Throughout the video I use the word "inducers" when I mean to say "inductors". My knowledge of basic electrical engineering leaves much to be desired, but I hope you enjoy the concepts I explore nonetheless!
For someone who's admitadly NOT an engineer, you made an impressive thorough description... so much better than many videos I've seem on RUclips. My hat's off to you.
Brendon: the passive circuit is made with resistors, capacitors, and inductors (coiled wire, either on a iron former, such as a transformer, choke of open air, etc); therefore, the circuits are referred to as RLC circuits: L - inductor measure in Henrys, capacitors measurted in Farads, and resistors measured in ohms. Combining the differnt components changes amplitude and signal phase to produce the desired effect. All passive circuits are attenuators; they reduce the signal; therefore, your demonstration should be inverted: you are observing what is being passed through the circuit; nothing is boosted without an amplifier.
@@cravenoise To further the explanation a tiny bit: a passive equalizer network with "boost" capabilities is possible in the extent that when all controls are zeroed out there is insertion loss. In this case if you were to send a signal with a known voltage into the network, on the output of the network frequency response remains unchanged but the voltage is reduced. The boosting is really just bringing back level to bands that was originally being taken away
Having used Pultec EQs many times during my long career in both broadcasting and recording studios. Originally the Pultec equaliser was designed for broadcasters to equalise broadcast program lines. In Australia that the responsibility of post office, in the US, that was Bell telephone Co. Program lines were the backbone of radio, linking studios to transmitters, outside broadcast lines. Broadcast program lines were the responsibility of telephone companies, prior to the Pultec EQP -1 radio Broadcasters used commercial line equalisers, manufactured by RCA and others. Broadcast lines were terminated at the station, however, it was often the case the line weren’t totally flat, hence the EQP - 1. Late 1950s early 60s saw EQP -1 appearing in recording studios. It might have been the case a few radio stations used their EQP - 1 to EQ the odd commercial recording. Totally impractical In a busy broadcast schedule. Back then there were standards record labels adhered to, and clearly there were level differences, however, adjusting levels were part of job for then on-air presenters and broadcast tech operators in on-studios. Downstream compression and limiting helped.,final limiting was to maintain and not overshoot 100 percent peak modulation.
Bro this was great to see exactly what the plugin is for and does. I use the Pultec but Im just turning knobs until it sounds good *pause*. Id love to see more about the UA plugins like the Fairchild and some of the other dope plugins. Great job!!!
You are partially correct on the Inductors, but the low-end circuit does not use inductors as part of the attenuation. Instead it employs similar but different capacitors with a lower Fared value to cut the frequency band. When the boost and cut are summed, the “Pultec trick” occurs. The high cut circuit also only uses capacitors. The only section that employs inductors is the high boost circuit. That said, this was an excellent video! Appreciate you putting this out there! This EQ is truly magic!
@@stevekudlacek hey thanks for watching and for clearing that up! That actually makes a lot of sense given what I understand about the nature of inductors and capacitors.
@@cravenoise hell yeah, great demo as well mate - Actually really interesting to physically see the changes in the EQ curve on the spectro! Fascinating stuff, I too thought the attenuation was just an attenuation at a pretty flat level. But no! Magic!
Much gratitude for this video. :) I have been using Pultec plugins for years and love the sound...but this really has given me a much deeper understanding of how the circuit actually works...and exactly what the bandwidth control does! lol Have an awesome one! 11x11
This was a really informative video. I don't usually subscribe to channels, but I went ahead and did so here. I've never quite understood the EQP-1, and now I kind of get it! Looking forward to what else you come up with.
Subbing immediately. Love this so much, i neglect using pultec plugins because boost and attenuat always made me think it cancelled out. Keep these coming! Thank you for this clear and efficient explanation.
another way of saying "adding overtones" is "distortion!!! (12:00) It's great that this thing is "enhancing" the sound, but the whole premise that "passive" components and inductors don't distort, seams to be out of the window. Distorted sounds are always "fuller" than a sine wave...
@@DonMiller-s1d so the point about the overtones (aka distortion!!!) was to demonstrate what the entire Pultec unit adds to a sound. The EQ section itself isn’t causing distortion, but the transformers and tubes will. It’s extremely subtle, so I pushed the signal on purpose to more easily visualize it. The sine wave was just for demonstration purposes.
I love how the musicality of this plugin was accidental, truly shows the spectrum of humanity's perspective, from engineers to artists. Thank you for the video Brendon, subbed!
I havent found much use for vst Pultec emulators, however I inevitably draw in a familiar Pultec EQ curve for stuff I am working on. It kind of works out that way. Just me but I rather apply and experiment with minor amounts of saturation on a master. I probably use more saturation on wavetable and FM synths and I can get that from a potpourii of particular effects and maybe Pultec vst to warm things up
Thanks for the comment! In this section, I was talking about the entire Pultec unit, including the amp section. I used the EQ boost the signal and push the power tubes in order to create the harmonic distortion.
