EQ Plug-in's?

[Arpangel]

My use of all things plug-in rather than hardware is increasing the older I get, its just easier, and more versatile, and cheaper.
However, I’m lacking a really good software EQ, I'm looking for a channel strip type, analogue style UI vibe, nothing too complex, capable of corrective EQ, doesn’t have to be radical.

[omnamic]

Not analogue-style but worth checking out:

Massenburg DesignWorks MDWEQ5 and

Sonnox Oxford EQ Native

[Bob Bickerton]

UAD Pultec Passive EQ: https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/equa ... ction.html

And yes, it’s available in native format.

Bob

[Arpangel]

UAD Pultec Passive EQ: https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/equa ... ction.html

And yes, it’s available in native format.

Bob

Those look good Bob, could be a contender

[Bob Bickerton]

STOP PRESS!

I just noticed the UAD Essentials Edition is on special for US$199 and includes the Pultec EQ, their LA2A compressors, as well as tape delay, channels strips, plate and tape emulations……….

Bob

And just to add, the UAD Pultec and LA2A plug-ins are what I use when I want to do the analogue thing………… and they cost me several arms and legs more than that!

[Drew Stephenson]

Couple of free options for you here, I'm a fan of both:
https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/EMINENCE

https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/COFFEEFREE

[The Elf]

Far from being free, but try to get SSL's Channel Strip 2 when it's on offer.

[resistorman]

Plugin Alliance has the peculiar business model of listing their plugins at very high prices and regularly putting them on sale for 1/10 the price. That aside, I use their SSL9000 channel strip on almost every channel of almost every mix I do. I notice it's on sale at $30 today... highly recommended.

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/prod ... 000_j.html

[Matt Houghton]

So, so many options. Lots mentioned above and all of those are good. Kinda depends what you mean by channel strip style — what channel? (Neve, API, SSL, Harrison etc)

I'd second the suggestion to try the free Acustica Audio ones. They'll give you a taste of how they do things, and they have a lot more paid ones too, all 'channel strip style' sampled from the actual hardware, often with multiple options per plug-in, and they put different plug-ins on sale frequently.

For more conventional modelling plug-ins, I've been impressed buy the Pulsar Audio plug-ins — sort of the best of both worlds in terms of the GUI, in that you get analogue style controls, and a curve with nodes, but you can hide things. They sound decent too.

Also, I'm loving the Tone Projects Michaelangelo (modelled version of the HEndy Amps hardware) at the moment. Sounds amazing and very tweakable. But that one might be a bit 'quirky' for your needs (need to spend some time learning how to get what you want from it...).

Just a few suggestions, not an exhaustive list — there are loads of other good ones out there.

[James Perrett]

Not a channel strip but for an alternative to Reaper's standard Eq (which is very capable) take a look at ReEq. There's a review at

https://cdm.link/2020/07/reeq-free-reap ... ng-better/

and you can grab it from the links in the Reaper forum at

https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=213501

It is a Reaper JS plug-in so, for those who don't have Reaper, you'll need to get hold of Reaplugs and use the JS wrapper in that.

[Zukan]

I don't use a lot of channel strip eqs but when I do I really like the SSL offerings, E and G.

If you're after variety, as oppsoed to a strip, then grab a Pultec emulator, a FabFilter Q3 and, my favourite, TDR Nova GE and Vostok.

[yeroc]

My use of all things plug-in rather than hardware is increasing the older I get, its just easier, and more versatile, and cheaper.
However, I’m lacking a really good software EQ, I'm looking for a channel strip type, analogue style UI vibe, nothing too complex, capable of corrective EQ, doesn’t have to be radical.

Kiive Warmy sounds great and is free!

https://www.kiiveaudio.com/products/warmy-ep1a-v2

The Lindell 80 is a longtime favorite, sounds great and is $30.

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/prod ... eries.html

Both have a nice range of saturation.

True252 is less saturated but really nice for broad strokes! $40 or cheaper usually-

https://kazrog.com/collections/audio-pl ... s/true-252

[Arpangel]

I'll have to sort through this lot, what i'm after is something that just does good precise cut/boost, for "trimming" sounds into their basic frequency bands, tidying up.
I'm not after saturation or anything like that.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

This one is ticks all your boxes Tony, and it is free

https://www.mellowmuse.com/EQ1A

If you own a Focusrite interface you get the Red EQ for free. It’s slightly better than the Mellowmuse, and about equal to the Native Instruments SSL emulation (the Focusrite has a sweeter HF shelf boost to my ears).

