1073 vs. 1081

[NuSkoolTone]

Yup, someone had to bring it up.

I'm not ready to fire up the demos (I wait til I'm in a position to actually buy it) but am curious how different they SOUND from on another apart from the EQ points. Obviously the 1081 can do \"more\", but there ARE sonic differences to the real thing (I don't know what they are, I think it has to do with either transformers or class A/B etc...) for each and am curious if you can actually HEAR them! This would be blind A/B testing using gain matched signals with the EQ's set as close as possible in a well treated listening environment.

I mean if it boils down to one has a prettier interface and more EQ points, why bother to get both? This is what I need a convincing arguement of!


Discuss....

 

[Awesom-o]

Well I wish I'd saved my money for the 1081 instead of buying the 1073. It's more flexible and sounds just as great. Bummer.

 

[Eurocide]

At the first glance I also thought that the 1073 was unnecessary to buy.
But after spending some hours with the 1081 demo I found out for myself that both EQs have their right to exist.
E.g.: a sampled kick drum was easier to fit in the mix with the 1071. But a vocal line and a snare drum were easier to model with the 1081.
Both EQs have their character and it's only a matter of learning when to use what character.

BTW: after listening to the 1081 I don't want to use Cambridge for boosting frequencies anymore, only for surgical cutting from now on.

 

[Trebor Flow 2]

IMHO the 1073 and 1081 are really quit different - I find that the 1073 has more grit than 1081 in a good way and suits stronger instruments like drums and guitars -

The 1081 suits more detailed stuff like vocals. In fact if you want a really professional vocals sound then the 1081 is a \"must have purchase\"

I am totally blown away with the 1081 for my voice - it manages to give me the most wonderful detailed tone that just sits so perfectly. I really can't express enough how impressed I am with the two NEVE EQ's - my £415 Oxford is looking a little sad and lonely these days and really only get's used for mastering dutties where it's cleaness and lack of distortion lend themselves to the task.

UA I salute you - hat's off to you guys the NEVE EQ's have taken my ITB mixes up 10 notches thank you -

You are now forgiven for the 33609!! oops on that one. Great modelling of an average compressor.

Now GET ON WITH IT and model an ALAN SMART C2 for crying out loud.

Trebor

 

[wishingwell]

The 1081 suits more detailed stuff like vocals. In fact if you want a really professional vocals sound then the 1081 is a "must have purchase"

Trebor

I could'nt agree more, it is magic on vocals.

 

[ubuntumusic]

has anyone compared same eq setting 1073 vs 1081

some of you say they sound differently. but have you dialed in the same eq on a instrument or vocal and could you hear any difference?

 

[Plec]

I agree.. they do different things. Get both!! Really put both of them through their paces today. Like previous posters.... 1073 for harder stuff like guitars and drums... 1081 for vocals, acoustic guitars etc...

Not always of course... but that's the general feel I get.

I feel the need to post todays Neve playground . I love the 1081! I reset the whole mix of a project and slapped 1081SE's on everything and did a dry raw-mix of it ITB and threw a PMB on the end just for fun. I'm really impressed with what it could do with the raw tracks using nothing else. Love the character of the filters when boosting!

Kick:
Boosted 6.8K, Boosted 100Hz
(Shelves)

Snare:
Boosted 3.7K, Boosted 270Hz, Highpass 82Hz
(Parametric)

Toms:
Boost 6.8K, Cut at 560 HiQ
(Shelf, Parametric)

OH/Ambinece:
Boosted 15K, Cut 270Hz, Highpass 82Hz
(Shelf, Parametric)

Bass:
Highpass 47Hz

Rhythm Guitars:
Boosted 3.3K, Boosted 1000Hz, Boosted 100Hz, low-passed 12K
(Parametric, Parametric, Shelf)

Lead Guitars:
Boosted 6.8K, Cut 2.7K, Boosted 180Hz, Highpass 82Hz
(Shelf, Parametric, Shelf)

Vocals:
Boosted 3.3K a lot, Cut 820, highpass 150Hz
(Parametrics)
Plus a little LA2A..

http://www.panicroom-studios.com/~panic ... DryRaw.mp3

 

[11th Records]

Wow, fantastic mix Plec! The hi-hat has a bit too much sizzle for my tastes, but that's my only quibble. Seriously, who needs reverb? It sounds so clean and \"today\" without. Damn it... now you're going to make me try the demo.

 

[Trebor Flow 2]

Hey Plec

Vocals:
Boosted 3.3K a lot

Get a U47 - that'll sort that one out

Actually, I've found that too - 3.3K is a loverly frequency point on the 1081 for adding a little bite to a vocal and bring it forward but I'm talking only 1dB that NEVE EQ is strong stuff you know!