Really great explanation. I keep putting off getting one of the plugin versions of this EQ. Think I am going to bite the bullet though it's pretty nifty.
@@hauntedhotdog I couldn’t recommend it enough! There are plenty affordable versions out there. Even free ones. Although it’s controversial as to which are better than others, they all follow the same principle for the most part. Thanks for watching!
Hello: One thing with UA's EQP, and the MEQ, 550A nnd some of thir other plug-ins, is that they're NOT "unity gain" when inserted. To remedy this, I took a 1K tone and run it thru. Using the "power switch," for instance, I attenuated the gain and then saved it as "Unity Gain" and made it the default setting. I find it easier to make better decisions when I'm not being fooled.
Great video man! I never actually thought about what stands behind some of this old gear "magic", except I always had this notion it's some kind of vacuum tubes or other analog electronic saturation+compression. Great to know there are some real EQ curves behind it, and they do really scoop something out (like 300Hz "muddiness"). In other words, those devices not only do what's written on them. I bet there some features of a compression too (like attack time and ratio) that are behind old devices. PS. I noticed you got this poster on the wall says "neighborhood" or "block" in Russian. Who's the author if you don't mind me asking, just curious.
@@fldmrshll thanks for watching! I can’t remember for certain, but I believe the artist who made that poster is called @griss.lugard on Instagram :) We’re both part of the music scene here in Tbilisi, Georgia. The only reason I can’t remember if it’s him or not is that there was another guy selling stuff at the same table, but I’m like 90% sure it’s him.
A couple things: Pultecs being "program equalizers" was just a marketing tactic, they are EQs not Compressors. The harmonic overtones are present cause you went into clipping with your EQ boost, and the shape they have is due to the EQ happening afterwards. Obviously every VST will have their own behavior for clipping, in this case the Pultec VST is clipping audio, but i wouldn't define that as a quality for an equalizer. Pro-Q won't clip the audio internally, it will let it go above 0, which is why you didn't see any harmonics until you turned on the Pultec VST. The high frequencies are present cause there's a noise generator in the plugin, it's a common gimmick, Waves also does that, i'd disable it.
@@GadenRhossOfficial thanks for pointing that out. I wasn’t trying to suggest that the EQ itself causes clipping, but that, between the transformers and output tubes there are additional harmonics being introduced to the signal. They’re quite subtle, so I clipped the signal in order to demonstrate it. Doing the same thing on the Pro-Q 3 was just a way to digital with “analog”, because the Pultec VST is emulating not only the EQ circuit but also the transformers and tubes.
@@cravenoise Oh yeah i know that you weren't. But I was doubting that the harmonics would be introduced before the clipping stage. But it's possible for the clipping stage to start earlier.
@@MrCool144 How do you think Tube distortion or any distortion in general is emulated? Magic? The only way for that EQ to add harmonics to a signal is to change the shape of the signal. The shape of the signal is changed by the soft-clipping algorithm, if the signal has a dc bias then the harmonics change from odd to even...
@GadenRhossOfficial your making it seem as if the "clipping" is an accident. It's anti aliased and if closer to inflating the signal than clipping it. It's also not a curve you could re-create easily. It's asymmetrical. And also it's a separate curve for each band. So pushing more treble gives you more asymmetrical saturation in the highs. The result is a smooth round bump in harmonics wherever the eq is pushed. When you say it's just clipping people think your talking about the plugin not the video. Had to clarify.
X32/m32 user I have used the real pool tech and studio before and I love what it does, but I use the immolation on the digital consul all the time on the drums. I love using it on my snare drum, especially sometimes a drum bus. and all of the emulation doesn’t do what the real one does on the console. It still does something really unique.
@@jon42689 thanks for watching! I’m not sure if the song ever got released! The band is called “Burst and Bloom” though, so maybe you’ll find it :) However, I am hopping to add these to my portfolio soon so I’ll be sure to let you know when that’s done!
@@johanjof5613 So, what is was hoping to address were some of the common misconceptions around the Pultec and passive EQ’s in general. Of all the explanations I found on forums, RUclips, or podcasts, just about all of them said the same thing: Passive EQ’s can’t boost, and therefore work by attenuating around frequencies you want to “boost”, using the power amp to makeup the gain. What I tried to demonstrate is that it can indeed boost and attenuate, just in a different way by using filters in parallel to shape the EQ. The power amp section does make up the gain, but not because it is attenuating, but because there is simply a volume loss when you run a signal through any passive circuit. Hope that clears things up!
I have a softube replica, but im using it wisely and not all the time, this thing are like a smoother or (sweetner) of harsh frequencie, when i have a drums set or guitare distorsion that was to much agressive and i have try everything on a regular compressor or EQ im using it, but it cut a lot of frequencies everything can be muddy on the high , but in parralel compression it can be interesting, on separated steem this can give a bit of warm on the mid, but it can be also too much i have some Mc DSP that emulated the Fairchild and it's much better, same for the Trident EQ from Softube and also Arturia , i try to keep my mix as dry and ballanced as possible, i use those coloration tool only to enhanced something that have a lack of presence or are too much agressive in the high or low and i can't redo the take it save my ass on many situation when my recording are a bit hot , especialy with drum set and mic in the front of real valve amplifier, over abuse of tool like that wont make stuff better but in some case, it's solve many problem.
