• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Most transparent parametric EQ?

Melvin7822

Melvin7822

May 11, 2004
1,471
376
45
Broomfield, CO
#1
I've been wanting to use a parametric EQ with my Alembic for some time now. I used to have a Rane PE-17, but in bypass it sucked some of my tone out. What's the cleanest, most transparent, 1 rack space parametric EQ that's most easily obtainable?
 
#4
When you used the Rane, was it in a line level EFX loop, or were you plugging the bass straight into the EQ?

I have a few different parametrics, but I've never had any reason to use the bypass mode much, except during setup. The ones I own are a couple of Ashlys and a Symetrix, which both sound fine for their price point. You can PM me if you want to deal. I had the Symetrix listed in the classifieds here for a long while, it might still be buried in the back somewhere.
 
#6
Passinwind said:
When you used the Rane, was it in a line level EFX loop, or were you plugging the bass straight into the EQ?

I have a few different parametrics, but I've never had any reason to use the bypass mode much, except during setup. The ones I own are a couple of Ashlys and a Symetrix, which both sound fine for their price point. You can PM me if you want to deal. I had the Symetrix listed in the classifieds here for a long while, it might still be buried in the back somewhere.
Click to expand...

Being that the Alembic's loop is instrument level I ran the Rane after the Alembic. Whether it's in bypass or not is not the issue. On or off, my bass sounded more brilliant when the signal was not going through the Rane.
 
#8
Melvin7822 said:
Being that the Alembic's loop is instrument level I ran the Rane after the Alembic. Whether it's in bypass or not is not the issue. On or off, my bass sounded more brilliant when the signal was not going through the Rane.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, that's what I'd do too in that case. I doubt that either of my EQs would prove much different, but I could easily be wrong. Did you ever try the EFX loop just to see what happened? Is it a series loop?

The Speck parametric comes up pretty frequently as a step up from Rane, Ashly, and Symetrix, which are generally considered to be roughly equal. I like the feature set of the Ashly best of those three, but the Symetrix sounds just as good IMHO. The Speck costs roughly twice as much, naturally. :cool:
 
#10
Passinwind said:
Gotcha, that's what I'd do too in that case. I doubt that either of my EQs would prove much different, but I could easily be wrong. Did you ever try the EFX loop just to see what happened? Is it a series loop?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I tried it in the loop the first time and received the same result, and yes it is a series loop.
 
#13
I know you're talking a completely different league here, but I recently bought the Behringer PEQ2200 Ultra-Q Pro (5 band fully parametric) and it does the work perfectly, not colouring sound, but doing just what it has to do (very unforgiving if you don't have a clear concept on how to use parametric EQ properly -I'm still learning new tips on how to use it every day, used to be a "graphic" guy-). Believe me, I use a Stingray 5 (and you instantly notice when a Stingray is "coloured") and it's nice. Cheap gear, (yes, 54 EUR) but functional!

ANDRUCA
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back