Apex’s Paul Van Hees

During my travels in Europe, I have used Apex’ GX Series graphic equalizers, although I never encountered the PE Series, their “Paragraphic” equalizers, which seems like a great idea. In addition to a standard graphic EQ, the PE adds a three band parametric EQ on the right side, as well as high and low pass filters. Apex Managing Director Paul Van Hees, from Belgium, showed me around their Intelli-Q Real-Time System Optimizer, the Argos Sound Leveller and the Hera Sound Level Controller. In Europe, there are some very seriously enforced sound restrictions, and venues need units that will monitor and restrict level, to avoid repercussions from officialdom.

As many people have mentioned in articles over the last year, in different publications, we will probably see more of this type of regulation in the US, in years to come.

Argos can measure sound in three different ways – with a mic, from the line level output of a console, or from the output of an amp. The limiting functions can be set to be a less radical “Slow” setting or a more severe “Fast” action. It incorporates its own pink noise generator to calibrate the unit. In addition to working to stay within local ordinances, Argos also keeps crazy mixers from blowing up a rig. And that, as we know, is a good thing.

The Hera unit uses a test mic to get readings of level from a system, and these records can be printed out, as is sometimes required, or send a real-time display to a remote monitor. It also interfaces with, and can trigger, an Argos.

The Intelli-Q requires a laptop to operate, which can be a wireless tablet PC, in order to walk and do your EQ-ing. Up to 16 units can be controlled from one computer. It is a comprehensive program that starts off with a 30 band graphic, plus the ability to overlay up to ten parametric filters. The parametrics can be clicked and dragged to shape the curve, or the user can enter numeric data, such as information gathered from SMAART.

A phantom powered mic can be attached to drive a spectrum analyzer, that also has a pink noise generator. Additional features are up to five seconds of delay, high pass, low pass and shelving filters, compression and limiting, with XLR sidechain access.

Retail on each Intelli-Q will be around $4,000. Something I really liked was a software feature that locks off all the deeper features from a visiting engineer, and only offers them access to the graphic EQ function. Keep those stinking hands off my comp/limiters!