Pultec Studio & Home Studio

The Pultec EQP-1 filter is a classic equalization unit in the form of a rackable piece of outboard gear. It is an all analog unit and it will take up two rack space units. UTILIZATION The configuration of the Pultec EQP-1 is very easy to follow and to use. It basically has two bands - one for low frequency and one for high frequency. For each of these, it has a knob to choose the exact frequency, and knobs for boost and attenuation. It also has a bandwidth knob that applies to both of the bands and has an attenuation selector that also applies to both of the bands. I don't have the manual for this EQ, as it is old and rare, but I never needed it and if you have ever used a basic EQ you should have no issues with this. SOUND QUALITY The sound quality of the Pultec EQP-1 is awesome in every aspect. It is an effective EQ, with all the parameters needed to do the job well. It has become a classic piece of gear for one reason, and that is because it just sounds so good. I have used this on everything from lead vocals to guitars and drums, always with great results. In terms of outboard EQs, it doesn't get much better than this. OVERALL OPINION I've been using the Pultec EQP-1 filter for about two years and whenever I have access to it, I always use it. It is extremely expensive now because of how rare and coveted they are, so I would only recommend trying to purchase this to those who are really looking to put together or add to a top flight professional studio. For the rest of us, we are lucky to be able to use these. Overall, the Pultec EQP-1 is one of the best EQ/filters ever made.

The Pultec MB-1 is the general name given to the Pultec tube dual channel microphone preamp. I don't know much background information about these, but there seems to be a lot of clones out there since there most likely weren't many of them made. A producer recently brought one of these into the studio where I work, although I'm not sure if it was a custom built one or not. However, it shouldn't matter much as if it's a true Pultec preamp it will share the same make up. This one in particular has both XLR and 1/4" connections for each of the two channels and is a rack mountable piece of gear, taking up two spaces in a traditional rack casing. UTILIZATION The configuration of the Pultec MB-1 isn't too difficult to follow or understand if you know anything about mic preamps. Each of the two channels has the same make up, which consists of knobs for setting your gain and impedance, as well as switches for 48 volt phantom power, a -20 db pad, and a phase switch as well. That's essentially the make up of this preamp, so a manual shouldn't really be needed. SOUND QUALITY The sound of the Pultec MB-1 makes it one of the best preamps that I've ever heard. A producer recently brought one of these into the studio where I work and we used it to record lead vocals for a number of different songs with the same singer. The microphone being used was a Shure SM7B. I'm a big fan of the SM7 on it's own, but I've never heard it come in as rich and full as when it was through the MB-1. The producer told us that he uses it for pretty much everything, and that it excels especially for vocals. I only got to use it for this one session, but it was enough where I was incredibly impressed with the sound and will undoubtedly jump at the chance to use it again. OVERALL OPINION I don't think you'll be able to get your hands on a Pultec MB-1 any time soon unless you were to build one yourself. I really don't know much background information about this dual channel preamp, but using it on one session was enough to have me a fan for life. If you've ever got the chance to try, buy, or build one of these, it will be a preamp that you'll use or want to use as much as possible. This is a very special preamp designed by one of the pioneers of pro audio.

The Pultec HLF-3C is a single channel passive filter made up of all analog components that is extremely hard to come by. I don't know at all what sorts of connections it has since the one I used was in a professional studio and was already racked up. I will take up three spaces in a traditional sized rack. UTILIZATION The make up of the Pultec HLF-3C is really one of the simplest possible, as with a lot of Pultec gear they have made it as easy as possible to use. The HLF-3C simply has two filtering bands, each consisting of only a single knob. There are both high and low cut off knobs to set your frequency, which you've got about ten frequencies to choose between on each of them. So essentially you've got a high and low pass filter here with the most basic make up possible. I don't know anything about the manual and would think that it would be quite hard to find even if you did want to look at one - I can't see why anyone would need to though! SOUND QUALITY The sound quality of the Pultec HLF-3C rivals the best high/low pass filter combinations that I've heard. In fact it might just be the best. It has an extremely clean sound and will do it's job well, but as with all Pultec gear there is a certain quality here that isn't found in any other units. It is something that is sort of hard to describe in words and really needs to be heard for yourself. If you've used other Pultec gear like the classic EQP-1A, then you definitely understand what I'm talking about. The HLF-3C is versatile in the sense that it can be used for filtering any instrument or voice really, but obviously doesn't have all the control in the world... OVERALL OPINION I really don't have a bad thing to say about the Pultec HLF-3C. While there aren't many parameters at all to play with, when doing high and low pass filtering, this is basically all that you really need anyway. I can't say what the price range would be for a HLF-3C, but it will of course be very pricey since these are especially hard to find and are coming from such a renown manufacturer. Having said all of this, if you can get your hands on one for even a day, I'd definitely recommend doing so!