Glad you like it! Yeah I feel like it’s really easy to take for granted that certain gear “just sounds good”. I’ll definitely be making more videos like this!
Im sure your intention is good, but you’re in this video you are clearly speaking with authority on things you dont understand, misinforming the audience as a consequence
Why use it (the Universal Audio plugin version) in 2024? It has an almost magical effect on my podcast EQ when used to sweeten the overall sound on a track and on the master bus. Out in front, punchy audio, as you say, but not harsh. And a lovely mellowing on the master track.
@@mikebalboa oh really! I thought that was the main addition with the EQP-1A, but I suppose not. Thanks for looking out! I’ll add that to my corrections in the pinned comment.
InDUCKtors... not induseors... otherwise, good stuff man. Inductors induce phase distortions that LAG behind the initial audio waves, whereas capacitors introduce phase distortions normally that lead the initial wave shape of the initial audio. Or maybe it is just that the current lags the voltage through inductors, and current leads voltage through capacitors... but it all changes when you use the capacitor to shunt signals rather than to pass signals. It is all confusion in the end. But the effect is musical.
I was listening with a fresh ear and I totally heard it I'm surprised that you can still do it because I know you done practice this over and over again so I'm hoping maybe you just you know you hopped in and use your experience to just lay this together
did you just left out the part where there isn't a single boost in Pultec under the hood, everything is attenuated and brought back up by the amplification section at the end ? There's a phase reverse involved on both end and when summed back there's a phase cancellation that result in a boost/cut and that famous "Pultec interaction". The special thing about that is the resulting curve shape of the interaction can't be achieved with normal active EQing. Here's a video that should explain it : ruclips.net/video/eJq9y0ClwRg/видео.html
what you are describing is true to the hardware, the plugin on the other hand is just a plain ole algorithmic eq and you can achieve the same curve with any algorithmic eq plugin that comes with your daw, same for harmonics with a stock saturation plugin.
So, you definitely aren’t wrong. But, although the plug-in version is just an algorithm, it is an algorithm designed to mimic not just the curve, but the behavior of a hardware Pultec. You definitely could recreate the same curves without a Pultec, but you could also just let an algorithm do it 😊. I guess what I like most about the Pultec in my workflow is how quickly I can dial in the curve I want, and do so to taste rather than futz around parameters and such. Thanks for the comment!
I liked you video in terms of content, but as soon as you played the mix at the end, I was shocked as it sounded so bad. It sounds like it's a 4-bit sample from song game in the early 90s.
MY BROTHER… Some of the most talented and substantial ears in the world have said the differences are completely negligible.. not on just the uad pultecs but with all their analog emulations. Rupert neve himself said UAD was so good that he was proud to let them use the neve name on their plugins. The nerdiness that exists in this department at UAD is unmatched and saying things like this is pretty wild. Criticize UAD for their pricing models all you want, anything but the accuracy of their plugins.
I'm an engineer on the other side of the tape man I don't mess around with no door or any of that but I record digitally in my computer and I know how to make it come to tape I know how to walk around the room and place the mics I know these things but I'm not a businessman and I do not know Pro Tools but I can walk in a room and make shitloads of badass music and then what you do with it is a different thing
Oh yeah and I really like the way you explain the pool Tech basically you told everybody it's little secrets and what it takes to subtly have eyes but make them subtle and have Lowe's but make them subtle
I think you need to redo this. You are giving incorrect information. Capacitors can be used to cut low end, in certain filter topologies. But if you invert that topology you can use the same type of circuit to shunt high frequency to ground and pass the low end information unmolested. In Pultecs and EQs from Neve, old Yamaha , API etc inductors and capacitors and resistors are used for the entire EQ. Each band will have a combination of all three. The ratios between the components is what more or less decides the frequency. So the high, mid and low band of the API 550 you show has inductors AND capacitors, as well as a few resistors.
@@NullStaticVoid I appreciate you sharing your knowledge, but I’m not sure what in my video contradicts what you’re saying here. I clearly state that the role of the inductor and capacitor can be one or the other. I never said that active EQ’s don’t use passive components, but that they have transistors and opamps that actively boost or cut frequencies. The use of the API 550 was simply to demonstrate the difference between how an active EQ boosts and cuts, vs how the Pultec does. If I ever do a video on active EQ’s, I will no doubt talk about the role of passive components in determining which frequencies they boost or cut.
@@cravenoise I'm not talking about active vs passive. You were describing inductors and capacitors as if they are used for high end or low end. LC circuits, which use both inductors AND capacitors can be made for nearly any frequency. The difficulty is using standard values to hit desired specs without too much undesired phase, group delay or distortion products. Not just the silly 'inducers' part, but the whole way you describe how the EQ works is wrong.
