Millennia NSEQ-2 with Fred Forssell board

[JerryTubb]

Jerry, let us here about it when you get it.

Our Forssell mod board for the NSEQ-2 arrived a couple days ago, and we installed it tonight after our sessions. Austin's venerable audio guru Chet Himes actually did the install back in our shop tonight as a gesture of friendship. Nick acted as the helper, and I "supervised"... which means I impatiently looked over Chet's shoulder and asked "whaddaya doin now ...are you sure the soldering iron is hot enough ...make sure you follow the wiring diagram... what does that green wire do... and being a general nuisance.

Reminds me of a story; many years ago back in Lubbock, I used to teach guitar at Perkins Music Company. Mr. Perkins was a fine gentleman and guitar repairman. He kept a sign over the workbench that read:

Guitar Repair - $10 per hour,

If you watch - $20 per hour,

If you help - $30 per hour!

He did some fine fret work, but didn't like anyone "supervising".

So taking my cue from Mr. Perkins, I finally left Chet & Nick alone to do the mod job, and went to my office to do paperwork.

After the mod was finished, we set it in the rack, made the connections, and powered her up. Opened the session I had done earlier yesterday, and went to a familiar song to test the EQ.

Set the "TT" switches out to Balanced, yoohoo! no more level loss!

Set the Range to 6dB, so each click of the knob yields about 1/4 dB of boost or cut, talk about your fine tuning!

And started EQing the song, a relatively thin acoustic guitar and vocal number:

Highs: added a dB at 16k... Nice and Silky sounding, not harsh on either bell or shelf... very kewl.

Low Shelf: added a dB at 100Hz on down... big warm and punchy without losing clarity or adding rumble.

Low Mid knob: added a half dB at about 120Hz on the very widest Q setting, nice, warm, and fat without being boomy or muddy. Very well defined!

High Mid knob: first added a half dB at about 2.8k on a wide Q, brought up some nice presence on the vocal and guitar, WITHOUT BEING HARSH or THIN! couldn't believe it!

Then I changed the setting to + 0.5dB at about 300-400Hz to fatten up the vocal... nice and warm without being clouding or murky!

Next checked the x10 buttons on the parametric knobs, works fine.

Set the Range switches to 12dB instead of 6dB, works great.

Tested the in/out hardware Bypass buttons, ...oh yeah!

Next chance I have, will shoot some tones & pink noise through her just to plot exactly what the settings yield. But that's really not even necessary, the mod transforms this EQ into a totally different beast... just turn the knobs till it sounds good. In fact, on the test song, I couldn't find a setting that sounded bad or harsh, or cloudy, different settings just change the character and/or color of the material to taste... Amazing!

The previous incarnation of the NSEQ-2 was excellent, a nice pristine sounding EQ, good for doing corrective EQ, but sounded slightly "clinical" and could get a little harsh or cloudy beyond a dB or so of change... and not all settings were complimentary to typical program material. Mine had the unbalanced inputs, with a 6dB level loss, which always bothered me a little because I'd have to make it up elsewhere in the chain. Also rarely ever used the Tube side... a bit too much color for most mastering work, and of course the resulting heat.

So it took us about an hour to do the mod, and we experimented with the knobs and sound for about an hour. As others have stated, this mod completely changes the NSEQ-2 into something totally different, surprisingly so. A great EQ for contour, shaping, all with a very musical character... and for about 800 bucks, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I ordered the mod via telephone, talked directly to Fred (a super guy BTW), he sent it out the same day, it arrived well packaged, undamaged, & came with complete installation instructions.

Over the next few weeks, as I use it on a daily basis, and as I learn more about what it does, will report back with more specific details.

First Impression... A Complete 10.

JT

 

[Michael Fossenkemper]

Jerry, Awesome feedback on the mod. My thoughts exactly. What was hard for me to believe about the mod was the ability to dig into freq's that tend to grind on the ear. Very nice. Big up to Dave Mcnair for giving me the 5 cent tour or the mod and Fred for coming by and giving us the low down.

 

[JerryTubb]

Been using the NSEQ-F all week.

McSnare & TurtleTone are right... it sounds outrageous... like buttah!!!

