Amazing video! The production is top notch and the song you used sounds amazing. Please keep making these! I can't really afford any of the top end gear you review, but it really helps me get ideas and also just have something to aspire to.
I’m not in the studio so…just listening on my iPhone… but I have to say those tracks sound amazing to begin with And even more so through that gorgeous piece of kit Well done ❤
Great looking and sweet sounding device. The knobs are exactly what a mind would imagine about an engineer and engineering. I feel it sounds best on the sweet mids, should be great on any string instrument and vocals.
Another solid piece of kit!! Made your tracks sit and thicken awesomely, while also bringing in clarity ;) Buying my first outboard EQ in the future is going to be a hard decision to make hah!
Hello Alec, loving all your content. Keep it coming. I wanted to reach out about the Manultec Orca, the bulbs on mine finally gave out. Where and what are the replacements for it. Unfortunately they are no longer in business it seems. Thought maybe you could help me. Thanks much. Phil
Umm. Dude. Beyond A+ content. Competent opinions, good music, I’ve never subbed so fast in my life. This is amazing. Plus, that gear is amazing!! I’m usually against hardware but that 3k and 12k boost is….. so smooth. Well done!!!
Wow I am surprised you bought this over the pultec's ? I remember how much you loved them..and especially because the Manultec has only a small handful of frequencies compared to the pultec. But if you love it then thats awesome.
Your recordings are so well captured and are way more responsible for the lush sounds than the gear itself. The slight enhancement is just the icing on the cake. If price was not an issue but you were forced to choose between a pair of pulse techniques pultecs or the orca bay which would you go with? Don't say both ;). I still think if I had a choice I'd prefer a pair of pultecs. Not because of the mythical status that goes with the name but just for the more EQ points. What do you think?
Thank you! It’s a tough call, they react so differently to each other. In my current setup, I don’t have the option of a piece of gear going down for a few days. So the solid state manultec fits my workflow better. If I was in a position to own a couple pairs of Pultecs, I would jump at that. That way if one went down, I would have a spare ready to go. :)
@@alecbrits Do you find yourself often reaching for the manultec on many other sources besides just the mix bus / mastering? I know you showed it on different sources in your video but I was just wondering if in real world application you find a use as a tracking EQ / EQ in post? Considering buying one but I am a sucker for tubes and this is solid state so I am still contemplating. Thanks for the video!
Indeed. On drum overheads, rooms mics Kicks, Vocals and acoustic guitars too. If you have the oppertunity, get your retailer to send you one to try. I have reviewed both the pultecs and the manultec. Both are ace units. But it would take me quite some time to make up the money spent on the pultec’s vs the manultec. :)
@@alecbrits That is encouraging to know! Would love to see you do a video on the solid state Pulse Pultec 500 X modules if you are ever willing and compare it your video on the pulse tube units. I'll leave you alone now! Thanks!
@@alecbrits I guess if you mix through it so you know which frequencies to work around, or have a second eq. I always thought Pultecs were the right amount of minimal.
I'm kind of torn because on one hand it sounds gorgeous but on the other hand it flattens the music too much and kills the dimensionality. Every time it was out, the music became more 3-D. Once it was in, everything collapsed again flat. Of course, some people do like that "flattened" thing on mixes and so this might be good for that but I'm not sure it's for me - I work hard to keep dimensionality in my mixes and I'd want that preserved.
It does, and I think that is due to the fact that every component is as good as it can be. :) totally agree that it’s good to see something that is a different take on a traditional design.
I dunno, dood... the difference on the drums-to my middle-aged ears-is... subtle. On the bass I hear essentially no difference at all. The difference is easier to hear on the other instruments and LR mix. I've already listened to this on three pairs of headphones and my speakers... If that bass sounds any different post-eq then I can't hear it. Maybe 26 years of doing this has finally done in my hearing. I like expensive gear as much as the next guy but the value proposition here is lost on me. I'm probably just angry that I can't hear a $4500 difference.
I’m not pushing the unit hard in this review, when I was editing the video I did think I could have shown it more aggressively, but I was using it as I would in a normal mixing session. The vast majority of the time it resides on the master buss insert of my console. It provides such a solid tone and definition. Small changes in the midrange on the bass and the openness in the drums were dialled in while listening to all the elements together, that way I’m crafting to make the individual elements sit better within the mix as apposed to making each thing best by itself. I find when I do that, I push things to far. In the future I’ll be a little more aggressive with each of the elements in solo. :)
I don't see anything too crazy in there. Discrete opamps, wima caps, jensen-like transformers. Cheap, generic MF resistors. Looks overpriced to me. Sounds OK.
