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[24-96 Mastering]

In my personal experience with Sontecs I've had a bunch of things go wrong. Nothing that couldn't be fixed, but enough to be a problem if you don't have access to a local tech. That's another thing that makes Sontec a bit of a religion to me. Source of great joy, but it makes you bleed & suffer too...

[Ben F]

In my personal experience with Sontecs I've had a bunch of things go wrong. Nothing that couldn't be fixed, but enough to be a problem if you don't have access to a local tech. That's another thing that makes Sontec a bit of a religion to me. Source of great joy, but it makes you bleed & suffer too...

Studio 301 bought a reissue 462 and they have had nothing but problems.

We have a reissue 432 at Sonamax and it's been perfect.

Quality control doesn't appear to be their strength.

[dietrich]

My awaited MEA2 should arrive in the next week and will be curious my thoughts . but it is not 4 channels

[masteringhouse]

Another thought may be to compare the price of the 430 you're looking to buy with a Knif Soma... If the Soma is a fair amount cheaper it may be worth considering that instead. But try before you buy..     

Any further feedback regarding the Soma? This looks like a very interesting EQ!

[mcsnare]

Maybe Dave Mc Nair could chime in as he has compared Sontec and Soma side by side.

about the Etip  Family first .... Gears after Ben it's the wise way.
i'm finishing a big studio upgrade before being maried soon ! 

I did recently have a Soma in my room for a few weeks. It's a really great eq. Very musical. Cleaner than you would expect an all tube L/C circuit. It has a very precise feel to it. The top end is like buttah. The M/S mode is killer. The only thing I would have wanted was one more band. I used it on a few projects, but usually defaulted to the Sontec in my desk.
I also recently bought a very clean 4 channel 430B and have been comparing to the modded 430B that I have been using. The modded one is a hair cleaner and very slightly punchier, but the stock is just so musical. There is a very subtle glue factor to it. So far the stock 430B/NSEQ-2FF is the magic combo. I think I like the totally stock 430B better, but I have been known to change my mind... One thing I am certain of is I like the 430 better than the 432's I've used, not that a 432 is bad! I would probably opt for a Soma over a 432 and deal with one less band.

Dave

[Bonati]

Hey Dave - did the 482 ever appeal to you? It seems like you've tried a lot of different Sontecs but never commented on that one.

I've always been slightly confused about the model numbers. Wouldn't the 4 channel you bought be a 434? What is the difference between a 432 and a 430? Do the letters ("B", "C", "D" - was there ever an "A"?) just designate the generation?

And what's with all these 4 channel units flying around anyway? I'm in the market if anyone is letting them go.

[masteringhouse]

I did recently have a Soma in my room for a few weeks. It's a really great eq. Very musical. Cleaner than you would expect an all tube L/C circuit. It has a very precise feel to it. The top end is like buttah. The M/S mode is killer. The only thing I would have wanted was one more band. I used it on a few projects, but usually defaulted to the Sontec in my desk.
I also recently bought a very clean 4 channel 430B and have been comparing to the modded 430B that I have been using. The modded one is a hair cleaner and very slightly punchier, but the stock is just so musical. There is a very subtle glue factor to it. So far the stock 430B/NSEQ-2FF is the magic combo. I think I like the totally stock 430B better, but I have been known to change my mind... One thing I am certain of is I like the 430 better than the 432's I've used, not that a 432 is bad! I would probably opt for a Soma over a 432 and deal with one less band.

Dave

Thanks for the info Dave.

I've been looking for an EQ that would compliment the Fearn VT4s I've been using but geared toward tailoring midrange. I've spoken to Doug about this but he's a bit too busy to take it on. This one seems like the ticket.

[phonon]

Hey Dave - did the 482 ever appeal to you? It seems like you've tried a lot of different Sontecs but never commented on that one.

I've always been slightly confused about the model numbers. Wouldn't the 4 channel you bought be a 434? What is the difference between a 432 and a 430? Do the letters ("B", "C", "D" - was there ever an "A"?) just designate the generation?

Hi Josh.   I can answer some of this for Dave M.

I believe that the letters are for the operational amplifier generation.  There were ITI op amps in the first MES units, then HS-1000, then HS-2000, and now a new(?) HS-2000....  Something like that.

(The old ITI and HS-1000 op amps that have been left on for 15-20 years won't be as fast or transparent in sound as the new models, or ones that might have been kept cool for most of their lives.  The theory is that the distinct junction between the N-type and P-type semiconductors gets vague over time, imparting a warmth that borders on near-, to actual-, coloration.   Some feel it's a veil.  Others feel it's a mystical sheen.  Ymmv, as well as that of various input program.)