Fat, warm, silky, musical, kinda like a Sontec.

Go ahead and pony up for the mod board guys, you won't regret it.

BTW I shot some pink noise thru her the other night, will post the freq centers on the parametric bands foirst chance I get.

JT

 

[FredForssell]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the kind words.

Jerry, I'm glad the new board is working well for you. That NSEQ-F name just might stick.

Michael, Tony did order a board and reports that it is installed and working well.

I really am glad that this mod board is working so well for everyone. I designed the board for my own use and I was really pleased with it, but I never know how the rest of the world will react to my designs. It really is nice to get a reality check from time to time as to how my designs are working for other people and you'all have help provide that to me. Thanks.

Cheers,

Fred

 

[Michael Fossenkemper]

I spoke to Tony the other day after he had a chance to live with the mod for a few days, and he's loving it. He even gave up his hunt for a Sontec hahaha. Fred, it's a great sounding mod, you should be proud. Now who wants to sell me their used NSEQ-2????

 

[mcsnare]

I'm glad people are digging this new board. I FREAKED when I first installed mine about 7 or 8 months ago. I've been raving ever since and people are finally giving it a whirl. A used NSEQ and Fred's board is the best deal in a high quality mastering eq of anything out there. I'm still heavily into mine and continue to find new ways to use it.
Tony, how do you like it?
Dave McNair

 

[powerestudio]

anyone A/B this with IBIS??

 

[esencia]

anyone A/B this with IBIS??

I want to add a musical a definitive EQ for my setup, and IBIS and the NSEQ-2 FF are my top 2 most tentative alternatives...

This EQ should be my MAIN Eq for 2-bus processing, and I want it to be very musical (not surgical), as I'm producing soundtracks with lot of harmonics content.

Could your give me some thoughts about it?

 

[DonnyThompson]

I want to add a musical a definitive EQ for my setup, and IBIS and the NSEQ-2 FF are my top 2 most tentative alternatives...

This EQ should be my MAIN Eq for 2-bus processing, and I want it to be very musical (not surgical), as I'm producing soundtracks with lot of harmonics content.

Could your give me some thoughts about it?

This is an old thread, Esencia... the last post before yours is over 10 years old (from 2006)- although in no way should that stop you from asking your questions - I just thought you'd want to know that you may or may not receive any specific replies from the contributing members at that time, as some of these members may not be around anymore.
Though again, no one is suggesting you shouldn't post your questions... you just might not get a response from a thread this old.

-d

 

[esencia]

I know Donny, that´s fine..
it was just in case those users were keeping their units or have a more broad opinion about it after all these years and all other EQ that were around

 

[audiokid]

I like old posts revisited, as Donny said, nothing wrong with that. Especially if it brings back old members and continues evolving to date.

I've not used the FF version but have the NSEQ-4 which is amazing. I would expect it to be much improved over the NSEQ-2. Either way, the NSEQ is excellent throughout all freq. I did contemplate the Ibis. The BAX is another good one to look at. The filters on it are excellent.

 

[esencia]

I like old posts revisited, as Donny said, nothing wrong with that. Especially if it brings back old members and continues evolving to date.

I've not used the FF version but have the NSEQ-4 which is amazing. I would expect it to be much improved over the NSEQ-2. Either way, the NSEQ is excellent throughout all freq. I did contemplate the Ibis. The BAX is another good one to look at. The filters on it are excellent.

I knew you owned one ! Recently I met (online) the guy who you sell it to ! (world sometimes is really small)

IMHO, I think that no one will be disappointed with these top level EQ (NSEQ-2, NSEQ-4, IBIS, Massive passive...).. I just wanted to have one really good one on my 2bus chain.. One that cannot be "emulated" easily with a plugin ( I own UAD platform).. But I don´t want to make a mistake about it.. I prefer to keep looking for until I feel I'm in the right track than make a "hype" decision..

I'm pending to test an IBIS unit and see how it works/sounds by myself, as I love the way Dave Hill designs things... but this week, someone offered me a NSEQ-2 with the Forsell modification applied. According to everything I read about that, it seems that with that mod, the unit is improved A LOT with a similar approach than NSEQ-4 (no valves).. That´s why I decided to ask you, as this forum is an endless place of knowledge and people with a lot of real experience.