So what do people get WRONG about the Pultec? you haven't explained, you mentioned the valves, but you can't assume people are all ignorant about how this EQ works. In the end it is not about how a EQ works, but more about what Frequencies to cut and boost. Though I like the Pultec for it's broad character. If you have a Graphical EQ you can do the same as the Pultec does minus the components in the EQ. But then again, if famous mixer ask other mixers what hardware did you use on a song, or maybe like beer, the blindfold test to quess what beer you are drinking, is harder that you would think of.
You know, I think you actually make a good point about the title. The original concept for this video was to address what I felt people weren’t saying about the Pultec, like what it means that it’s a passive EQ, how the 2-knob trick works, the role of the tubes, etc. but I suppose the video turned into more of a tour/tutorial than specifically addressing misconceptions. Might be worth changing the title. Thanks for the comment!
@@griffini19 analog will always be the GOAT, agreed. I wonder if I should do a video using access analog to compare the harmonic character of the plugin vs hardware?
@@BullyMaguire4ever so, the goal of the video is to dispel the notion that the Pultec, hardware or software, is "magical" by looking closely at the way it's designed. Had I had access to a hardware Pultec, I would have been happy to use it in my demonstration, but the underlying principle is the same 🙂
Throughout the video I use the word "inducers" when I mean to say "inductors". My knowledge of basic electrical engineering leaves much to be desired, but I hope you enjoy the concepts I explore nonetheless!
When you threw that EQ across there and showed those harmonics in the EQ that when I started paying attention man that really was awesome
For someone who's admitadly NOT an engineer, you made an impressive thorough description... so much better than many videos I've seem on RUclips. My hat's off to you.
Hey, I really appreciate that man! Thank you!
Brendon: the passive circuit is made with resistors, capacitors, and inductors (coiled wire, either on a iron former, such as a transformer, choke of open air, etc); therefore, the circuits are referred to as RLC circuits: L - inductor measure in Henrys, capacitors measurted in Farads, and resistors measured in ohms. Combining the differnt components changes amplitude and signal phase to produce the desired effect. All passive circuits are attenuators; they reduce the signal; therefore, your demonstration should be inverted: you are observing what is being passed through the circuit; nothing is boosted without an amplifier.
@@michaelmurray2595 thanks for such a detailed explanation! I’m clearly a bit out of my depth when it comes to the details of electrical engineering 😅
@@cravenoise To further the explanation a tiny bit: a passive equalizer network with "boost" capabilities is possible in the extent that when all controls are zeroed out there is insertion loss. In this case if you were to send a signal with a known voltage into the network, on the output of the network frequency response remains unchanged but the voltage is reduced. The boosting is really just bringing back level to bands that was originally being taken away
Fantastic video. Pultec sounds great
Amazing video! Thank you for clarifying at this level.
That was very informative. Thanks for the quality content
@@deceiver444 thanks for watching!
Loved this. Thanks for the attention to detail.
@@bretmosley thanks for watching!
You mean attenuation to detail..
@@TheStudioTVSeries 🤣
@@TheStudioTVSeries 😂
You really can hear clearly the differences. Great vid thanks!
Gratitude 🤝🏾
Crazy how one simple eq can make such a massive difference on a mix bus. Great demonstration and info. Thank you
Thank you, great video explaining this.
Having used Pultec EQs many times during my long career in both broadcasting and recording studios. Originally the Pultec equaliser was designed for broadcasters to equalise broadcast program lines. In Australia that the responsibility of post office, in the US, that was Bell telephone Co. Program lines were the backbone of radio, linking studios to transmitters, outside broadcast lines. Broadcast program lines were the responsibility of telephone companies, prior to the Pultec EQP -1 radio Broadcasters used commercial line equalisers, manufactured by RCA and others. Broadcast lines were terminated at the station, however, it was often the case the line weren’t totally flat, hence the EQP - 1. Late 1950s early 60s saw EQP -1 appearing in recording studios. It might have been the case a few radio stations used their EQP - 1 to EQ the odd commercial recording. Totally impractical In a busy broadcast schedule. Back then there were standards record labels adhered to, and clearly there were level differences, however, adjusting levels were part of job for then on-air presenters and broadcast tech operators in on-studios. Downstream compression and limiting helped.,final limiting was to maintain and not overshoot 100 percent peak modulation.
Bro this was great to see exactly what the plugin is for and does. I use the Pultec but Im just turning knobs until it sounds good *pause*. Id love to see more about the UA plugins like the Fairchild and some of the other dope plugins. Great job!!!
the ''How does it sound?'' part genuinely made me smile.
You are partially correct on the Inductors, but the low-end circuit does not use inductors as part of the attenuation. Instead it employs similar but different capacitors with a lower Fared value to cut the frequency band. When the boost and cut are summed, the “Pultec trick” occurs.
The high cut circuit also only uses capacitors. The only section that employs inductors is the high boost circuit.
That said, this was an excellent video! Appreciate you putting this out there! This EQ is truly magic!
@@stevekudlacek hey thanks for watching and for clearing that up! That actually makes a lot of sense given what I understand about the nature of inductors and capacitors.
