Parametric EQ: Klark Teknik DN405 or ParaEq?

[kucor]

Hi TB,

I'm in a search for a parametric EQ I'll be using on a live gigs. I play in all kind of wedding venues, mostly terrible for sound mixing, and often have issues with boomy sounds, so wanna try to deal with this with a parametric eq.

I narrowed my choice to the two devices from the title, but haven't used none of them, so need a little of help.

I dig DN405 for more control (especially Q-factor)

Empress looks appealing for it's portability (would fit on my pedal-case), price (usually $100-150 cheaper 2nd hand), I read it's musical sounding while Klark is pretty dry, so I could use it at home for practicing and recording occasionally.

But all of that doesn't matter if DN405's control is more powerful and useful for the primary task.

any comments?

thanks

 

[RustyAxe]

I have an Empress, and am very happy with it. While not sweepable, the Q can be selected (narrow, medium, wide).

 

[Wasnex]

Hi TB,

I'm in a search for a parametric EQ I'll be using on a live gigs. I play in all kind of wedding venues, mostly terrible for sound mixing, and often have issues with boomy sounds, so wanna try to deal with this with a parametric eq.

I narrowed my choice to the two devices from the title, but haven't used none of them, so need a little of help.

I dig DN405 for more control (especially Q-factor)

Empress looks appealing for it's portability (would fit on my pedal-case), price (usually $100-150 cheaper 2nd hand), I read it's musical sounding while Klark is pretty dry, so I could use it at home for practicing and recording occasionally.

But all of that doesn't matter if DN405's control is more powerful and useful for the primary task.

any comments?

thanks

Some important considerations are signal level and patching. the DN405 is a line level device and has XLR inputs and outputs. The Empress is intended for instrument level and has 1/4" inputs and outputs. The Empress is a better choice if you intend to use it between your bass and amp. The KT is a better choice if you intend to use it in a line level effects loop, which is rare for bass amps. For PA work I would go with the KT.

Regarding use and musicality. The KT is known for neutral tone shaping more than as a color inducing EQ like a Pultech. If you want color in a modern EQ consider the Klark Teknik EQP-KT.

I have used the stereo version (DN410) extensively and it is very high quality EQ that works splendidly, but is nothing to get excited about. It basically does what you want and stays out of the way. It has five bands per channel and continuously variable bandwidth controls.

I have not used an Empress ParaEQ but I do know they are well respected. The Empress has three bands and bandwidth is set at wide, medium, or narrow. The KT will be far more accurate and precise for system tuning and problem solving, and the Empress will really expand your ability to get a basic sound.

You may also be interested in the Tech 21 Q\Strip.

 

[kucor]

I know Empress is well regarded EQ especially for tone shaping, but I'm happy with my tone and need a EQ only to remove specific frequencies.

I don't see an adjustable Q on Tech21.

Some important considerations are signal level and patching. the DN405 is a line level device and has XLR inputs and outputs. The Empress is intended for instrument level and has 1/4" inputs and outputs. The Empress is a better choice if you intend to use it between your bass and amp. The KT is a better choice if you intend to use it in a line level effects loop, which is rare for bass amps. For PA work I would go with the KT.

I read somewhere that DN405 can be internally switched to unbalanced mode.
The plan would be to put it somewhere in the chain with short TS>XLR cables.
My setup is BG-sfx microthumpinator-diamond compressor-radial jdv=amp+foh desk.

I do this mainly for FOH sound. My stage sound is fine.

 

[Wasnex]

I know Empress is well regarded EQ especially for tone shaping, but I'm happy with my tone and need a EQ only to remove specific frequencies.

I don't see an adjustable Q on Tech21.



I read somewhere that DN405 can be internally switched to unbalanced mode.
The plan would be to put it somewhere in the chain with short TS>XLR cables.
My setup is BG-sfx microthumpinator-diamond compressor-radial jdv=amp+foh desk.

I do this mainly for FOH sound. My stage sound is fine.

I am not aware of any internal switching with the DN405. Appropriate XLR to 1/4 adapters would work do the job, but you still have issue of line versus instrument level. If the EQ is to be on the floor and run at instrument level, get the Empress. If the EQ is to be in a rack and run at line level, get the Klark Teknik.

As far as backseat driving for FOH...IMHO that's a bad idea. Let the audio tech do his/her job. You can't hear what is going on out in the hall, so how will you adjust the EQ?

