

nobody seems to be making a ruckus about EA not including ears for their amps. :hiding:

joereda said:
Of course you want to set your level for your heaviest playing. However, as player with 30 years experience live and in the studio, and with an engineering background, the technique comment raises an eyebrow.
(...)
Click to expand...

eh,

look at the guys he's catering to: Matt Garrison, Richard Bona, Lincoln Goines, and as far as i know, their technique is impeccable, limiter or no limiter. ;)
 
#193
jokerjkny said:
funny, but i love it! really thickens the sound. but i guess its all in the ears of the beholder, eh?
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm missing something then... how does a limiter (or at least the TFB's limiter) thicken your sound? To me, it just sounds like a hard squash on dynamics (which is what I'd expect). Is there some trick to making good use of it?

You can PM me on this if you want... maybe kinda' off topic... don't wanna' derail...
 
#195
jokerjkny said:
i dunno,

i usually have the gain around 7 on the dial. if i disengage the limiter, suddenly the sound loses thickness.
Click to expand...
Sorry, forgot to ask, are you also talking about a TFB or some other head?

fattier than pork fat sadowsky onboard pre's, i usually do have the limiter off, since again, i've already got the pork fat.
Click to expand...
:D
 
#198
jokerjkny said:
yea, referring to my TFB550.

btw, this morning i tried it w/o the limiter and liked the tone just as much! still, w/ the limiter, i didnt mind having it on, especially for my somewhat aggressive slap techinque.
Click to expand...
Well, I will admit the limiter in the TFB is one of the better ones, but I still prefer not to dig into it if I can avoid it. It's not usually a problem, tho, 'cause I typically use either an EBS, Demeter, or Presonus compressor.
 
#199
michaelprice83 said:
I just ordered one of these suckers and I need to get the ears for it. I contacted epifani by email and recieved no response. How did ya'll get yer ears?
Click to expand...

Try again, call them, they'll hear the phone. They've been real busy this week, they're getting ready to go to Europe next week for more shows.
 
#200
Vic said:
So at the end of the day, even if these had limiters, if you were looking for my advice (I know, you're not, but...), I'd say get/use a great compressor and avoid the limiter for your own tone's sake. :)
Click to expand...

Good advice, I'd say. :) I always turn my limiters off (if the gear I am playing through has one), and I rarely use compression. I think that the ability to turn off the limiter on the Thunderfunk is a great advancement over the AMP design.

But, I know other folks who seem to love the sound of that limiter, so personal preferences obviously vary.

Tom.
 

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