Is there any reason for me to buy Curve Bender considering I already have Massive Passive?

Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
I was really interested in Chandler Limited Curve Bender these days. It’s just like…I demoed the plugin, it is pretty good. Sounds good, feels good. I like the stepped control, I like its crispy high end. But somehow, I feel like the workflow is really really close to Manley. Also four band with high pass and low pass, also stereo and separable channel. The main difference is Manley can alter shelf/bell EQ while Chandler has fixed Q.

I ran them into plugin doctor and turns out, Manley has more colors than Chandler(according to the harmonics analyzed). I proved this using a sine wave and control variables to test both plugins and inspect their frequency spectrum using Pro-Q3. Turns out, at the same input level, Manley has a lot more harmonics. While Chandler Curve Bender also has harmonics, it’s a lot less than Manley. Sound wise, I can’t really identify the difference if I don’t consciously catch it.

I really feel like, it’s something that’s nice to have but I definitely could live without it. Manley Massive Passive got everything I’d expected from a giant, flexible and luxury passive EQ. I personally also favor the EQ with more color. But maybe I was trapped by consumerism I still want to buy Chandler…one legit reason for me is that it’s super fast for me to find the sweet spot using it and so easy to navigate around. It’s also on sale right now(native version from Softube).

I was doubting if spending $89 would really worth it…is there anyone in our community use two at the same time and still feel they are very different and strongly recommend to have both or encourage me not to waste more money on something that I don’t essentially need? so if anyone would share your opinion I would be really grateful.
 
Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
Their curve is also different I forgot to mention. For unknown reasons there is a bump around 15hz of Chandler Curve Bender. It doesn’t sonically impact my experience as I can’t even hear around 20hz lol… but it’s quite interesting.
 
Sonicland

Sonicland

Active Member
I think you mostly answered your own question. I love the Massive Passive but just bought the Curve Bender (and the Zener Limiter) because my GAS is pretty bad. But I got them both for much less, I wouldn't have bought it for $89. I suppose there are some that use them at the same time but the results they get are probably beyond my aural appreciation.
 
Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
Sonicland said:
I think you mostly answered your own question. I love the Massive Passive but just bought the Curve Bender (and the Zener Limiter) because my GAS is pretty bad. But I got them both for much less, I wouldn't have bought it for $89. I suppose there are some that use them at the same time but the results they get are probably beyond my aural appreciation.
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As far as I know their stuff in collaboration with premium hardware companies rarely goes below this price point. Like Tube Tech and Chandler and so on. $89 is the historical lowest price I’ve seen at least for Curve Bender.

Maybe I’ll still grab one before sale ends, as Chandler is also a brand that I love. It’s however, really expensive indeed…but giving my sound palette a little bit of extra may be good.
 
DanButsu

DanButsu

Administrator
Forum Admin
Moderator
Alexxon said:
I ran them into plugin doctor and turns out, Manley has more colors than Chandler(according to the harmonics analyzed). I proved this using a sine wave and control variables to test both plugins and inspect their frequency spectrum using Pro-Q3. Turns out, at the same input level, Manley has a lot more harmonics. While Chandler Curve Bender also has harmonics, it’s a lot less than Manley. Sound wise, I can’t really identify the difference if I don’t consciously catch it.
Click to expand...
Caution when using PluginDoctor. If a unit is generating harmonics, as in this case they both are, you cannot measure their response with the Linear tab. You must use the Hammerstein tab as you will then see that the 15kHz "boost" is an erroneous measurement and is not actually present (hence why you can't hear it). See this video for an in-depth explanation from Dan Worrall (time stamped link for your convenience):
 
Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
DanButsu said:
Caution when using PluginDoctor. If a unit is generating harmonics, as in this case they both are, you cannot measure their response with the Linear tab. You must use the Hammerstein tab as you will then see that the 15kHz "boost" is an erroneous measurement and is not actually present (hence why you can't hear it).
Click to expand...
Thank you Dan! This helps a lot! I’ll keep this in mind. I haven’t get familiar enough with plugin doctor yet, seems I need to have more related knowledge to use it.
 
Sonicland

Sonicland

Active Member
Alexxon said:
As far as I know their stuff in collaboration with premium hardware companies rarely goes below this price point. Like Tube Tech and Chandler and so on. $89 is the historical lowest price I’ve seen at least for Curve Bender.
Click to expand...
That may be true. The loyalty offer I received was 10 plugins for $299. I got the CMax Limiter, all 3 Spitfire instruments, the Curve Bender, Zener Limiter, Fatso, Moog Filter, Manley Vari Mu, and the AMS Delay. I'd be fine without any of them but how could I resist $30 a piece. I still have a $50 off anything over $99, and a $25 off anything but there is literally nothing left that's worth me spending even $50. I have almost everything they make. Clearly I need help!
 
Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
Sonicland said:
That may be true. The loyalty offer I received was 10 plugins for $299.
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Oh you mean UAD-2? Yeah in UAD-2 this loyalty offer is a no brainer it's extremely good. I still bought the native version because I'm a bedroom/laptop musician and I need to move things around a lot instead of staying in one place to make music. I can't always stay with Apollo so I went ahead and bought native Curve Bender. It sounds exactly the same as UAD-2 version but latter one is apparently a lot better in terms of price.
 
Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
Though it might sound ridiculous a laptop musican inverst a lot in plugins that needs good monitoring environment...I also have GAS, I need someone to cut my hands off so I can stop buying more of these...
 
B

bellows and brass

Active Member
I have both eqs.
If I had to choose one to keep, it would be the curve bender, as I just don’t gel with the Manley.
Using the Manley, I sometimes stop and think wow, do I really want 6 db of gain, and question if I’m screwing things up with fatigued ears. And I always take too long to get to that point.

The curve bender is the exact opposite… For me, it hits the mark really quickly, and I find myself asking…How does it add that much sheen with only 1.5 db of gain?
Saturation and harmonics perhaps?

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend having the curve bender in your bundle
 
Alexxon

Alexxon

Active Member
bellows and brass said:
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend having the curve bender in your bundle
Click to expand...
We have really similar experiences. I just pulled the trigger and got the Curve Bender.

I like Manley as always. Manley’s characteristics in my opinion are always lush, beautiful and harmonically rich. Massive Passive has the sound that really hits my heart. but somehow the control of it is a bit complex. I need to get my heads around for a while until I find the perfect spot. For Chandler…it sounds fantastic but in terms of sound I still prefer Manley. What really hits me is like you said, the ability to plug in, tweak a bit and done. The efficiency using it to get the desired sound is the next level.

I guess on bus and masters if possible I’d still choose Manley. But if it’s for single instruments, Curve Bender will now become my favorite. Fixed Q limits sometime is good.
 
W

withoutaknife

Member
Curve Bender is an essential plugin for my mix bus.

I've taken to using it similar to how Jaquire King does in a lot of his videos. Approximate starting point...

  • +0.5db bell with 1.5 at 50Hz
  • +0.5db shelf with 1.0 at 16khz
  • HPF at 20Hz
I use the Manley more on vocals.

I find it a bit too expensive sounding for the mix bus 😂

Curve Bender has a touch more subtle grit to my ears.
 
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