Hey dude! Very cool channel. I really enjoyed this video and the 1073 videos.
Thanks so much for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it :)
Thank you for the incredibly educational video, I learned so much!
Thanks for watching!
Analog obsession has a free version of this, it is magic!
@@quantumsingularitystudios1772 that’s what I hear! Mad respect to Rıdvan Küçük
@@cravenoise hell yeah, great demo as well mate - Actually really interesting to physically see the changes in the EQ curve on the spectro! Fascinating stuff, I too thought the attenuation was just an attenuation at a pretty flat level. But no! Magic!
Much gratitude for this video. :) I have been using Pultec plugins for years and love the sound...but this really has given me a much deeper understanding of how the circuit actually works...and exactly what the bandwidth control does! lol Have an awesome one! 11x11
Thanks so much for this video, very informative. Going to try this on my UA plugin soon!
Thanks for watching!
This was a really informative video. I don't usually subscribe to channels, but I went ahead and did so here. I've never quite understood the EQP-1, and now I kind of get it! Looking forward to what else you come up with.
Thanks for watching and for the sub!
Great job with this man.
Subbing immediately. Love this so much, i neglect using pultec plugins because boost and attenuat always made me think it cancelled out.
Keep these coming! Thank you for this clear and efficient explanation.
@@nicktshredz I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful! Thanks for the view and the sub!
This was super helpful. I’ve been under using these
I never really used the Pultec because I thought they sounded muddy, well, the more you learn. I guess I'll have to give them another shot.
Liked and subscribed....thank you :)
@@wzhkmedia thanks for watching and for subscribing!
another way of saying "adding overtones" is "distortion!!! (12:00) It's great that this thing is "enhancing" the sound, but the whole premise that "passive" components and inductors don't distort, seams to be out of the window. Distorted sounds are always "fuller" than a sine wave...
@@DonMiller-s1d so the point about the overtones (aka distortion!!!) was to demonstrate what the entire Pultec unit adds to a sound. The EQ section itself isn’t causing distortion, but the transformers and tubes will. It’s extremely subtle, so I pushed the signal on purpose to more easily visualize it. The sine wave was just for demonstration purposes.
Best pultec video
Great explanation of the polteck.that helped me alor thank you
Love it
Great job!
Thanks for watching!
UAD's Manley Massive Passive is a beast when it comes to this trick. Love it
Great video! Thanks!
@@WesleyWestMusic thanks for watching!
Very helpful! Thanks!
Thank you for watching!
Very well spoken..great vid
Thanks for watching!
A+ awesome video thank you for teaching me about this
Thanks for watching!
Big info! The visualizer was great, was that plugin doctor?
Biggups man, well done. Wishing you some upcoming channel growth!
Thank you so much for watching! I was using EQ Curve Analyzer by Bertom Audio. It’s free!
Хорошо объяснил, спасибо!
Спасибо за просмотр!
I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look exactly like Hiccup’s dad and I can’t unsee it. Great stuff here and thanks!
@@damiandustin1437 lol I don’t mind that at all!
Damn. Good video.
Great video. Just subbed. Good luck with your channel!!
@@mikemelisa1804 thanks for watching, and thanks for the sub!
I love how the musicality of this plugin was accidental, truly shows the spectrum of humanity's perspective, from engineers to artists. Thank you for the video Brendon, subbed!
Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub!
I havent found much use for vst Pultec emulators, however I inevitably draw in a familiar Pultec EQ curve for stuff I am working on. It kind of works out that way.
Just me but I rather apply and experiment with minor amounts of saturation on a master. I probably use more saturation on wavetable and FM synths and I can get that from a potpourii of particular effects and maybe Pultec vst to warm things up
*11:05** EQ cannot add any "richness" (THD). EQ is a LINEAR processing. AMP of EQ can color sound, EQ itself - not!*
Thanks for the comment! In this section, I was talking about the entire Pultec unit, including the amp section. I used the EQ boost the signal and push the power tubes in order to create the harmonic distortion.
thx!cool, super interesting. I think I got this plug in my Apollo.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you.
Thank YOU for watching :)
So what is creating all these pleasing additional harmonics? Is it the capacitors, inductors, etc. or the tubes in the power supply or both?
@@leskanekuni6310 all of it, basically, though it’s surely the transformers and tubes that are doing most of the work
Really great explanation. I keep putting off getting one of the plugin versions of this EQ. Think I am going to bite the bullet though it's pretty nifty.
@@hauntedhotdog I couldn’t recommend it enough! There are plenty affordable versions out there. Even free ones. Although it’s controversial as to which are better than others, they all follow the same principle for the most part. Thanks for watching!
Crazy RUclips recommended this. It's been forever since we've been in touch. I don't even know if you're around anymore or if you moved, haha
@@fotgjengeren text me brooo! I’m still around
Hello: One thing with UA's EQP, and the MEQ, 550A nnd some of thir other plug-ins, is that they're NOT "unity gain" when inserted. To remedy this, I took a 1K tone and run it thru. Using the "power switch," for instance, I attenuated the gain and then saved it as "Unity Gain" and made it the default setting. I find it easier to make better decisions when I'm not being fooled.
