Recording - November 2013 - 50

Millennia Media NSEQ-2 EQ

Apples and oranges
While comparing the NSEQ-2 plug-in
with its hardware counterpart, I also put
it up against three other similarly-styled
UAD-2 eqs. Readers who already own
UAD cards will probably have one or
more of these plug-ins already, and will
find these comparisons directly useful.
Of all the eqs in the UAD arsenal, the
NSEQ-2 is perhaps the most similar to UA’s
own Precision eq—a software-only creation.
The NSEQ-2 plug-in sounds much more analog and real, however the Precision eq has
one major feature that I have always missed
on the NSEQ-2: a highpass filter. The
Precision eq also has a broader range of
selectable and overlapping eq frequencies.
Next up, I compared the NSEQ-2 plug-in
to the Brainworx bx_digital V2 for the UAD
system. Again, for realism and analog character the NSEQ-2 has the edge, but the bx
can be much more surgical and precise,
especially for cutting, as well as offering a 5th
band, high- and lowpass filters and more.

Finally I tried my best to match settings
between the NSEQ-2 and UA’s Manley
Massive Passive emulation, which I had to do
more by ear than by numbers. Overall I liked
the lows and highs of the NSEQ-2 better,
while the Massive had a much tighter and
more controlled mid section that was quite
nice. Ultimatly the two sounded very different
and complemented each other nicely.
Conclusions
As a long-time NSEQ-2 user, I think
Universal Audio and Brainworx have hit a
huge home run here! I think this is one of the
best software equalizers that UA has released
to date, and it stands toe to toe with the
abovementioned Massive Passive model.

The Millennia Media NSEQ-4
Since I was revisiting the
NSEQ-2, what better time to
take a look at Millennia
Media’s latest eq creation,
the NSEQ-4? Millennia
Media were kind enough to
loan me one for a quick set of
tests against my NSEQ-2 and
the Universal Audio plug-in, and I was very curious to hear how
this new version would fare against my beloved hardware and
the exciting new software.
So what is the NSEQ-4, precisely? I guess you could call it a
sibling or cousin of the NSEQ-2; they share the same chassis,
controls and operation. Internally, however, the NSEQ-4 is a
whole different beast. Unlike its Twin Topology counterpart, the
NSEQ-4 is solid state only—the tube stage has been removed
and the FET side has been completely redesigned. This is not an
entirely new idea. The original NSEQ-1 was originally solid
state only, and there has also been a third-party mod floating
around for years that removed the NSEQ-2’s tube stage and
modified the solid state side for improved sonics and clarity.
This new official Millennia Media version is built upon what they
call the “World’s first (and only) all-discrete, true differential Class-A
input buffer/amplifier.” It also makes use of a new third-generation
FSA-03 all-discrete eq amplifier and an upgraded power supply.
Other changes include allowing the user to choose between balanced or unbalanced input at the touch of a button. That button is
where the Tube/FET button used to be on the NSEQ-2. The only
other visual change is that the 10 dB button for changing the range
of the eq is now labeled Low rather than 10 dB, although it does
the same thing. For further comparison I could post the specs of the
NSEQ-4, but according to Millennia’s product page they are exactly the same. So where is the difference? It’s all in the ear!
50

RECORDING November 2013

While usually thought of as a mastering eq,
the NSEQ-2 may surprise you with what it can
do on drums, bass, acoustic instruments,
vocals and more. And while there’s still a certain something that the hardware possesses
when set up against its software counterpart,
the plug-in’s modest price makes it a downright steal. This is a fabulous addition to UA’s
stable of exceptional eqs, and you’ll want to
try it on your own tracks and mixes.
Price: $299
More from: Universal Audio,
uaudio.com. To learn more about the
NSEQ hardware, visit Millennia Media,
www.mil-media.com.

Overall I would compare the difference between the NSEQ-2
and NSEQ-4 as similar to the difference between the UAD plugin and the NSEQ-2 hardware. For as transparent and pristine as
I have found the NSEQ-2 to be over the years, the NSEQ-4 ups
the game by peeling off another layer from the sound and
adding a whole new level of clarity. It’s an NSEQ-2 but with
greater tightness and focus.
While we usually associate clarity with the highs, it’s really the
lows and low mids that are more dimensional and spacious on the
NSEQ-4. It does seem a tad less bassy when compared side by
side to the NSEQ-2, but it offers a gorgeous clarity that is great for
mastering and cleaning up the low end. While the NSEQ-4 is realistic sounding in an “almost not there” kind of way, I would not call
it a surgical eq in the same vein as, say, the razor-sharp Empirical
Labs Lil Freq. Instead the NSEQ-4 works in broader, delicate
strokes... rather like comparing a beautiful fine ox hair paintbrush
to a surgeon’s sharpest scalpel.
The NSEQ-4 sells for the same price as the NSEQ-2, $4144.99
street, and it’s available as a modification if you already own an
NSEQ-2 you’d like to have Millennia rebuild. This brings the choice
down to your needs. I loved the sound and spaciousness of the
NSEQ-4, and if I was primarily a mastering engineer it would be
an easy choice. However, since my business is mostly tracking and
mixing, I like the slightly bigger low end of the NSEQ-2 and the
way its tube stage blooms better for my tasks.—PV

http://www.uaudio.com http://www.mil-media.com

Recording - November 2013

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