5 of the Best New EQ Plugins
SSL’s Channel Strip
Dave Pensado rounds up some exciting new EQ plugins this week on Pensado’s Place.
Pensado is in a particularly fortunate situation because he has access to all sorts of brand new software, either through his relationship with other industry professionals or through the mailing lists he’s apart of. This works out nicely for his audience because it means free roundups of brand new products.
Starting off this list is SSL’s brand new Native Channel Strip. Pensado uses the EQ to add a little bit of punch to a kick track and likens the compression this channel strip applies to the DBX 160XT. Pensado himself says that “I believe it’s the same VCA in both,” which would describe the similar sound.
The EQ550 by Overloud is part of their Gem series. Pensado claims that he’s “fallen in love with this plugin.” This device was free for a couple days, so joining Overloud’s mailing list could pay off if you don’t mind waiting for their next giveaway. The EQ550 has a really smooth high-end which lends itself particularly well to vocals. Pensado mentions that he likes that “you can hit it harder and it reacts a lot like the original 550.”
The Amber2 by Acustica Audio is a plugin that just came out. Pensado describes it as “beautifully modeled” and containing “a top end that’s just like silk.” He places this plugin on his high-end percussion, and you can really hear the clear shimmer it provides, allowing the signal to cut through the mix.
Other plugins that Pensado mentions are the Hammer DSP by Kush and A-Designs, the Helios Type 69 by UAD, and as a bonus, the F6 by Waves. Talking about EQs is one thing, but hearing them for yourself is entirely different. Watch Pensado’s full video via Pensado’s Place to hear how these EQs sounds back to back.
Charles Hoffman is a Mixing and Mastering Engineer at Black Ghost Audio. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with an English degree, Charles completed his education at Icon Collective in Los Angeles, CA.
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