I love it….i also love the spl PQ what I find works awesome for me is that I will use a great digital visual EQ and get the kind of sound I want first and then use something like this to polish it off, because like you said, I will cut frequencies from the sides and boost the same ones in the mids or vice versa….usually i will boost low in the mono and left channel and cut them more in the sides and then vice versa.
I liked the MEA-2 a lot. I tend to use the Massive Passive from UA but dang I feel lucky to have access to such amazing tools. When I was first getting started, stuff like this was unthinkable. Now it’s like $100 for an amazing mastering Eq
Hi Justin ! I was wondering ... Maselec MEA-2 vs SPL PQ , who is the winner in that case ? Can I please have your opinion ? Thank you so much for your time and all your videos ! :D
You will get to hear it in action in the next video! I was aiming not to make this one 30+ minutes long :-) The next one should be out on Friday, and will use this EQ to demonstrate the "4 Mastering Shapes" idea.
You really upgraded your video quality ! As well as the lighting ! Pro tip : You need to export the video in 4K for youtube, the video compression of 1080p only videos is very heavy, you will a far more better quality even if you shoot your videos in 1080p, you just need to change the resolution when exporting it doesn't matter if the timeline is 1080p only.
Thanks, I’ll consider it! This one was shot months ago, but it looks a bit better than my recent livestreams because there’s no deinterlacing artifacts when I capture to my SD card like this. One of these days, I’ll buy a camera that doesn’t put out interlaced footage and that will improve the livestream further. But I upgraded lighting in the winter, and then upgraded computers in the Spring so there have been fewer dropped frames. So the picture quality has been better lately for sure.
@@SonicScoop I would advise BlackMagic Cameras, the quality is outstanding for the money (start at 900) and you can record in pro res making it smooth for mac to process/edit/export, as well as recording direct to SSD so no need SD card adaptaters and high speed transfer
@@PitchforkIncorporated If you upload a 1080p timeline exported into 4K on youtube, the 4K upsampled video gonna be less compress by youtube and the video will far better in quality
That is my OTHER favorite mastering EQ, and the other one I first learned mastering on at Joe Lambert Mastering. Great EQ too. The only problem with that one is that it has a bit more color and saturation than the Maselec, and sometimes even engaging it, without any EQ, is too much for a master. Because of this, I use the Maselec more often than the Sontec, but I often use both together, just like I did when I mastered all analog.
I had to have it. I got it. I compare it in pro tools and Logic. It seams to be louder for adjusting in Logic. It's low in Pro tools. I put it into plug in doctor. In protools there is no level readings in mid side. mid shows up but noy the side graph. you can bearly hear the side signal. Same in Logic pro, no graph in side view and bearly hear the audio changes if any. Solo button doesn't work well if at all. I'll keep playing with it.
I have! Also very good. I often use it with the Maselec as this was the dual EQ system I learned on. I am likely to turn off the Sontec a bit more often than the Maselec as it’s a bit more colored, even without EQing, but they are both in my mastering template.
Great video as always. One question, i'm about to buy the audeze mm100 (can't afford the mm500). How close or different are they? Can i get good results with the mm100? Thank you for all the videos!!
If you can, you might want to wait a while for the Black Friday sales (Audeze can end up as little as 60% of RRP). If you can't wait, check out ex-demo/opened box/display unit sales from store sites, too. If you're buying from a store with a reputation, the equipment is likely to be perfect but the savings can be huge. You might find you can get the model you wanted, or even a much better one than you intended.
It’s hard to quantify these things, but based on subjective feeling, I think the mm-100 are possibly 90% as good. The difference is slightly less low end and slightly less detailed transient response. Similarly, the MM-50 are probably at least 90% as good as the $4000 LCD 4 and 5. They are both a great value.
Incorrect. Clearly you didn’t watch the video, where I give my actual reasons. Just because a plugin sponsors the channel doesn’t mean I’m going to use it as a default in my actual mastering template 😅 This one made it there, and I tell you the reasons why.