The model number designation had not been decided on when the 430 came out.   Otherwise, it _would_ have been a 434.   The first number corresponds to the rack unit height (i.e., 4U).   The second number corresponds to the number of bands parametric (except for the 48x).  The last number signifies the number of channels (except for the vintage 430's, which would be 4-channel (obviously, primarily for disc mastering, with advance signaling)).

The 482 is marketed as an 8-band Sontec because the shelves have 12 selectable corner freqs.  The corners are so plentiful that it upgrades the shelves to "band" status.  (; 

The eq's that don't have switches, of course, use pots.  So, they are called, "MEP," for "mastering equalizer, with pots."   The MES is a "mastering equalizer, with switches."    Shallco and Elma make their switches.  Ag  contacts are used because the surface layer of Au can vaporize under the right malfunctioning signal condition.   

Burgess is a stand-up guy who is trying to make something fabulous that will appreciate in value over time.   His knowledge is vast and his ingenuity is still burgeoning.  The Holy Grail is the Sontec DUO, that has selectable ITI or Sontec op amps on demand.  This is still being developed, but they have recently made strides in getting some parts that had previously been made out of unobtanium.  The faceplate manufacturer is now retrained.  Burgess' own assistants are presently military-trained assemblers.  His overhead is fixed and reasonable.   So, although we live in a real world, with practical concerns all around, I think he has just begun to make his mark, all over again.  If you are thinking about a new Sontec, you will need some cash and to be patient.  But good things come to those who can wait... 

And what's with all these 4 channel units flying around anyway? I'm in the market if anyone is letting them go.

Yeah, what up with that?  A cutter's dream eq.  And, like the oldies, all the new ones also come with optical switching for bypass.   So, you can unbypass during a song, or set up a B path, with two MES-434's, and be able to process with analog eq on load-out to a previewing lathe, with custom eq for each song.   And with no clicks when (de-)invoking. 


Andrew

[Bonati]

Thanks Andrew - kick-ass post! One of those posts I copy & paste into a .txt doc for safe keeping. I didn't know that the DUO had never been released. I wonder if it might be slightly maddening to have to choose between the ITI/Sontec sounds everyday. Too many choices - I might fiddle around too much. I catch myself using Weiss gear like that sometimes. My eye is on the 4 channel unit or the 482. I'd probably try to order an extra faceplate for the 482 - I heard they "sink" pretty quick.

[dietrich]

4 channel for me will be most useful really only when cutting a track side of a lacquer.
I think the 'option' of the extra channels is enticing

[Ed Littman]

Thanks Andrew - kick-ass post! One of those posts I copy & paste into a .txt doc for safe keeping. I didn't know that the DUO had never been released. I wonder if it might be slightly maddening to have to choose between the ITI/Sontec sounds everyday. Too many choices - I might fiddle around too much. I catch myself using Weiss gear like that sometimes. My eye is on the 4 channel unit or the 482. I'd probably try to order an extra faceplate for the 482 - I heard they "sink" pretty quick.

Burgess was open to designing the duo so you can switch the ITI/Sontec cards per channel for more choices in m/s mode. add that to your maddness

Ed

[24-96 Mastering]

Thanks Andrew - kick-ass post! One of those posts I copy & paste into a .txt doc for safe keeping. I didn't know that the DUO had never been released. I wonder if it might be slightly maddening to have to choose between the ITI/Sontec sounds everyday. Too many choices - I might fiddle around too much. I catch myself using Weiss gear like that sometimes. My eye is on the 4 channel unit or the 482. I'd probably try to order an extra faceplate for the 482 - I heard they "sink" pretty quick.

Actually, at least on my 482/462, the faceplate is supported by the chassis lid, so there's no sag if you keep the lid on.

[phonon]

And here I thought Josh was talking about the ITI recording console which did sink... to the bottom of a river when the studio built on a barge sank with all its other gear.

The new faceplates, including for the 48x series, are solid as an iron skillet, and the beautiful embossed legends will grace any rack space.

Wait 'til you hear about the new controls he's working on.  The Grail is ultimately a moving target, receding into the mists with developing technologies.

On the other hand, the original 430 which Dietrich is curious about, already happens to have M/S (ITI/Sontec "C")  DUO capability, since it was upgraded, years ago, with "C" series op amps for the program path, keeping the original ITI op amps in the preview path.  A repatching can, of course, then apply the Left Program and Left Preview as Left Program and Right Program, respectively.  The 2-channel DUO, however, using today's boards, is still a work in progress.   And the 482 can't be used for M/S eq, since, like the 462, the left and right are ganged on each switch.

Andrew