Side-Chaining options, advice please

[AnalogElectric]

I FINALLY discovered the joys of side-chaining an EQ thru a compressor. Um, so what if it took me 8 years to try it, get off my back already! Seriously tho, it does wonders for bringing out the girth out of drums during a mix.

So here's my question:

I need some more outboard EQ's. I want Parametric, 2 half rack or one dual channel full rack, and doesn't have to be expensive. I've used an Aphex 109 (until now has collected dust) but I'm having a hard time finding these anymore but they work well for side chaining. Are there other units I could buy within the $100 price range that's halfway decent that anyone is aware of?

Those that side-chain EQ know you don't need a $2000 EQ to do this cuz all I'm doing is notching out very specific frequencies. I don?t want to get Graphic EQ's unless someone really suggests them with strong conviction.

Thanks for your help,
--Adam Lazlo

[justinf]

a couple suggestions:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=23793
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=23788
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=23790
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=23788

cheap shiz rules

[rhythm ranch]

Well, if you're looking for cheap parametrics, currently on eBay:
Behringer and also Behringer
SAE
DBX
and Symetrix
Good luck,
Mark

[jrsgodfrey]

Old Ashley's are cheap and good for such tasks. I use an SC-66 for side chaining. Sounds good itself on snare and kick, too.

Jay

[jrsgodfrey]

Look, there goes one now!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=23788

[AnalogElectric]

Thanks for the speedy replies and great suggestions.

So as I looked around at different things both on the net and at stores I bought a couple more Aphex 109's.

Like I said I've owned one before and found no purpose for it except for the occasional subtractive filtering, certainly not a great unit and Tubesence?--hahahaha. $99 for a dual channel EQ isn't too shabby for side chaining. I did look in to the Presonus EQ3B but I had no luck finding them at GC or other music stores, they simply don't carry them.

I've focused so much on vintage or higher end gear in the last X amount of years I felt out of the loop lately on what's out there for budget studios. I noticed finding a new standalone EQ rack unit is nearly impossible. The trend seems to be a 'one-in-all' unit, i.e. mic pre, eq, and comp/lim unit. Okay but I like to have standalone EQ's with 4-5 band parametric. I suppose the market dictates the companies? response but why can?t I expect to have things like this around? I like low-end gear and top-end gear keeping a good mixture of both and it makes me think that plug-in EQ is taking over along with ?vox-boxes?. I think a company should make a 4 to 8 channel EQ much like Manley?s Pultec 6 channel but more affordable. If the Manley Pultec EQ was at half the cost I?d buy one, even two maybe.

--Adam Lazlo