pultec EQ is it really that great

Discussion in 'Education' started by Gyro Gearloose, Aug 5, 2019.

  1. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    Absolutely correct. PD separates the harmonics from the band's shape.
    What I still wonder is how that strange looking matching curve comes about, since GotoEQ doesn't add any harmonics...

    But you have some interesting thoughts about how FF's analysis works. :like:
     
  2. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    At least not as much, that's true. But wouldn't then the low and high cut in the AA plugin (and some others) be counterproductive?

    That's what I love an adjustable high shelf Q for. Even at moderate settings you can avoid this.

    I prefer to do both, measure and listen. :yes:
     
  3. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    You are funny (no offense).
    Ofc I can hear it, with my monitors and my headphones. But firstly, in his first example he only used the added harmonics with no boost or gain at all and I never said anything negative about its harmonics.
    And secondly, in his third example he boosted the low shelf by tiny 2.5dB. It's absolutely ok if this works and for this track it really did, but that's neither the famous push-pull effect, nor what I was talking about.
     
  4. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    Thank you very much for these kind words, much appreciated. :bow:

    The rest will follow in PM in native language.
     
  5. Blue

    Blue Audiosexual

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    All these emulations are pure snake oil,they are sold with a Pultec name and when you analyze for example Noise Ash,Black Rooster,IK,Waves,Nomad Factory they are all very very very different.Some add 3 harmonics,the others 150,some have a Low cut,some not,some have a little negative impact on the phase while some are crazy,and they also have different shapes.

    They are just EQs with some harmonics,but nothing is Pultec in them.
     
  6. Gyro Gearloose

    Gyro Gearloose Audiosexual

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    pls someone with real hatdware pultec make example with kungpao's dry sample
    come on...for the office
    :beg::crazy::metal:
     
  7. Gyro Gearloose

    Gyro Gearloose Audiosexual

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    how you did like softubes
     
  8. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    Thank you for the correction. I had gotten that idea from a post from Spencer26 where he explained what that plug (Voice Of God) does. Never fact checked it, though.
    https://audiosex.pro/threads/local-rock-band-im-recording.24129/#post-179566
    It'd be interesting to see how the Voice Of God differs from the analyzer image you posted of the Puigtec

    This was primarily why I was after the Acustica Aqua version of that hardware. Because it's a sampling of the hardware. It's worth the CPU hit IMO. I actually stopped using the Puigtec and the IK versions because I liked the EQ's in Gold better. But I'm back to using them (Purple) again because of how they sound. They brighten up the sound a bit.
     
  9. KungPaoFist

    KungPaoFist Audiosexual

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    Nice! You indeed accomplished the same including harmonics and all, but why do you hate the Pultec so much to pull out 2 separate plugins and a whole lot of effort? I put Pultec, and turned two knobs 100%.. :mates:
     
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  10. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    Thanks for the compliment, it wasn't really easy [​IMG] and there are still some minor differences if you listen closley.

    Oh, I do not hate them, I just cant make any use of them since I prefer a greater flexibility when it comes to precise eqing. I find other analogue emu eqs much more useful.
     
  11. NeverenoghFun

    NeverenoghFun Platinum Record

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    I have not yet been able to dial in a Pul-tec.
    I really think interface has a huge part of the quality of sound you can get.
    I never knew how to run like a SSL before using Slates plugins..
    Sometimes thing just click. But the the pul tec does get some incredible end results.
    Just all about whos using it I suppose
     
  12. spencer26

    spencer26 Platinum Record

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    Look guys EQ is really simple. It is just about the curve of the Q.
    Try your own pultec. If you use a resonant Eq you will be able to setup the curve you need for the pultec sound. Who gives a rats if it sounds like a pultec you just want that kind of resonant eq. Meaning at the frequency you boost there is a small rolloff after the selected frequency.
    You can do this with 2 eq bands. Say Boost at 48hz and then put a dip in at 60hz. Experiment till you get the sound you want.
    Spencer
     
  13. spencer26

    spencer26 Platinum Record

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    My first equalizer at 18 years old was a pultec. Because thats all there was. It taught me about Eq.
     
  14. I have no problem with anybody who wants to crtique the Pultec design, but you really need to understand why people who like the design, like it. It's a bus EQ. Nobody in their right mind would use any Pultec design, including but not limited to the mighty Manley Pultec, as surgical EQ on a single track. It's used in the same arena as the Dangerous BAX EQ. It's a broad curve bender. And the fact that the legacy UAD Pultec makes things sound better with no settings at all was the key its success. Nobody paid the Pultec any attention at all until that legacy version in 2003. So you're entirely welcome to criticise, just don't compare an apple and with an orange.

    The famous push-pull effect is there, but it's a very old fashioned way of acheiving a bass boost that really belongs in the vinyl era. Nobody in their right minds would go down that route unless finalising for vinyl because the bass printable on a digital mix is massively louder. This was, after all, a machine designed for the 1960s as a mastering EQ and is popular with people working in retro genres. It's great as a bus warmer but not much else. It's worth reflecting that I can't think of any professional mixer making a video that explains push-pull even using a Manley (they don't make many of them). It was very popular in Music Radar publications once upon a time.

    [​IMG]

    Let's face it, you're not going to buy this rather than a Massive Passive, and you're not going to buy this if you've already got a Massive Passive. It's very niche.

    The statement about not being able to hear was directed towards some of the other participants in this thread.
     
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  15. Blue

    Blue Audiosexual

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    I don't know why,but I never use this one...I'll try it again next.I use the Waves one because I know it well.

    On another thread on AS one member posted a comparison between different Pultec emulations and Acustica was far ahead the others and the closest to Pultec hardware.Listen yourself.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2019
  16. PopstarKiller

    PopstarKiller Platinum Record

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    Here it is.
    Btw, something I forgot to say/correct about the Pultec analysis - the plugin automatically adds a db or two of boost, that's why the high frequencies are above the line there. The NoishAsh Pultec does the same, don't know about other manufacturers.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    Thank you, @PopstarKiller! Indeed there's no corresponding dip. I guess the line of thought is removing the mud below the cutoff. Nice trick you can do also with EG. Izotope 7 EQ or similar. Yeah, I saw that boost. It's good to know what's happening under the hood. What is this analysis plugin called? I might be able to run a graph of Purple to compare.
     
  18. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    plugindoctor
    You can find it nearby, so to say. :winker:
     
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  19. spencer26

    spencer26 Platinum Record

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    Here is a setting that I use. You could also hipass the lows if you want.

    Screen Shot 2019-08-09 at 9.59.33 am.png
     
  20. spencer26

    spencer26 Platinum Record

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    Here is something else to try. Use resonant band with a Hipass.

    Screen Shot 2019-08-09 at 10.07.10 am.png
     
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