Thanks for your input. :) silver wire, custom in house transformers and custom opamps, robust hand soldered stepped switches and easy to repair construction are all massive positives in my book. The fact that it’s a stereo piece is another big win. But that’s just my point of view. :)
@@alecbrits Absolutely; I didn't want to come off as being too harsh on the product. You do a great job and make it sound good. It focuses the low end and adds punch like a solid state pultec does and it adds that expensive, creaminess to the highs that a good quality permalloy inductor does. Your tracks already sounded so good, though. I In the end, I should just put my money where my mouth is and come up with a better product and sell it for less, right? Maybe I will ;).
Amazing video! The production is top notch and the song you used sounds amazing. Please keep making these! I can't really afford any of the top end gear you review, but it really helps me get ideas and also just have something to aspire to.
Thank you so much Denver! :) I can’t afford a lot of the stuff I review too, but as you said, it is quite inspiring to hear them in action.
Thank you!, it sounds more in your face, but also narrower to my ears.
It’s a very focused box. 👌🏽👌🏽
I’m not in the studio so…just listening on my iPhone… but I have to say those tracks sound amazing to begin with
And even more so through that gorgeous piece of kit
Well done ❤
Thanks so much! :)
Its very nice polished sound that this pultec gives , but the songs were amazingly mixed !!
Thanks! :)
Welp, that is beautiful. And it sounds SWEET! It also dwarfs every other piece of gear. “You will not ignore meee!” 😂
It’s so stunning! :)
This is absolute magic.
Lovely box for sure!
As always, great production! Really enjoy your demo Alec!
Thank you so much! :D
Good demo video. Great to se proper inside wiring... Small details can made a huge difference in sound.
Thanks so much! Fully agree.
ohh the top end, even through UA-cam, sounds so good on the bus
It’s addictive!! :D
Great looking and sweet sounding device. The knobs are exactly what a mind would imagine about an engineer and engineering. I feel it sounds best on the sweet mids, should be great on any string instrument and vocals.
Fully agree! :D thanks for watching.
Another solid piece of kit!! Made your tracks sit and thicken awesomely, while also bringing in clarity ;) Buying my first outboard EQ in the future is going to be a hard decision to make hah!
Thanks Kevin! :) I highly recommend checking it out!
Another beautiful review it looks very sturdy well built
It’s a serious unit for sure! :)
Nice review. And yes to LEDs rather than inevitably blowing bulbs (my first thought also).
Thanks! Yeah, agreed. :)
Great demo! Love my Manultec Orca Bay. Hannes Bieger turned me on to it. Had to order from Germany. Really hard to find one available in the U.S..
Thanks Mark! Such great units. 👌🏽👌🏽
Hello Alec, loving all your content. Keep it coming. I wanted to reach out about the Manultec Orca, the bulbs on mine finally gave out. Where and what are the replacements for it. Unfortunately they are no longer in business it seems. Thought maybe you could help me. Thanks much.
Phil
Hey Phil! Same has happened to mine (again). I believe studiocare do have or have found which ones work best.
Umm. Dude. Beyond A+ content. Competent opinions, good music, I’ve never subbed so fast in my life. This is amazing. Plus, that gear is amazing!! I’m usually against hardware but that 3k and 12k boost is….. so smooth. Well done!!!
Thank you so much!! :)
Sounds so sweet!
It’s a beast! :)
@@alecbrits definitely in my list of gear to buy in the future. A really subtle mastering pultec that sounds beautiful 💯
Always Nice Demonstrate Track. :)
I just think buy the outboard hardware EQ make sense. It sound so good.
Fully agree! :D
great sound examples ! 🔥🤙✌️
Thank you so much! :)
As always, greatest vídeo.
Lord bless you.
Thanks Felipe! :)
Amazing piece and video killer
Thanks so much Leandro!
These are great!!!
Really solid units! :) I use mine everyday.
@@alecbrits also great videos! I’ve watched half of them so far. Your creative song production makes it 10x better than anything else out there.
@@CalebMcLellan thanks so much Caleb! :D
Good Video
Thanks Gerald! :)
great
Thanks Robert! :)
Wow I am surprised you bought this over the pultec's ? I remember how much you loved them..and especially because the Manultec has only a small handful of frequencies compared to the pultec. But if you love it then thats awesome.
I do still love the pultecs! :) they are just way outta my reach to purchase.
Your recordings are so well captured and are way more responsible for the lush sounds than the gear itself. The slight enhancement is just the icing on the cake. If price was not an issue but you were forced to choose between a pair of pulse techniques pultecs or the orca bay which would you go with? Don't say both ;). I still think if I had a choice I'd prefer a pair of pultecs. Not because of the mythical status that goes with the name but just for the more EQ points. What do you think?
