Anyone using API 550A/B or 560 EQ's? (hardware)

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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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If so, which is the most versatile across a drum kit, bass and guitar? I am talking either API or the CAPI equivalent as I know they are also very respected for that API sound. I am tempted to try a 560 because it seems to allow for more tonal shaping or precision shaping over the standard 550. Kick/Snare and electric guitars. Is it worth it?

I'm looking eventually to get a set of EQ's that allow me some mojo or impart their sound but also to control and shape the sound more than what my 3 band semi parametric Ramsa console EQ gives me. (It does a pretty good job, I just sometimes want more precise than what it can do)

I suppose people using the UAD plugins might also shed some light here as though not bang on, would have the same differences between the plugin models as there are between the hardware.

FYI other EQ I have thought about for this are the Elysia X filter and Harrison 32c.
 
i have the waves plugins of all three, i use the 550B sometimes on the snare to boost 100hz and 7k a little, its cool but honestly i use my SSL-G channel a lot more for fine tuning. i have a ramsa console too i use for my drums, really wish the eq had one more band
 
RaceU4her said:
i have the waves plugins of all three, i use the 550B sometimes on the snare to boost 100hz and 7k a little, its cool but honestly i use my SSL-G channel a lot more for fine tuning. i have a ramsa console too i use for my drums, really wish the eq had one more band
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Exactly! They are great preamps for what they are and it is a solid well built board but I just need a bit more for tuning snare and kick. Toms I could be happy enough in the box. I might look into the SSL 500 series EQ totally forgot that one. I think they are known for getting more cut and the API's more vibe and punch. Should probably get both but this stuff gets expensive.
 
the problem with the API eq is the fixed frequencies and the 2db adjustments which is usually just too much, if i was tracking with those it might be a different story but i just find the SSLg eq way more versatile, and you get the compressor and gate too which are both things i need for drums as well. the scheps omni plugin is great too. id like to get a couple nice hardware eq and compressors, but i figure i have good mics and preamps and with the console already partially eq'd the plugins are good enough for the minor tweaks im making. id say just grab the plugins first as a test run, i think the waves ones are like $25 or something now
 
RaceU4her said:
the problem with the API eq is the fixed frequencies and the 2db adjustments which is usually just too much, if i was tracking with those it might be a different story but i just find the SSLg eq way more versatile, and you get the compressor and gate too which are both things i need for drums as well. the scheps omni plugin is great too. id like to get a couple nice hardware eq and compressors, but i figure i have good mics and preamps and with the console already partially eq'd the plugins are good enough for the minor tweaks im making. id say just grab the plugins first as a test run, i think the waves ones are like $25 or something now
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Yeah I think you and I are very similar with how we think. I set my board first and then tweak behind with the plugins I do have. I have the Scheps omni channel, the lindell 1084 and I have an old version of the waves SSL EQ which isn't working so I might just upgrade it. Lately I have been using access analog for hardware in the cloud and you can load real hardware as a plugin and then print to track. That's game changing right there. The potential for small home studios is huge with that. They are just missing a precision EQ right now. I love their tube pultecs and Neve 1084 though as well as all their compressors. You will blow your load punching those in and out of your mixes. I was shooting their hardware out against my Noise Ash and Lindell 1084 and while the plugins are great, the hardware is incredible. Both the lows and highs are more defined and have more depth, It's crazy. So that set me back off on a quest for hardware. That said, in a mix does it really warrant spending 2500$ more for a pair of EQ as a hobbiest? One thing I will say about hardware and the stuff I do have, way less constant tweaking. It is easier to get what you want quickly.
 
I would lean towards the API 560.
EQ points on the 560 work better for sculpting guitar, kick, and snare.
The 550A is more broad strokes, better suited for tracking imo, though it works just as well as a mixing eq.
 