Cool
Hypnotic eyes.
@@TedBrownMedia wow, thank you ☺️
@@cravenoise no offense i cant look at the screen with those eyes. It reminds me of the louis ck sketch on snl with the eye lashes sketch.
@@TedBrownMedia none taken 🤣 🤣
Great video man! I never actually thought about what stands behind some of this old gear "magic", except I always had this notion it's some kind of vacuum tubes or other analog electronic saturation+compression. Great to know there are some real EQ curves behind it, and they do really scoop something out (like 300Hz "muddiness"). In other words, those devices not only do what's written on them. I bet there some features of a compression too (like attack time and ratio) that are behind old devices. PS. I noticed you got this poster on the wall says "neighborhood" or "block" in Russian. Who's the author if you don't mind me asking, just curious.
@@fldmrshll thanks for watching! I can’t remember for certain, but I believe the artist who made that poster is called @griss.lugard on Instagram :) We’re both part of the music scene here in Tbilisi, Georgia. The only reason I can’t remember if it’s him or not is that there was another guy selling stuff at the same table, but I’m like 90% sure it’s him.
A couple things:
Pultecs being "program equalizers" was just a marketing tactic, they are EQs not Compressors.
The harmonic overtones are present cause you went into clipping with your EQ boost, and the shape they have is due to the EQ happening afterwards.
Obviously every VST will have their own behavior for clipping, in this case the Pultec VST is clipping audio, but i wouldn't define that as a quality for an equalizer.
Pro-Q won't clip the audio internally, it will let it go above 0, which is why you didn't see any harmonics until you turned on the Pultec VST.
The high frequencies are present cause there's a noise generator in the plugin, it's a common gimmick, Waves also does that, i'd disable it.
@@GadenRhossOfficial thanks for pointing that out. I wasn’t trying to suggest that the EQ itself causes clipping, but that, between the transformers and output tubes there are additional harmonics being introduced to the signal. They’re quite subtle, so I clipped the signal in order to demonstrate it. Doing the same thing on the Pro-Q 3 was just a way to digital with “analog”, because the Pultec VST is emulating not only the EQ circuit but also the transformers and tubes.
@@cravenoise Oh yeah i know that you weren't.
But I was doubting that the harmonics would be introduced before the clipping stage. But it's possible for the clipping stage to start earlier.
They have a tube distortion emulation built in bro. UAD doesn't sell plugins that clip digitally wtf are you speaking of
@@MrCool144 How do you think Tube distortion or any distortion in general is emulated? Magic?
The only way for that EQ to add harmonics to a signal is to change the shape of the signal.
The shape of the signal is changed by the soft-clipping algorithm, if the signal has a dc bias then the harmonics change from odd to even...
@GadenRhossOfficial your making it seem as if the "clipping" is an accident. It's anti aliased and if closer to inflating the signal than clipping it. It's also not a curve you could re-create easily. It's asymmetrical. And also it's a separate curve for each band. So pushing more treble gives you more asymmetrical saturation in the highs. The result is a smooth round bump in harmonics wherever the eq is pushed. When you say it's just clipping people think your talking about the plugin not the video. Had to clarify.
Thank you - I can use my plug in for real now - great video
@@Auldhelm thanks for watching!
Nice video, pal! Thanks!
@@motelflamingo thanks for watching!
M32 User... I use the PulTec" on Acoustic Guitars and Pianos/Keyboards all the time... Great to see 'Classic' gear still doing the trick...
@@robertrickman3531 absolutely!
Brendon. Excellent. Now round out the Pultec story with a video on the MEQ-5 EQ 🙂
@@dawoklahoma9024 absolutely!
X32/m32 user I have used the real pool tech and studio before and I love what it does, but I use the immolation on the digital consul all the time on the drums. I love using it on my snare drum, especially sometimes a drum bus. and all of the emulation doesn’t do what the real one does on the console. It still does something really unique.
I love using the EQP-1A on drums!
Is the song playing in the final tests part of the video available anywhere? I really want to hear the whole thing. Really good video
@@jon42689 thanks for watching! I’m not sure if the song ever got released! The band is called “Burst and Bloom” though, so maybe you’ll find it :)
However, I am hopping to add these to my portfolio soon so I’ll be sure to let you know when that’s done!
@@cravenoise Please, I've been LOOPING that part
Inductor? They probably do induce voltage though. Good video!
@@dougleydorite 🤦🏻♂️it totally is inductors not inducers 😂
Vidéo well done, but I did not get the answer to the question raised in the video title.
@@johanjof5613 So, what is was hoping to address were some of the common misconceptions around the Pultec and passive EQ’s in general. Of all the explanations I found on forums, RUclips, or podcasts, just about all of them said the same thing:
Passive EQ’s can’t boost, and therefore work by attenuating around frequencies you want to “boost”, using the power amp to makeup the gain. What I tried to demonstrate is that it can indeed boost and attenuate, just in a different way by using filters in parallel to shape the EQ. The power amp section does make up the gain, but not because it is attenuating, but because there is simply a volume loss when you run a signal through any passive circuit. Hope that clears things up!
