Professional Analog Mastering.
Professional Analog Mastering.
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Colour EQ is a 6-band EQ that acts as you’d expect; however, you get the added benefit of these A/B filter types. The intensity of the dual peaks with type B filters can be blended in. Meanwhile, the Q values are precise enough for notch filtering or gradual enough for tone-shaping.
ZL Equalizer is similar to the FabFilter Pro-Q 3 or Kirchoff EQ; it allows for multiple filter types with various stereo placements and a wide array of slope values. Bands can be soloed, made dynamic with peak and RMS monitoring, triggered by side-chain inputs, and more. The operation doesn’t feel as smooth as the Pro-Q 3, but that’s to be expected.
Equalizer V4 by Toneboosters isn’t technically free, but the demo only withholds saving presets - something you can override with most DAWs. It’s a 15-band EQ with comprehensive filter types, L/R and M/S placement, dynamic band functionality, and even AI assist. I wanted to include it since its demo is more than usable, but hopefully some folks will purchase it for an incredibly reasonable price of $29.
MEqualizer only includes 6 bands but offers amazing flexibility with band routing, automatic gain control, a limiter for ear protection, and truly impressive customization options. Some notable features include Areas that add descriptors to various frequency ranges and harmonics, which create controllable filters that correspond to the frequency of the original filter.
Shape It is the simplest EQ in this section but also the most user-friendly and responsive. You can create up to 10 bands with various slopes, solo bands, highlight and affect multiple bands at once, blend the overall amount of amplitude change, and lock filters in place. Keyboard commands make this plugin even easier to use for making changes quickly.
Spline EQ is a linear phase 4-band processor with a unique approach to filtering. We can control each band’s gain, frequency, and slope, with Q values and filter type coming from the interaction of these bands - which, as you can see, creates some impressive results. Global controls let you quickly change overall frequency, overall gain, and gain scale, while a precision window lets us control the nature of its linear phase processing.
The majority of these EQs act as you’d expect, so let’s listen to the 2 unique ones - Colour EQ and SplineEQ- and notice how they allow for filtering, which is difficult to achieve without them.
Watch the video to learn more >
Fiver emulates Neve’s inductor EQs found in the Shelford Channel Strip but adds high and low shelves and variable Q values. Mild harmonic distortion is introduced, with the option to drive the input and compensate with the trim to achieve higher THD levels.
SSQ is an SSL 611-EQ emulation, with the addition of low and HP filters and the ability to drive the input to create more harmonic distortion. FL enables the HP and LP filters, meanwhile the LB and HB tabs switch the filter from a shelf to a bell - just like the hardware. Only the low and high-mid bands are fully parametric.
TREQ emulates Trident Audio’s 80B EQ and follows its 4-band design very closely - with the addition of variable input and output amplitudes. Additionally, this EQ seems to introduce the greatest level of harmonic distortion.
BXQ emulates Dangerous Music’s BAX EQ with the addition of mid-side processing instead of just left/right. Baxandall Shelfing curves are incredibly smooth, making this a good choice for mastering, but the high level of THD and the potentially aggressive HP and LP filters make this better suited for mixing.
One thing to note: all of these plugins allow for 4x oversampling when you click the Analog Obsession logo.
Let’s listen to these 4 EQs used on the same drum bus and notice that even though their center frequencies are made as close as possible, we achieve differing sounds due to various filter shapes, types, slopes, and so on.
Watch the video to learn more >
OAQ offers a simple way to shape important frequencies on the left and right, as well as the mid and side. Processing can be linked or independent. When the drive is set to zero, there's almost no harmonic distortion, but it can be quickly introduced by increasing this dial. Higher levels result in higher-order harmonics - again, oversampling is an option.
The NEQ mastering edition is a recreation of an incredibly rare Neumann EQ - the curves are gradual, and it includes subtle to moderate HP filters. Processing can be switched from L/R to M/S, individual channels can be bypassed, and the THD is capped at a pre-determined level.
MAXBAX is a personal favorite. It’s similar to BXQ but without an HP filter and with the addition of subtle mid-Hz bands. The curves are super gentle, harmonic distortion is always incredibly low, and M/S processing is an option. Instead of oversampling, a LP filter is used to remove aliasing.
This EQ has been around for a while but still holds up. The defaulted automatic gain compensation creates a really enjoyable connection between the 3 filters, 4 if you introduce the HP. Four different EQ types introduce some versatility, and the output stage lets you include saturation. Linear is incredibly clean, and funky has the most aggressive distortion.
Let’s listen to these 4 EQs on a full mix and notice how they each impart a controlled and subtle but distinct sound.