ProAudio Review - November 2008 - (Page 36)

www.proaudioreview.com Fast Facts Applications Studio, project studio, broadcast, post production, mastering Key Features 2U, two-channel EQ with hybrid 12AT7 vacuum-tube design; toroid power transformer; 30 kHz bandwidth, -94 dBm noise floor; XLR I/O; 8 kHz and 84 Hz high and low filters; selectable 30 Hz, 50 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz, 300 Hz, and 400 Hz low frequency, selectable 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1.2 kHz, 1.6 kHz and 2 kHz midfrequency, and selectable 2.5 kHz, 3.5 kHz, 5 kHz, 7.5 kHz, 10 kHz and 15 kHz high-frequency bands with ±13 dB non-dentented boost/cut Price $2,695 Contact A-Designs Audio | 818-716-4153 www.adesignsaudio.com Product Points Warm tube sound Extremely musical No band bypass Score The HAMMER is aabsolutely wonderful. wonderful sounding broadband valve EQ that sounds vocals), I found the HAMMER to be the perfect complement to ribbon microphones. While recording a Baldwin grand piano, I ran a spaced pair of Audix SCX-25 mics through a pair of Hardy mic pres and the HAMMER EQ and had fantastic results by boosting 50 Hz by 2 dB, cutting 250 Hz by 2 dB and boosting 15 kHz by 3 dB. My favorite use for the HAMMER is strapping it across the stereo bus. Anyone who has complained about the sonics of mixing in the box should give the HAMMER a try as I’ve found it to completely transform my mixes into an entirely different beast; it adds punch, fullness, and sparkle without adding any noise. I’ve been using the HAMMER this way for nearly a year now, and I’m continually impressed with its detail and precision. Rather than add it toward the end of a mix, I’ll add it early on before I start to insert a bunch of plug-ins on individual channels. This makes me rely less on plug-ins, which—when used overly aggressively—can often result in phase-correlation issues. The thing that has continually amazed me about the HAMMER is that I can make drastic adjustments on individual instruments or on a stereo mix (boosting 10 kHz 9 dB, cutting 500 Hz 12 dB, or boosting 30 Hz 9 dB) and the audio remains smooth. I wish that detented potentiometers on the band gain controls were optional; it would simplify recalls—but I’d be willing to pay more for this option. Additionally, I wish there was a way to bypass each of the three bands individually in addition to being able to bypass the entire EQ circuit. Summary The HAMMER is truly a new concept in equalization. This isn’t the equalizer to tweak a narrow frequency band or with a vintage tube sound. But if you are in need of a broad-stroking, smooth, and sweet sound, the magical HAMMER could be your salvation. Review Setup: Apple Macintosh 2 GHz Dual Processor G5 w/2 GB RAM, Digidesign Pro Tools 7.4, Lynx Aurora Converters, Lucid Gen-X-96 Clock, PMC AML-1 monitors, Focal Twin6 Be monitors annoying 800 Hz overtone. During another tracking session I used the HAMMER on drum overheads, and again I had fantastic results. I used the Royer SF12 through the A-Designs Pacifica mic pre and was able to get a beautiful sparkle and shimmer by boosting 10 kHz by 7.5 dB. In several instances (electric and acoustic guitar, violin, cello, and 36 ProAudioReview | November 2008 http://www.proaudioreview.com http://www.adesignsaudio.com http://www.acousticsfirst.com http://www.acousticsfirst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - November 2008

ProAudio Review - November 2008 Contents Technically Speaking First Look 2008 PAR Excellence Awards New Studio Products Studio Sense Review: Solid State Logic Matrix Review: Arsenal Audio by API R24, V14, and R20 Mini-Review Review, Second Opinion, and Benchtest Review: A-Designs HM2EQ HAMMER Review: Sontronics Sigma Phantom Powered Ribbon Microphone Analog In The Studio: Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be New Live Products Worship Audio Review: Community VERIS Series Loudspeakers Installation Profile Single Slice

ProAudio Review - November 2008

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