But if you are using Logic, the bundled eq is excellent.

Not a channel strip but for an alternative to Reaper's standard Eq (which is very capable) take a look at ReEq. There's a review at

https://cdm.link/2020/07/reeq-free-reap ... ng-better/

and you can grab it from the links in the Reaper forum at

https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=213501

It is a Reaper JS plug-in so, for those who don't have Reaper, you'll need to get hold of Reaplugs and use the JS wrapper in that.

I find the standard Reaper eq has phase and ringing artefacts at times, and that JS one was better but not much.

[yeroc]

I'll have to sort through this lot, what i'm after is something that just does good precise cut/boost, for "trimming" sounds into their basic frequency bands, tidying up.
I'm not after saturation or anything like that.

Sorry, must have misunderstood. Thought you wanted an eq that's vintage inspired and vibey. Those generally all have at least a small amount of saturation and non linearity. That's why we like em!

Demo True252 though, I think it might do what you want. Saturation wise it's so minuscule you might just think it sounds that tad bit 'better'

Otherwise I would just say get Pro Q3 or TDR's Nova Gentleman Edition (which is free)

[Wonks]

Otherwise I would just say get Pro Q3 or TDR's Nova Gentleman Edition (which is free)

Except it’s the cut-down TDR Nova EQ that’s free, the GE (Gentlemen’s Edition) is officially $60, though can normally be found for half that.

Fabien from TDR is hinting that a gentleman would pay for software.

[resistorman]

For a mere 1k you can buy Harrison's channel strip plugin

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ha ... nnel-strip

[Wonks]

For a mere 1k you can buy Harrison's channel strip plugin

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ha ... nnel-strip

£799 in the UK.

And probably £79.99 soon in an Easter software sale.

[yeroc]

Otherwise I would just say get Pro Q3 or TDR's Nova Gentleman Edition (which is free)

Except it’s the cut-down TDR Nova EQ that’s free, the GE (Gentlemen’s Edition) is officially $60, though can normally be found for half that.

Fabien from TDR is hinting that a gentleman would pay for software.

Whoops typo had it backwards! Thanks for the correction

[RichardT]

Have a look at the Kirchhoff EQ. It's brilliant!

[Tomás Mulcahy]

Good call on TDR Nova. I didn’t think of it since it is a dynamic eq but of course you can. Use it like a traditional eq. No issues at all with those filters, all his stuff sounds great.

[Arpangel]

For a mere 1k you can buy Harrison's channel strip plugin

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ha ... nnel-strip

I'd expect the desk for that.

[Matt Houghton]

I totally misunderstood what you were after. Which DAW are you using, and what's wrong with its bundled EQs? They can all do what you're asking for. If you need the to do more, you're going to need to specify what, because there are loads of suitable plug-ins out there...

[James Perrett]

Which DAW are you using, and what's wrong with its bundled EQs?

I think Tony's still using Reaper which is why I suggested ReEq as an alternative to the standard Reaper Eq.

Of course, what Tony probably wants is for someone to model the old MM mixer eq in software

[tea for two]

what i'm after is something that just does good precise cut/boost, for "trimming" sounds into their basic frequency bands, tidying up.
I'm not after saturation or anything like that.

I would thawd if these are Acoustic instruments sounds, then giggling searching their frequency range thereafter BandPass in Reaper or Logic you have so that only these precise specific frequencies are allowed to pass thru per instrument thereby as you said "trimming sounds into their basic frequency bands, tidying up."

I just did this on a Flute sample giggled searched its frequency range : 260Hz-2.1kHz thereafter used Logic Channel EQ to allow to BandPass thru just these precise frequencies.

Can use Logic AUBandpass butt it doesn't let inputting specific frequencies so have to approximately BandPass thru frequencies. So Logic Channel EQ is more specific when allowing to BandPass thru precise frequencies for trimming sounds tidying up. Reaper has this.