Thank you!
It’s a tough call, they react so differently to each other. In my current setup, I don’t have the option of a piece of gear going down for a few days. So the solid state manultec fits my workflow better.
If I was in a position to own a couple pairs of Pultecs, I would jump at that. That way if one went down, I would have a spare ready to go. :)
@@alecbrits Do you find yourself often reaching for the manultec on many other sources besides just the mix bus / mastering? I know you showed it on different sources in your video but I was just wondering if in real world application you find a use as a tracking EQ / EQ in post? Considering buying one but I am a sucker for tubes and this is solid state so I am still contemplating. Thanks for the video!
Indeed. On drum overheads, rooms mics Kicks, Vocals and acoustic guitars too.
If you have the oppertunity, get your retailer to send you one to try.
I have reviewed both the pultecs and the manultec. Both are ace units. But it would take me quite some time to make up the money spent on the pultec’s vs the manultec. :)
@@alecbrits That is encouraging to know! Would love to see you do a video on the solid state Pulse Pultec 500 X modules if you are ever willing and compare it your video on the pulse tube units. I'll leave you alone now! Thanks!
Please review an Avalon AD2055 🤤
I would love to do some Avalon gear in the future for sure! :)
It sounds really good and build looks great, but only two frequencies per shelf. Wow. I dont know how I could live with that.
Limitations ain’t bad when they are good limitations. :)
@@alecbrits I guess if you mix through it so you know which frequencies to work around, or have a second eq. I always thought Pultecs were the right amount of minimal.
The Pultec’s are the magic. I follow my Manultec with a Bettermaker Mastering EQ, that gives me all the fine control I need. :)
killer video...awesome unit. How do i buy it??
Thanks Dan! There is a link in the description below the video. :)
Talking about SILKYYYY top end
Smooooooooth!!!👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
What mixer is in the background?
Hi Bernie! It’s an Audient ASP4816.
only 5k 😓
It ain’t cheap, but it’s incredible.
I'm kind of torn because on one hand it sounds gorgeous but on the other hand it flattens the music too much and kills the dimensionality. Every time it was out, the music became more 3-D. Once it was in, everything collapsed again flat. Of course, some people do like that "flattened" thing on mixes and so this might be good for that but I'm not sure it's for me - I work hard to keep dimensionality in my mixes and I'd want that preserved.
I find it tightens up the bottom end/midrange in a really satisfying way. Luckily there are a lot of great options for anyone’s workflow. :)
@@alecbrits I will agree that it's very impressive how tight it is on the bottom. The low end sounds amazing.
This looks expensive. Nice to see something different
It does, and I think that is due to the fact that every component is as good as it can be. :) totally agree that it’s good to see something that is a different take on a traditional design.
I dunno, dood... the difference on the drums-to my middle-aged ears-is... subtle.
On the bass I hear essentially no difference at all.
The difference is easier to hear on the other instruments and LR mix.
I've already listened to this on three pairs of headphones and my speakers... If that bass sounds any different post-eq then I can't hear it. Maybe 26 years of doing this has finally done in my hearing.
I like expensive gear as much as the next guy but the value proposition here is lost on me.
I'm probably just angry that I can't hear a $4500 difference.
Obviously the song is great, thought.
I’m not pushing the unit hard in this review, when I was editing the video I did think I could have shown it more aggressively, but I was using it as I would in a normal mixing session. The vast majority of the time it resides on the master buss insert of my console. It provides such a solid tone and definition. Small changes in the midrange on the bass and the openness in the drums were dialled in while listening to all the elements together, that way I’m crafting to make the individual elements sit better within the mix as apposed to making each thing best by itself. I find when I do that, I push things to far. In the future I’ll be a little more aggressive with each of the elements in solo. :)
I don't see anything too crazy in there. Discrete opamps, wima caps, jensen-like transformers. Cheap, generic MF resistors. Looks overpriced to me. Sounds OK.
Thanks for your input. :) silver wire, custom in house transformers and custom opamps, robust hand soldered stepped switches and easy to repair construction are all massive positives in my book. The fact that it’s a stereo piece is another big win. But that’s just my point of view. :)
@@alecbrits Absolutely; I didn't want to come off as being too harsh on the product. You do a great job and make it sound good. It focuses the low end and adds punch like a solid state pultec does and it adds that expensive, creaminess to the highs that a good quality permalloy inductor does. Your tracks already sounded so good, though. I In the end, I should just put my money where my mouth is and come up with a better product and sell it for less, right? Maybe I will ;).