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Average Price: $5,980

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Based on price data from 1 merchant for "George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

The GML 8200 Parametric Equalizer is a masterpiece from the legendary George Massenburg, the pioneer of parametric equalization. Renowned for its unmatched sonic clarity, this 2U rackmount unit has set the standard for professional equalizers, finding its home in top-tier studios worldwide. Whether it's enhancing the subtleties of a vocal track or shaping the overall tone of a mix, the GML 8200 provides engineers with the tools for precise, no-compromise audio production.

Designed with a focus on versatility and control, the GML 8200 features five overlapping bands, each offering a substantial 15dB of boost or cut. The bandwidth, or "Q," can be adjusted from 0.4 to 4, granting you surgical precision over your sound. The lowest and highest bands offer a switchable Shelf mode, making this EQ as flexible as it is powerful. With its benchmark transparency, the 8200 ensures that the integrity of your audio remains pristine, even under the most demanding conditions.

Key Features:

  • 5-band stereo parametric equalizer
  • 15dB of boost or cut per band
  • Adjustable bandwidth from 0.4 to 4 octaves
  • Switchable low and high shelving options
  • 2U rackmount design for professional studio setups
  • External power supply included

Product specs

Number of Channels 2
Tube No
Bypass Yes
Number of Bands 5
High Pass Filter No highpass filter
Low Pass Filter No lowpass filter
Q Type Variable
Boost/Cut Range ±15
Freq Range High .4-26kHz
Freq Range Hi-Mid .4-26kHz
Freq Range Mid .12-8kHz
Freq Range Lo-Mid 15-800Hz
Freq Range Low 15-800Hz
Inputs 2 x XLR
Outputs 2 x XLR
Frequency Response 10Hz-80kHz (+/- 0.1dB)
Rack Spaces 2U
Height 3.5"
Depth 8.5"
Width 19"
Weight 6 lbs.

FAQs

What makes the GML 8200 Parametric EQ suitable for professional studio use?

The GML 8200 offers precise control with its 5-band parametric EQ, allowing detailed frequency adjustments across a wide range. Its exceptional frequency response from 10Hz to 80kHz ensures high fidelity, making it ideal for professional mixing and mastering.

Does the GML 8200 provide true bypass functionality?

Yes, the GML 8200 features true bypass, ensuring your signal remains unaffected when the EQ is not in use, preserving the original tone and integrity of your audio.

Can the GML 8200 be used for both mixing and mastering applications?

Absolutely, the GML 8200's precise parametric controls and wide frequency range make it versatile for both mixing and mastering, allowing engineers to shape sound with accuracy and finesse.

How does the variable Q type on the GML 8200 enhance its functionality?

The variable Q type allows users to adjust the bandwidth of each EQ band, providing flexibility to make narrow or broad frequency adjustments, which is crucial for detailed sound sculpting.

What are the connectivity options for the GML 8200?

The GML 8200 is equipped with 2 XLR inputs and outputs, ensuring professional-grade connections suitable for any studio setup.

ryansloandotnet

ryansloandotnet

GML 8200 Walkthrough by George Massenburg Presented by RyanSloan.net

Video thumbnail for GML 8200 Walkthrough by George Massenburg Presented by RyanSloan.net by ryansloandotnet

GML 8200 Walkthrough by George Massenburg Presented by RyanSloan.net

ryansloandotnet

ryansloandotnet

Video thumbnail for GML 8200 Parametric Equalizer by Ljud- och musikproduktion

GML 8200 Parametric Equalizer

Ljud- och musikproduktion

Ljud- och musikproduktion

Video thumbnail for The Naked Tech - GML 8200 Parametric Equaliser by Funky Junk

The Naked Tech - GML 8200 Parametric Equaliser

Funky Junk

Funky Junk

Video thumbnail for GML 8200 Parametric EQ Review by Audio Animals Studio

GML 8200 Parametric EQ Review

Audio Animals Studio

Audio Animals Studio

Video thumbnail for GML 8200 vs Pulsar 8200 | Plugin vs Hardware by Thomas van Opstal

GML 8200 vs Pulsar 8200 | Plugin vs Hardware

Thomas van Opstal

Thomas van Opstal

Video thumbnail for GML 8200 - Estúdio Arte Master by Eduardo Kusdra

GML 8200 - Estúdio Arte Master

Eduardo Kusdra

Eduardo Kusdra

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200.

Features and functionality

  • The GML 8200 EQ allows for drastic EQ changes, such as -10 or -12 dB dips, due to its clean and surgical precision.

    Source
  • The GML EQs are described as "the tits," indicating high satisfaction with their performance among users familiar with them.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The GML 8200 is noted for its superiority over digital parametric EQs, as users describe it as a godsend before such technology became widespread.

    Source
  • A user notes that the GML EQs from the Sontec era are rarer and sound very different, being more powerful and smoother than the 8200.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners express a strong attachment to the GML 8200, with one stating they will hold onto it indefinitely despite the discontinuation by Manley.

    Source
  • Owners express a sense of loss over the potential discontinuation of GML hardware, indicating strong brand loyalty and appreciation for its unique sound quality.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The GML 8200 is highly valued in professional mixing environments, where its ability to make confident, drastic EQ adjustments is frequently praised.

    Source

Build quality

  • The GML 8200 is praised for its smooth, powerful sound, offering precision while being distinct from digital counterparts.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The scarcity of GML gear, alongside the company's current hiatus, is likely to increase the perceived value among collectors and professionals alike.