RaceU4her said:
the problem with the API eq is the fixed frequencies and the 2db adjustments which is usually just too much, if i was tracking with those it might be a different story but i just find the SSLg eq way more versatile, and you get the compressor and gate too which are both things i need for drums as well.
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Totally agree. And like @CEG85 said, the 560 for more versatility with multiple instruments.

I had 2 API lunchboxs filled with the 312c pres, Shadow Hills Gama mic pres, and 550B eqs. The mic pres themselves were fantastic. 550B's sound great too but I always felt too limited with them. Sold them to fund for the 560's and it was a much better setup. I sold those boxes and now stick to hardware mic pres (Focusrite ISA, SH GAMA, Heritage) and use plugins for my eq-ing. There are so many amazing options out there, you don't need to spend thousands on hardware alone anymore. Its never been a better time to be a producer and make music.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.. i am leaning 560 or SSL 500 series eq but will probably pick up the latest waves SSL to see if it does what i want. Maybe get the 560 too. Cheap way to get an idea before investing in the hardware. But i think i Def want to make the move to hardware at some point though as to my ear, i just dig it more. But yes, nowadays you really can't tell in the grand scheme of things.
 
I tracked with APIs for years. 560's on kick, snare and toms on the close mics. Those things can really do some sculpting which a mic crammed inside of a kick drum or 2" off the top of a snare needs.I liked the 550b a lot across a buss or on overheads. I had some 550a's as well. I found them very subtle for drums. They were good for adding a bit of air. Actually very good for that. But with drums, I always tended toward the 4 bands.
 
I have a API 550A and Great River 32EQ. I can confirm that the API just sounds great on guitars (electric and acoustic). For reason it just feels like it's a perfect match for the guitars mid-range and top end. I'm not a professional sound engineer by any means but for what it's worth I honestly highly recommend it - very easy to use and you don't feel you "lose" anything when turning it on like you sometime do with external EQs. The EQ is very powerful but at the same time extremely natural sounding
 
I grabbed the Lindell 50 which is the whole API suite plug in for 44$ so I am going to play around with it the next little while and see if I like the flavour. Although hardware always wins, the last few days I have been shooting out kick drum I ran through real Neve and API hardware units with the Lindell and Scheps Omni and to be honest, it is damn close. I narrowed the gap big time. It is almost to the point where I am wondering ... compressors I absolutely hear a big difference. But EQ's are very very close now. When you consider that I then run them through my console and it's transformers... I am not sure I want to shell the cash on EQ's now. I think the money is better spend on hardware compressors and eventually, a mastering hardware EQ.
 
Kapo_Polenton said:
I grabbed the Lindell 50 which is the whole API suite plug in for 44$ so I am going to play around with it the next little while and see if I like the flavour. Although hardware always wins, the last few days I have been shooting out kick drum I ran through real Neve and API hardware units with the Lindell and Scheps Omni and to be honest, it is damn close. I narrowed the gap big time. It is almost to the point where I am wondering ... compressors I absolutely hear a big difference. But EQ's are very very close now. When you consider that I then run them through my console and it's transformers... I am not sure I want to shell the cash on EQ's now. I think the money is better spend on hardware compressors and eventually, a mastering hardware EQ.
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I tend to agree . Eq: I could use either my hardware or plugins and be happy. Even though I still prefer the hardware. Compression wise, plugins aren’t quite there yet, Atleast to me.
 
yeah i would drop the coin on a compressor before an eq, especially having the eq already on your board. id like to have a 1176 to go with my 1073 just so i have that classic chain and dont have to feel like im missing out on anything but thats more a luxury than a necessity at this point for what im doing, maybe when i actually finish a complete song instead of the 30 second clips i post here ill indulge in some hardware lol
 
It's so close the more I play with it but hardware will edge it out in most cases but not enough to warrant price diff on most conventional tonal budgets. Compressors are just a whole other beast. That depth is hard to replicate and especially the width. Hardware comps stay narrow in the sonic field and smear more.
 
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