 

[kucor]

am not aware of any internal switching with the DN405. Appropriate XLR to 1/4 adapters would work do the job, but you still have issue of line versus instrument level. If the EQ is to be on the floor and run at instrument level, get the Empress. If the EQ is to be in a rack and run at line level, get the Klark Teknik.

Seems that you are right, I found user manual and no internal switching is mentioned.

My pedals are placed in the hard case on the top of my amp rack so no floor unit, but it seems to me that ParaEQ may be a better choice as it's much more simple to connect. Not really sure how would I even run DN405 at line level.
The results may be questionable with both options but at least I'll have much less hassle and could use paraeq at home or for some minor sound tweaking on the stage.

As far as backseat driving for FOH...IMHO that's a bad idea. Let the audio tech do his/her job. You can't hear what is going on out in the hall, so how will you adjust the EQ?

Our "sound guy" is our keyboard player, he's doing his best but having a real hard time dealing with bass in this venues built especially for weddings (walls and floors completely covered with glass, stone and ceramic tiles for easy cleaning).
I always send a clean, non-eqed signal to the board, but I'd like to try to do something to do our FOH sound better with this minor tweaking. I have a wireless bass and can hear what's going on out there.

Thanks for help

 

[Wasnex]

Seems that you are right, I found user manual and no internal switching is mentioned.

My pedals are placed in the hard case on the top of my amp rack so no floor unit, but it seems to me that ParaEQ may be a better choice as it's much more simple to connect. Not really sure how would I even run DN405 at line level.
The results may be questionable with both options but at least I'll have much less hassle and could use paraeq at home or for some minor sound tweaking on the stage.



Our "sound guy" is our keyboard player, he's doing his best but having a real hard time dealing with bass in this venues built especially for weddings (walls and floors completely covered with glass, stone and ceramic tiles for easy cleaning).
I always send a clean, non-eqed signal to the board, but I'd like to try to do something to do our FOH sound better with this minor tweaking. I have a wireless bass and can hear what's going on out there.

Thanks for help

Getting a nice bass sound live is very challenging, and a more powerful EQ can be helpful.

If the channel EQ on the mixing board is insufficient, you might be able to insert an EQ in the channel insert.

If you plan to insert the EQ between the mixer and your amp, you need to be careful as this may expose the EQ to phantom power, which can cause damage.

Something that may help you dial in a sound is a looper pedal. I have a Boss DD7 that can hold a short loop. So I can play a few bars and then let the loop run, so I can walk around and see how the bass sounds and make changes to the EQ.

 

[JRA]

IME: a parametric has some obvious advantages in some rooms, but not in all rooms. and: it's a tool to fix problems for which there are always tradeoffs in fix itself!

but for the price of a single channel parametric: i think the klark-teknik piece is the one you want for PA use. my 2. good luck taming those boomy rooms!

 

[darwin-bass]

If you're trying to get good bass sound in a tough room, perhaps the first step is to go ampless? The less bleed from the stage, the more control the PA has over your sound.

Bass amps, shielded drums, acoustic pianos, floor monitors, guitar amps - All will contribute to a level of mud that does not work in your favor.

I have the Empress ParaEQ. I prefer it to the Q/Strip because of the adjustable Q. I use it not to EQ for the room but to EQ for a fuller sound from my fretless bridge PU. This is not what you're trying to do so take my preference with a grain of salt.

 

[Blue Swede]

I had a gig last night similar to the OP. We were playing in a venue simply not built for live music, and as soon we started soundchecking bass it was just boomy, in a bad kind of way. It was quite disheartening since I had just received my Noble preamp and was pumped about using it live for the first time. I play ampless with a floor wedge for monitoring, signal goes tc polytune->sf. Micro thumpinator-> fea de-cl -> noble -> FOH.

We ended up using the HPF on the noble, as well as another HPF on our digital mixer on top, a notchfilter helped out a bit and we also put some extra compression on top of the FEA and a slight EQ to the final mix. It sounded ok in the end and even better once there was a crowd, but not up to expectations.

We have a mackie dl1608 with an ipad for controlling it. It has a fairly decent EQ with fully adjustable parameters for Q, Freq and gain on multiple bands per channel, so I don’t know if another paraeq such as an empress would help?

But itsucks going into a gig excited about your sound and come out dissappointed, not because of gear but a crappy venue.
Just looking forward to next gig to try again.

Any thoughts on how to get around boomy venues are welcome!