My idea in the workflow that you well know Chris, is to have just 2 EQ.
One will be BAX eq for sure. No doubt about it.
But my "main" EQ, should be something "special", 99% musical (not surgical), and able to improves my 2-bus sound in analog domain before printing. Here , I was thinking about: IBIS, NSEQ2 FF mod, GML 8200?..

 

[audiokid]

I'm pending to test an IBIS unit and see how it works/sounds by myself, as I love the way Dave Hill designs things... but this week, someone offered me a NSEQ-2 with the Forsell modification applied. According to everything I read about that, it seems that with that mod, the unit is improved A LOT with a similar approach than NSEQ-4 (no valves).. That´s why I decided to ask you, as this forum is an endless place of knowledge and people with a lot of real experience.

Crane Song, ... outstanding but I doubt would out perform a digital EQ (ITB).

I think the FF version of the NSEQ-2 is likely a good update but to my research dated opinions based on old posts over at gearslutz, long before the NSEQ-4 was built. The rails and specs of the NSEQ-4 has the FF beat. The bottom and top end of the NSEQ-4 is outstanding.

I also owned the SPL Passeq which has incredible bottom end control.This thing is fat and silk.

If you really want outstanding, go for Pulse Techniques EQ's. http://www.pulsetechniques.com/
NOTHING ITB will touch these EQ's. NOTHING. Pulse Techniques are all I want. Everything else, ITB.

 

[esencia]

OMG
really???
Pulse techniques (pulled eqs), as the unique EQ?
I wanted to have 4 bands and stereo processing... how many units do I need to support that? ($$$$$$$$) ??

 

[audiokid]

But my "main" EQ, should be something "special", 99% musical (not surgical), and able to improves my 2-bus sound in analog domain before printing.

Then you want NEW Pulse Pultec EQ with either Valve or API tranny.

OMG
really???
Pulse Techniques (pulled eqs), as the unique EQ?
I wanted to have 4 bands and stereo processing... how many units do I need to support that? ($$$$$$$$) ??

For analog correct?
I would start out with 2 NEW Pulse Techniques (NOT Vintage)) MEQ-5 , It has a beautiful mid range mojo. You can get 4 band EQ from Fabfilter that will smoke any Ibis, NSEQ etc ITB. Don't waste your time or money with analog multi-band EQ's.

The real mojo and what analog Pultec EQ's do cannot be emulated or lets say, not with the same mojo behind it.

As you build your business add NEW Pulse Technique EQP 1A3. Run from the vintage as its old build and antique crap needing maintenance.
Or start out with those if you want silky high end first. MEQ-5 are all I want. Everything other EQ > ITB.

 

[esencia]

Retroinstruments' stereo pultec approach is not valid?

 

[audiokid]

Retroinstruments' stereo pultec approach is not valid?

Yes, New Pulse Techniques are retro (built to precise specs as vintage Pulse) but are new, quiet, not worn out vintage antiques needing a complete rebuilt.
You can buy example> Warm Audio pretend pultecs for cheap.
If you are doing this for fun, then buy all sorts of analog gear. Its all fun! But if you are doing this to improve your sonic footprint in a serious way... most analog (MIXING and MASTERING) gear today is in my opinion> a big waste of time and money. Other than those EQ's I mention... ITB EQ are superior when it comes to mixing and mastering. If you gave me an IBIS, NSEQ FF, 8200 etc etc etc... EQ's I would sell them and buy a Bricasti and MEQ-5's. I have no use for OTB EQ's anymore. All but few exceptions> Once ITB, stay ITB.

If we are talking about analog tracking equipment, then everything analog can have a use that won't degrade the mix or master.

 

[audiokid]

edited above.

 

[audiokid]

What DAW are you using?

 

[pcrecord]

I know the Manley also get some love : https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPMaster
and also the SPL passeq : https://spl.info/en/products/processing/passeq/overview.html
(even if it seems out of a spaceship )

SPL also make the PQ but I never had any feedback on it : https://spl.info/en/products/processing/pq/overview.html