Justin I havent ever really heard you touch on why you dont opt for a hybrid workflow. Do you find yourself missing the hardware sound a bit? Of course we know workflow is a bit more contentious
I just prefer the ease of recall with digital SO much more, and I have found that I can get identical results either way. The only thing I miss about analog is how much less prevalent the screen was in the process. I still haven't arrived on a great solution to make the process even less visual for me. ...Though plugins like this do help!
@@SonicScoop Appreciate the insight! Reading that makes me feel slightly insane or neurotic for lusting after and accumulating some analog pieces for my workflow. I just love it....horses for courses I suppose!
I like the Sontec a lot and it is also in my mastering template. I learned on that EQ along with the Maselec. I often use the Sontec for broader, more overall shaping EQ, but I am more likely to turn off the Sontec than the Maselec as it’s a bit more colored, even without EQing, and occasionally the tone is too much much… but often it’s welcome.
“Just”? Hardly. But UA-cam does run on advertising, one way or another. Advertising, construed charitably, is just letting people know about things they might like. There’s a lot of advertising that has served me well, because it informed me about things I do like. That’s how we learn about many of our options in life. Unlike a lot of channels, I actually disclose when there’s a relationship with the brand. And I don’t delete comments, if they are not profane. So we are the good guys in this area. Bottom line though, if you want really good ad free content, you’re generally going to have to pay for it. I have great full length courses that are ad free. But the catch-22 is that to find out about great ad-free content, you’re going to need to be exposed to advertising about it! 😆
@@lumengarden1536 Justin is the best, he gives you SOOO much more than an ad. He literally gives you everything you need to become an actual professional. This would be fair to say of other UA-cam audio guys, but not Justin. Justin is the man! Do yourself a favor and watch every sonic scoop episode and you’ll be 1000 times better at anything audio.
They do sound slightly different. I believe the Relab is measurably cleaner, and might model the behavior of the EQ bands more accurately throughout their entire range. The Acustica has a bit more subtle saturation going on, and like a lot of the AA stuff is more of a CPU resource hog. The Acustica is also a little more expensive, and doesn't have the same Mid Side functionality or the band solo option. They are both quite good though!
@@SonicScoop Relab might be measurably cleaner but in my opinion it doesn't sound or feel better. AA Ivory when instantiated makes a song sound like it's a "record". These differences you have outlined are merely frivolous and does not actually speak upon the tonal quality of the EQ. AA does sample the preamps/converters used so therefore more coloration/saturation you are hearing but when combined with the EQ it does a lot more in enhancing the medium than the Relab version. Happy to pay more in money and CPU for a better sounding version 100% of the time. Of course my opinion.
I disagree, I got both, once I started using Relab's I got the distinct impression Ivory is either congested (with the pre on), or less flattering than this one. Plus band solo and band interaction. The latest Green is the only Acqua on par to me, they sound and feel different but are equally flattering to sources.
This is a great eq
Agreed!
I love it….i also love the spl PQ what I find works awesome for me is that I will use a great digital visual EQ and get the kind of sound I want first and then use something like this to polish it off, because like you said, I will cut frequencies from the sides and boost the same ones in the mids or vice versa….usually i will boost low in the mono and left channel and cut them more in the sides and then vice versa.
I liked the MEA-2 a lot. I tend to use the Massive Passive from UA but dang I feel lucky to have access to such amazing tools. When I was first getting started, stuff like this was unthinkable. Now it’s like $100 for an amazing mastering Eq
Also wanted to mention I’ve been using Relab LX480 for years, it’s my favorite reverb plugin.
Such A good reverb! And I know what you mean about tools in general these days :-) We are spoiled.
Who uses the TOMO Audiolabs LISA? Its amazing!
Hi Justin ! I was wondering ... Maselec MEA-2 vs SPL PQ , who is the winner in that case ? Can I please have your opinion ? Thank you so much for your time and all your videos ! :D
great video! you are my favourite youtube guy to listen to!