Trebor

 

[Paul Woodlock]

Wow, fantastic mix Plec! The hi-hat has a bit too much sizzle for my tastes, but that's my only quibble. Seriously, who needs reverb? It sounds so clean and "today" without. Damn it... now you're going to make me try the demo.

Yeeah just what I was thinking - Very Nice Mix indeed

 

[Guest]

VERY KICK ASS tune/mix Plec!!....I really enjoyed it. Thanks!

 

[Fundy]

I tried it on a string track, I made with EWQLSO and the Strings preset really brought it too life. Some people think because these plug-ins don't allow custom settings they won't sound as good. However I think they would be pleasently surprised.

 

[Dan Duskin]

I only tested the 1081 briefly on snare and low-tom (not floor). The test was to compare it to the 1073.

I noticed 3 things...
- because the frequencies are different, both are equally usefull!
- the 1081 required me to boost/cut more than the 1073 to get a similar sound
- the 1081 seems to have a less sensative output gain than the 1073

Anyone else notice the last two?

Also, I found that the frequencies on the 1073 suited the snare I was mixing better than the 1081, but the 1081 allowed me to dial in a better sound on the tom.

The 1073 did not sound more 'grainy' to me like some of you said... to me, the 1073 sounds more 'intense' and the 1081 sounds more subtle (for a neve).

PS: I only tested the SE versions.

 

[jwnc]

PLEC: Man that song and mix sounds killer!! I am very impressed!! Can you tell us alittle more about what comp, etc you used on it? I would love to know the work flow that you used...

JW

 

[Plec]

Wow, thx guys.. The real mix will have just a couple of ambience things on there to make it groove a little bit more I think. Great that you appreciate it as it is now! We're in production for the album at the moment so the mix won't happen until early next year or something. The band is a new swedish group called \"Ammotrack\" http://www.ammotrack.org

Trebor: Yeah.. I will try to get my hands on a 47 :evil: hehe.. the vocals are being cut with a Shure SM7.. it sounds extremely balanced but requires a hefty 3.3K boost to cut through in the mix. I put the 1081 at a three o clock boost to get it right.. but yet it sounds really smooth. Love it!

I do agree with Dan that the 1081 requires more gain to get a similar sound to the 1073.

jwnc: I'll post the tracksheet.. as far as I can remember right now... The way I work is.. I get the sounds I want from scratch so that zeroing the mix and just pushing faders results in something not that far from the final truth of it.

Console = Otari Series 54

Drums:
--Kick--
Shure SM91 (inside) - AMEK 9098
Neumann TLM103 (triggered ambience) - Console - UA 2-1176

--Snare--
AE 3000 (top) - Console
AKG 414 (bottom) - Console
AT 4033 (triggered ambience) - AMEK 9098 - UA 2-1176

--Toms--
Neumann TLM 103s - Console

--OH--
Shure SM81s (ORTF) - ISA 110s - EL FATSO Jr

--HiHat--
Shure SM7 - AMEK 9098

--Ride--
Shure SM81 - Console

Bass:
Warwick Thumb Bass - UA 2-610
(reamping is to be done... at the moment.. Amplitube)

Rhythm Guitars:
Gibson Les Paul - Mesa Dual Rectifier/Randall RH100 - Marshall JCM 800 4x12\" (Celestion G12T-75)/ENGL 4x12\" (Celestion Vintage 30)
SM57s - AMEK 9098s

Lead Guitars:
Gibson Les Paul - DOD YJM - Marshall JMP '72 - Fender 2x12\" (Celestion Century)
SM57 - AMEK 9098

Vocals:
Shure SM7 - UA 2-610 - ADL 1500

As stated before.. on the current rawmix there's only UAD N1081 EQs and a little UAD LA2A on vocals, plus the Precision Multiband on the master and the Waves L2.

Here's one more for the guys who enjoyed the first one.

http://www.panicroom-studios.com/~panicroom/HB-UA_N1081_DryRaw.mp3

 

[Akis]

Awesome sound, Plec!

 

[Eurocide]

I noticed 3 things...
- because the frequencies are different, both are equally usefull!
- the 1081 required me to boost/cut more than the 1073 to get a similar sound
- the 1081 seems to have a less sensative output gain than the 1073

Anyone else notice the last two?

Yep!

 

[BTLG]

So far I'm very happy that every time I load up the 1081, I end up going back to the 1073.

But Dec 31 is right around the corner... It's still sucha good deal.