    Source

Critic Reviews

GML 8200 EQ - Attack Magazine

attackmagazine.com

The GML 8200 EQ is celebrated as an industry-standard tool that has revolutionized sound sculpting since the 1970s. Lauded for its versatility and musicality, this parametric EQ is a favorite in top-tier facilities worldwide. Mixing and mastering engineer Brian Schwab praises its precision and clarity, especially in mastering, where it delivers a clean, powerful low-end and pleasing high-end without harshness. Its ability to shape sound with surgical precision makes it a go-to for various applications, from bass to acoustic instruments. While its price might be steep, its unparalleled tonal shaping capabilities justify the investment.

positive

GML 8200 Parametric EQ Review (Video) - Audio Animals Ltd.

audioanimals.co.uk

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Mac DeMarco uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Mac DeMarco

Singer, Guitarist

Mac DeMarco

...
Verified via YouTube

We can see GML 8200 Equalizer at 0:08 in this video.

See how Toro y Moi uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Toro y Moi

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Emusician

The last step in the chain to process Toro Y Moi's drum tracks is the GML 8200 Equalizer, used "for clean up, for subtraction, because it’s more detailed and sweeter than the [mixing] board."

See how Madlib uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Madlib

Rapper, Music Producer

Madvillain

...
Verified via Archive

Used for the vocals on Champion Sound, as stated in this September 1, 2003 Remix article.

“I think Madlib pretty much just invents his own rules,” Peanut Butter Wolf muses. Studio engineer Dave Cooley claims that holds true even when a different setup is needed. For “React,” Jay Dee's beat and 'lib's turntable cuts were flown into Digidesign Pro Tools from separate stereo and 4-track masters. Madlib then tracked his vocals on an Audio-Technica 4033A and a Shure SM7, from there going into a Neve 1099 preamp, a GML 8200 EQ, a Universal Audio 1176LN limiting amplifier and finally a dbx 902 De-Esser. “We usually de-ess maybe 4 dB off of the vocals and then compress with a ratio of 8 to 1, which is pretty high,” Cooley explains. “But Madlib likes his shit loud, and it's mixed loud to begin with. He has a really cool ‘angular’ mixing style: Something is always sticking out.”

See how The Chemical Brothers uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

The Chemical Brothers

Music Producer

The Chemical Brothers

...
Verified via Synthtopia

the GML 8200 can be seen on one of the racks in the center of this image

See how Owl City uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Owl City

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Ayoungmusic

A GML 8200 can be found in Owl City's studio.

See how Dominic Howard uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Dominic Howard

Drummer, Music Producer

Muse

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Mix engineer Tommaso Colliva on recording Drones : "Most of the microphones went through the Neve desk, and we also had some EQs and compressors in the chain. For example, I had [...] a GML 8200 EQ on the overheads."

See how Kurt Ballou uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Kurt Ballou

Guitarist, Music Producer

Converge

...
Verified via Photo

A couple welcome arrivals at the studio today! The first is a GML 8200 by way of @atomic_garden_east. I’ve used many GML’s over the years and have owned a Sontec and a Don Classic but never an 8200. Hyped to have it in my arsenal! Anyone want to buy a pair of Empirical Labs Lil’ Freq’s? The second is a bag of new old stock

See how Peter Gabriel uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Peter Gabriel

Singer, Keyboardist

Genesis

...
Verified via YouTube

In the video titled "Inside Real World Studios, Peter Gabriel's recording sanctuary" by The Vinyl Factory, a George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200 parametric equalizer is visibly present in Peter Gabriel's studio at the 0:21 mark, confirming its use in his recording setup.

See how Tommy Lee uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Tommy Lee

Drummer

Mötley Crüe

...
Verified via YouTube

This can be seen as part of the rack-mountable equipment in the studio in this video.

See how James Newton Howard uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

James Newton Howard

Keyboardist, Composer

Mama Lion

...
Verified via Photo

The GML 8200 Equalizer can be seen in the back of the composer's desk.

See how Nathan Followill uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Nathan Followill

Drummer

Kings of Leon

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used to submix the bass drum and snare on Only by the Night, as stated by producer Jacques King in this December 2008 Sound on Sound interview.

"The microphones on the drums changed a lot from song to song. On the kick it could be a Beta 52, sometimes it was an RE20, or a [Sennheiser] 421, or a [Neumann] FET 47, or an NS10 [i.e. the driver from a Yamaha NS10 monitor used as a mic], or a combination. It depends on what I was trying to achieve. The mics were usually in front of the kick, or just barely inside. On one song, 'Crawl', I did put a U87 on the batter side of the kick, next to the pedal, which gives a very attack-orientated sound, with a Led Zeppelin-ish quality. On 'Sex On Fire' I used the 52, FET 47 and NS10 on the kick. I had all the kick mics on a Neve BCM10 sidecar and I'd submix them and run them through a GML EQ and then to one track on the tape. I didn't want to keep them separate. It was a matter of get the sound, make the decision, and move on.

"The snare was recorded in similar fashion to the kick. I had the option of various mics that all went through a BCM10 and were submixed, through a GML 580 EQ, then a [Empirical Labs] Distressor, just to give it some control and make sure the snare hit the tape at the right level. On the track sheet a transformerless Shure SM57 is indicated. It was something I read about a couple of years ago, and it's a really good thing. It gives a nicer, more transparent, usable sound that requires less EQ. You lose a bit of level, but typically the things that you record with a 57 are so loud anyway that it doesn't matter. So I asked the people at Blackbird to take the transformer out of one of their 57s and they were gracious enough to do this. After recording I also ran the snare and kick through an Eventide DSP4000 on a Big Muff setting, and recorded that in Pro Tools during the transfer to the computer.

Despite mention of a "580", a 8200 is clearly visible in the bottom right corner of this picture of Studio D's outboard rack from the same interview.

See how Digitalism uses George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200

Digitalism

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

can be seen in this post from September 2, 2013

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use George Massenburg Labs (GML) 8200, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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