Awesome to hear Mari! Glad to have you tuning in.
Great video on this. Would be cool to have heard some audio through it though.
You will get to hear it in action in the next video! I was aiming not to make this one 30+ minutes long :-)
The next one should be out on Friday, and will use this EQ to demonstrate the "4 Mastering Shapes" idea.
You really upgraded your video quality ! As well as the lighting !
Pro tip : You need to export the video in 4K for youtube, the video compression of 1080p only videos is very heavy, you will a far more better quality even if you shoot your videos in 1080p, you just need to change the resolution when exporting it doesn't matter if the timeline is 1080p only.
What do you mean? So shoot at 1080 but export after editing at 4k before YT upload?
Thanks, I’ll consider it! This one was shot months ago, but it looks a bit better than my recent livestreams because there’s no deinterlacing artifacts when I capture to my SD card like this.
One of these days, I’ll buy a camera that doesn’t put out interlaced footage and that will improve the livestream further.
But I upgraded lighting in the winter, and then upgraded computers in the Spring so there have been fewer dropped frames. So the picture quality has been better lately for sure.
@@SonicScoop I would advise BlackMagic Cameras, the quality is outstanding for the money (start at 900) and you can record in pro res making it smooth for mac to process/edit/export, as well as recording direct to SSD so no need SD card adaptaters and high speed transfer
@@PitchforkIncorporated If you upload a 1080p timeline exported into 4K on youtube, the 4K upsampled video gonna be less compress by youtube and the video will far better in quality
@@DarkTrapStudio Nice!, good to know. Thanks!
This one and the Metric Halo Sontec ♥️
That is my OTHER favorite mastering EQ, and the other one I first learned mastering on at Joe Lambert Mastering. Great EQ too.
The only problem with that one is that it has a bit more color and saturation than the Maselec, and sometimes even engaging it, without any EQ, is too much for a master.
Because of this, I use the Maselec more often than the Sontec, but I often use both together, just like I did when I mastered all analog.
I had to have it. I got it. I compare it in pro tools and Logic. It seams to be louder for adjusting in Logic. It's low in Pro tools. I put it into plug in doctor. In protools there is no level readings in mid side. mid shows up but noy the side graph. you can bearly hear the side signal. Same in Logic pro, no graph in side view and bearly hear the audio changes if any. Solo button doesn't work well if at all. I'll keep playing with it.
You should try the recent official emulation from the Sontec by Make Believe! Really great!
I have! Also very good. I often use it with the Maselec as this was the dual EQ system I learned on.
I am likely to turn off the Sontec a bit more often than the Maselec as it’s a bit more colored, even without EQing, but they are both in my mastering template.
Wow, What an amazing way to start with mastering! I’ll try this Maselec asap
Great video as always. One question, i'm about to buy the audeze mm100 (can't afford the mm500). How close or different are they? Can i get good results with the mm100? Thank you for all the videos!!
If you can, you might want to wait a while for the Black Friday sales (Audeze can end up as little as 60% of RRP). If you can't wait, check out ex-demo/opened box/display unit sales from store sites, too. If you're buying from a store with a reputation, the equipment is likely to be perfect but the savings can be huge. You might find you can get the model you wanted, or even a much better one than you intended.
It’s hard to quantify these things, but based on subjective feeling, I think the mm-100 are possibly 90% as good.
The difference is slightly less low end and slightly less detailed transient response.
Similarly, the MM-50 are probably at least 90% as good as the $4000 LCD 4 and 5.
They are both a great value.
@@SonicScoop Thank you for the answer!
Hey justin, have you already asked Engineer Cheese the questions? Are the two songs he's bringing from the albumnba youngboy last Slimeto ? 😮😮
I haven’t asked the questions yet, we’re going to do it live next week!
" Why I Use This EQ on Every Master"
"Big thanks to Relab for hooking me up with this EQ and supporting this channel."
Now I know why.
Incorrect. Clearly you didn’t watch the video, where I give my actual reasons.
