That NASAL Sound of the UAD-Neve 1073/1081 Plug-in...?

[norman_nomad]

UAD-Neve 1073/1081 plug-in could sound too "nasal" sometimes.

Anyone notice that too?

I know exactly what you're talking about. "Nasal" is a good word. I might use the word "pinched" or "resonant".

This is what struck me as being so impressive about the UAD Neve EQ emulations when they first came out. This was the first plug EQ that ever pulled off the subtle pinched and resonant quality found not only the Neve's but many other good hardware EQ's.

I'm not sure, technically, what accounts for this sound in certain hardware pieces. Possibly subtle phase shifting and oscillation in capacitor networks ... but it certainly makes an EQ sound more "alive" and dynamic in my opinion.

 

[Arys Chien]

It's just like what you guys said. Exactly what I mean.

I really believe that this \"nasal character\" got \"enhanced\" in the plug-in version, because what I call \"nasal\" here also means \"more narrow mids\", and since plug-ins all sound a bit \"boxed\", ie less high and low, the mids should sound comparatively louder.

It's strange that, while the Brent Averill 1073 sounds nasal too like the Neve 1073, the Chandler LTD-1 doesn't have it, and I must say that I prefer it that way.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

It's strange that, while the Brent Averill 1073 sounds nasal too like the Neve 1073, the Chandler LTD-1 doesn't have it, and I must say that I prefer it that way.

Chandler made the LTD-1 to be an "improvement" on the Neve design so it's not particularly strange. All this shows is that you prefer a more open, modern sounding EQ over the vintage Neve vibe. Have you tried Duende yet?

 

[Arys Chien]

[quote="Arys Chien":36db3q36]It's strange that, while the Brent Averill 1073 sounds nasal too like the Neve 1073, the Chandler LTD-1 doesn't have it, and I must say that I prefer it that way.

Chandler made the LTD-1 to be an "improvement" on the Neve design so it's not particularly strange. All this shows is that you prefer a more open, modern sounding EQ over the vintage Neve vibe. Have you tried Duende yet?[/quote:36db3q36]
Exactly like you said, I do prefer the more open & modern sounding LTD-1 over the BA1073, as mic pre or eq.

There's no Duende here in Taiwan for me to try out, unfortunately. Yet I must admit that I have less and less interest in plug-ins now. The 88RS got my attention due to the great workflow it offers, but the sound is really no better qualitywise.

 

[djsynchro]

I was EQing a tuff breakbeat today, gave it a good crank with the 1073... sounding wicked but I had to think of you Arys... yes it DOES sound nasal! In a very good way though.