The legendary Moog 914 Fixed Filter Bank also used inductors - no less than 14 of them!
Bro I love this video! Can we get more of these? Like on the 1073 and SSL 4000?
@@sshkz2 hell yeah you can! Got a whole bunch of these kinds of videos planned :)
Awesome job with explaining and demonstrating this wonderful sound processor! Yours is probably one of the best videos I've seen on the Pultec EQ.
@@flotopo thanks for watching!
@@cravenoise , it was a pleasure to watch!
New subscriber 😊
Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub!
Cool vid. I actually own the EQP1A. Soundwise it’s the better brand Pultec
An eq is an eq lets not delude ourselves
totally agreed
@@ferospro thanks so much for watching!
I have a softube replica, but im using it wisely and not all the time, this thing are like a smoother or (sweetner) of harsh frequencie, when i have a drums set or guitare distorsion that was to much agressive and i have try everything on a regular compressor or EQ im using it, but it cut a lot of frequencies everything can be muddy on the high , but in parralel compression it can be interesting, on separated steem this can give a bit of warm on the mid, but it can be also too much i have some Mc DSP that emulated the Fairchild and it's much better, same for the Trident EQ from Softube and also Arturia , i try to keep my mix as dry and ballanced as possible, i use those coloration tool only to enhanced something that have a lack of presence or are too much agressive in the high or low and i can't redo the take it save my ass on many situation when my recording are a bit hot , especialy with drum set and mic in the front of real valve amplifier, over abuse of tool like that wont make stuff better but in some case, it's solve many problem.
Great video! We need more videos demystifying legacy and sacred gear that people only use buzzwords to describe
Glad you like it! Yeah I feel like it’s really easy to take for granted that certain gear “just sounds good”. I’ll definitely be making more videos like this!
Do you mean inductors?
I do indeed lol
Im sure your intention is good, but you’re in this video you are clearly speaking with authority on things you dont understand, misinforming the audience as a consequence
@ yeah I Dunning Kruger’d myself on this one and got out of my depth lol. Thankfully I’ve had a lot of kind corrections on the more technical details.
Why use it (the Universal Audio plugin version) in 2024? It has an almost magical effect on my podcast EQ when used to sweeten the overall sound on a track and on the master bus. Out in front, punchy audio, as you say, but not harsh. And a lovely mellowing on the master track.
Correction: The Pultec EQP-1 was not completely passive and had a tube gain makeup amplifier very similar to the EQP-1A
@@mikebalboa oh really! I thought that was the main addition with the EQP-1A, but I suppose not. Thanks for looking out! I’ll add that to my corrections in the pinned comment.
Russel Brand.. Selling plugins now!!!
@@GM-qz9fo the amulets aren’t the commercial…I mean spiritual success I thought they’d be
Great info and examples! Thanks!
Got hw replica of it long ago
Always on rec chain
Do it's magic on every source
Love it
@@JayMaasRecording thanks for watching man! Miss yew
I use native plugins on audio channels and UA plugins inc Pultec in the group channels :-)
@@richnorris1061 that’s a great way to do it!
Good good. Will use as a ref. Sub'd
@@davidcamarda8723 thanks for watching and thank you for the sub!
InDUCKtors... not induseors... otherwise, good stuff man. Inductors induce phase distortions that LAG behind the initial audio waves, whereas capacitors introduce phase distortions normally that lead the initial wave shape of the initial audio. Or maybe it is just that the current lags the voltage through inductors, and current leads voltage through capacitors... but it all changes when you use the capacitor to shunt signals rather than to pass signals. It is all confusion in the end. But the effect is musical.
Thanks for watching and for adding your insights!
I was listening with a fresh ear and I totally heard it I'm surprised that you can still do it because I know you done practice this over and over again so I'm hoping maybe you just you know you hopped in and use your experience to just lay this together
This guy doing music equipment instead of solving another math problem. 😜
Excellent video tho. 💪
🤣
did you just left out the part where there isn't a single boost in Pultec under the hood, everything is attenuated and brought back up by the amplification section at the end ? There's a phase reverse involved on both end and when summed back there's a phase cancellation that result in a boost/cut and that famous "Pultec interaction". The special thing about that is the resulting curve shape of the interaction can't be achieved with normal active EQing. Here's a video that should explain it :
ruclips.net/video/eJq9y0ClwRg/видео.html
what you are describing is true to the hardware, the plugin on the other hand is just a plain ole algorithmic eq and you can achieve the same curve with any algorithmic eq plugin that comes with your daw, same for harmonics with a stock saturation plugin.
So, you definitely aren’t wrong. But, although the plug-in version is just an algorithm, it is an algorithm designed to mimic not just the curve, but the behavior of a hardware Pultec. You definitely could recreate the same curves without a Pultec, but you could also just let an algorithm do it 😊. I guess what I like most about the Pultec in my workflow is how quickly I can dial in the curve I want, and do so to taste rather than futz around parameters and such.