Just because a plugin sponsors the channel doesn’t mean I’m going to use it as a default in my actual mastering template 😅
This one made it there, and I tell you the reasons why.
Justin I havent ever really heard you touch on why you dont opt for a hybrid workflow. Do you find yourself missing the hardware sound a bit? Of course we know workflow is a bit more contentious
I just prefer the ease of recall with digital SO much more, and I have found that I can get identical results either way.
The only thing I miss about analog is how much less prevalent the screen was in the process. I still haven't arrived on a great solution to make the process even less visual for me.
...Though plugins like this do help!
@@SonicScoop Appreciate the insight! Reading that makes me feel slightly insane or neurotic for lusting after and accumulating some analog pieces for my workflow. I just love it....horses for courses I suppose!
What's your thoughts on this versus the IK 432 EQ (Sontec) that function very similar?
I like the Sontec a lot and it is also in my mastering template. I learned on that EQ along with the Maselec.
I often use the Sontec for broader, more overall shaping EQ, but I am more likely to turn off the Sontec than the Maselec as it’s a bit more colored, even without EQing, and occasionally the tone is too much much… but often it’s welcome.
音そのものに注意を傾ける重要さが説いても、この時代錯誤のUIが妥当とは思わない
Ez first
I'm not surprised! Good to have you checking it out Benj!! 😃
Tried it.
Brainworx Digi V3 sounds much cleaner to me.
Ok, if you say so. This one sounds much more like a Maselec though :-)
There are so many EQs that you use in each master that I wonder where they are. place ..??? I hope you have a sense of humor!😄🥰
There aren’t many EQs I use in mastering though! My most common EQs for mastering are:
Maselec
Sontec
FabFilter or Ozone
…and that’s pretty much it!
Music production youtube channels are just ads for plugins nowadays, very disappointed.
“Just”? Hardly. But UA-cam does run on advertising, one way or another.
Advertising, construed charitably, is just letting people know about things they might like.
There’s a lot of advertising that has served me well, because it informed me about things I do like. That’s how we learn about many of our options in life.
Unlike a lot of channels, I actually disclose when there’s a relationship with the brand. And I don’t delete comments, if they are not profane. So we are the good guys in this area.
Bottom line though, if you want really good ad free content, you’re generally going to have to pay for it. I have great full length courses that are ad free.
But the catch-22 is that to find out about great ad-free content, you’re going to need to be exposed to advertising about it! 😆
@@SonicScoop fair enough
@@lumengarden1536 Justin is the best, he gives you SOOO much more than an ad. He literally gives you everything you need to become an actual professional. This would be fair to say of other UA-cam audio guys, but not Justin. Justin is the man! Do yourself a favor and watch every sonic scoop episode and you’ll be 1000 times better at anything audio.
I think acustica audio version is better.
They do sound slightly different. I believe the Relab is measurably cleaner, and might model the behavior of the EQ bands more accurately throughout their entire range.
The Acustica has a bit more subtle saturation going on, and like a lot of the AA stuff is more of a CPU resource hog.
The Acustica is also a little more expensive, and doesn't have the same Mid Side functionality or the band solo option.
They are both quite good though!
@@SonicScoop Relab might be measurably cleaner but in my opinion it doesn't sound or feel better. AA Ivory when instantiated makes a song sound like it's a "record". These differences you have outlined are merely frivolous and does not actually speak upon the tonal quality of the EQ. AA does sample the preamps/converters used so therefore more coloration/saturation you are hearing but when combined with the EQ it does a lot more in enhancing the medium than the Relab version. Happy to pay more in money and CPU for a better sounding version 100% of the time. Of course my opinion.
I disagree, I got both, once I started using Relab's I got the distinct impression Ivory is either congested (with the pre on), or less flattering than this one. Plus band solo and band interaction. The latest Green is the only Acqua on par to me, they sound and feel different but are equally flattering to sources.
OK I was about to say the same thing I think Acustica nailed it. But I was afraid of being labeled an Acustica fanboy snob.