SPOTLIGHT: EQs - Part IV
For part four of our Spotlight on EQs we’re going to review two more URS EQs, two that are very different than those we reviewed in part 3. This time we’ve also added an EQ of another brand, namely Sonalksis. Lets see how they stack up to the competition.
URS Fullteq
The URS Fullteq EQ is a one of a kind EQ. One band emulates the Pulteq EQP-1s low frequency shelving, three peak bands emulates the midrange boost and the attenuation of the Pulteq MEQ-5 and the high frequency boost of the Pulteq EQP-1a, it also includes a fifth band, a high shelving filter. So we have a five band EQ, with three peak bands featuring separate Q controls. Besides that it includes the URS standards, like options for mouse control and good mapping for Digidesign control surfaces.
The interface is good looking, but a little boring, still very effective with big knobs which of course is nice. As with other URS plug-ins there are several ways that you can control these knobs: either by doing it the “normal” way, that is by clicking and dragging with the mouse, or by clicking at any of the values around them, or by using the mouse scroll wheel.
It’s always hard to describe how an EQ sounds because there simply isn’t any set definitions for the terms used. For me though, the URS Fulltec is smooth, that’s the one word I’d use to describe it. URS mention the bottom end when they’re talking about the Fulltec, but for me it really shines in the mids. I don’t know how close it is to the originals as I have never used them, so if you’re interested in a comparison like that you’ll have to look elsewhere. I like it on vocals, guitars and other mid-frequency voices.
URS S Series
From what I understand, this is modeled after the SSL 4000e. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
For being URS, this EQ is rather advanced with more controls than you might have encountered on URS EQs before (perhaps beside the Mix EQs). Compared to the A and N series EQs this one is much ore flexible in terms of which frequencies you can boost or cut. It’s a six band EQ with four peak bands (overlapping each other) and low– and hi-pass filters, switchable between bell and shelf.
As with other URS plug-ins, the GUI is spartan but looks good. It has a bit smaller knobs than many other plug-ins they have released though. The bands are separated very clearly, so there’s little chance you’d get confused over what Q control effects what frequency knob.
I know more than a few people have called this EQ harsh, and maybe it is, but I kind of like it. It has attitude. I also find it more flexible than many of the URS EQs. And - as you might’ve guessed - I like plug-ins with some features.
Sonalksis SV-517Mk2
This is a 7-band graphic EQ (five parametric plus high- and lowpass filters). Besides all the normal EQ controls (Q, frequency, levels) and the usual stuff, like the possibility of grabbing the graph and tweak from there, the Sonalksis SV-517 features some pretty good advanced controls. First of we have the global styles of band-pass and shelving filters, these alter the characteristics of said bands, of course making it a lot more flexible than many other EQs. Another very nice addition is a built-in spectrum analyzer, good thinking Sonalksis! Clicking the setup button gives us a whole lot of controls for mouse handling (thank you!), meter- and clip display, the graph as well as the analyzer. Among other interesting features we find an A-B preset system, which is always welcomed.
The SV-517 look good. At first I thought the knobs were too small, but I can see why they choose to make them that way instead of making them bigger with a larger interface. The SV-517 looks vintage but it isn’t. Despite the developers earlier jobs at AMS-Neve, this isn’t another emulation. Instead Sonalksis uses a different technique which they claim sound more analog than your typical digital EQ, it’s called “state-space technology” and is about emulating internal processing rather than the end-result (which they say many others do when they try to emulate hardware). You can read more about it on their website if you’re interested.
My main complaint about the SV-517 is that it seems somewhat slow in the response sometimes. For instance, when clicking and dragging in the graph, it sometimes doesn’t “get” that I have actually released the mouse button until a couple of milliseconds later, resulting in a very different positioning of the graph than intended. This sluggish behavior is also apparent when typing in values manually with the keyboard among other things. It seems, however, that this is only present when the spectrum analyzer is turned on.
This thing aside, there’s not much more negative to say. Sonalksis has made a very flexible and good sounding EQ that could work in almost any given situation. In a way it actually reminds me of the Sonnox Oxford…
Conclusion
I hope you have understood that the Sonalksis SV-517mk2 is a much more feature-filled EQ than the two URS EQs reviewed here. This really shouldn’t come as a surprise as URS really isn’t known for filling their plug-ins with tons of options (but wait until you see the review of the Channel Strip Pro!). And again, as I have said in the past about URS, the potential buyer of their products should be those who want analog emulations, URS are certainly among the best in the world in this field. The Sonalksis SV-517mk2, despite it’s annoying name, is a very nice EQ that you should definitely give a go if you’re looking for a new EQ plug-in that necessarily isn’t an emulation. Thanks to the global styles it’s more flexible than much of the competition. I also have to give kudos for the incredibly smart move of including a spectral analyzer! While I’m throwing roses all around me I also have to applaud the mouse-wheel support that all the above mentioned EQs have. This is a great plus in my book and lets me work a little longer without my arms taking too much damage. Thank you for that URS and Sonalksis.
Spotlight on EQs part I
Spotlight on EQs part II
Spotlight on EQs part III
Spotlight on EQs conclusion
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