Thanks for the comment!
That is true but the Pultec plugins attempt to emulate what’s actually happening which may be more than just cut / boost
I liked you video in terms of content, but as soon as you played the mix at the end, I was shocked as it sounded so bad. It sounds like it's a 4-bit sample from song game in the early 90s.
48th sub... :)
@@puebloruizrecords8255 thank you for the sub!
There are no inductors in the Pultec's low frequency boost and cut circuits. It's all RC
@@rotheu thanks for watching and for clearing that up!
Yeah brother the plugin pultec is NOTHING like the hardware pultec.
MY BROTHER… Some of the most talented and substantial ears in the world have said the differences are completely negligible.. not on just the uad pultecs but with all their analog emulations. Rupert neve himself said UAD was so good that he was proud to let them use the neve name on their plugins. The nerdiness that exists in this department at UAD is unmatched and saying things like this is pretty wild. Criticize UAD for their pricing models all you want, anything but the accuracy of their plugins.
maybe, but it produces pleasing sound and that's all anyone cares about.
The snare doesn’t fit in this song though lol.
@@DbiPro I actually agree lol not my favorite drum recording
I'm an engineer on the other side of the tape man I don't mess around with no door or any of that but I record digitally in my computer and I know how to make it come to tape I know how to walk around the room and place the mics I know these things but I'm not a businessman and I do not know Pro Tools but I can walk in a room and make shitloads of badass music and then what you do with it is a different thing
Oh yeah and I really like the way you explain the pool Tech basically you told everybody it's little secrets and what it takes to subtly have eyes but make them subtle and have Lowe's but make them subtle
I think you need to redo this. You are giving incorrect information.
Capacitors can be used to cut low end, in certain filter topologies. But if you invert that topology you can use the same type of circuit to shunt high frequency to ground and pass the low end information unmolested.
In Pultecs and EQs from Neve, old Yamaha , API etc inductors and capacitors and resistors are used for the entire EQ. Each band will have a combination of all three. The ratios between the components is what more or less decides the frequency. So the high, mid and low band of the API 550 you show has inductors AND capacitors, as well as a few resistors.
@@NullStaticVoid I appreciate you sharing your knowledge, but I’m not sure what in my video contradicts what you’re saying here.
I clearly state that the role of the inductor and capacitor can be one or the other.
I never said that active EQ’s don’t use passive components, but that they have transistors and opamps that actively boost or cut frequencies. The use of the API 550 was simply to demonstrate the difference between how an active EQ boosts and cuts, vs how the Pultec does. If I ever do a video on active EQ’s, I will no doubt talk about the role of passive components in determining which frequencies they boost or cut.
@@cravenoise I'm not talking about active vs passive. You were describing inductors and capacitors as if they are used for high end or low end. LC circuits, which use both inductors AND capacitors can be made for nearly any frequency. The difficulty is using standard values to hit desired specs without too much undesired phase, group delay or distortion products.
Not just the silly 'inducers' part, but the whole way you describe how the EQ works is wrong.
@@NullStaticVoid sounds like you should make your own video :)
So what do people get WRONG about the Pultec? you haven't explained, you mentioned the valves, but you can't assume people are all ignorant about how this EQ works. In the end it is not about how a EQ works, but more about what Frequencies to cut and boost. Though I like the Pultec for it's broad character. If you have a Graphical EQ you can do the same as the Pultec does minus the components in the EQ. But then again, if famous mixer ask other mixers what hardware did you use on a song, or maybe like beer, the blindfold test to quess what beer you are drinking, is harder that you would think of.
You know, I think you actually make a good point about the title. The original concept for this video was to address what I felt people weren’t saying about the Pultec, like what it means that it’s a passive EQ, how the 2-knob trick works, the role of the tubes, etc. but I suppose the video turned into more of a tour/tutorial than specifically addressing misconceptions. Might be worth changing the title. Thanks for the comment!
I need someone who can help me put together a legitimate sample pack
Daw
Are you interested in pushing the buttons for a real musician
That mix sounded like shit, no really....
@@gorloxian lol that’s because it’s not a “mix”. I literally say that there’s no processing other than the Pultec
Emulations can’t compare to a real Pultec.
@@griffini19 analog will always be the GOAT, agreed. I wonder if I should do a video using access analog to compare the harmonic character of the plugin vs hardware?
@@cravenoise sure. Hardware will sound better. Plug-ins will sound “good”
And usable but not magical.
@@BullyMaguire4ever so, the goal of the video is to dispel the notion that the Pultec, hardware or software, is "magical" by looking closely at the way it's designed. Had I had access to a hardware Pultec, I would have been happy to use it in my demonstration, but the underlying principle is the same 🙂
"Inducer"? I don't want to be overly critical but christ, it's an inductor. Why make a video about a topic you don't understand well?
@@xGIJewx we all make mistakes 🤷🏻♂️