IK Multimedia Launches Two Classic British EQ Models – EQ73 and EQ81
Time to start talking like you’re on “Game of Thrones” – and mix like you’ve got EQs from Jolly Olde England as well.
EQ73 is the latest British EQ to arrive in your DAW.
IK Multimedia has just launched two classic British EQ models, the EQ73 and EQ81. Both plugins are the newest available processors for their T-RackS Custom Shop mixing and mastering plug-in and standalone toolset.
In case you’re not yet familiar, the application – its “container” within your DAW or mastering station – is free to download. Then you can go to town on the many mixing and mastering processors/modules available (27 at last count) – many are ultra-accurate models of some very famous analog audio processors.
Both of these classic British console-borne beauties are available now for a limited-time intro price of $124.99. A free 14-day demo is available. Here are more details on each, direct from IK Multimedia:
EQ73
The new T-RackS EQ73 model is based upon a classic British hardware unit that is universally acknowledged as the most used preamp in music recording history. The original “Class A” device has a sonic signature almost instantly recognizable to engineers and recording enthusiasts the world over. Thanks to its unique and innovative circuitry the signal passing through it becomes thick and bold making every instrument stand out with audible fullness. The T-RackS EQ73 model captures this nuance so that even in the DAW environment the tone stays intact.
The EQ 73 is an extraordinary EQ, and IK Multimedia engineers went the extra mile to make sure the part of the preamp circuitry functionality was captured as well — a feature no other emulation on the market has included. The interaction between the preamp and the EQ section is what makes this legendary EQ so desirable. The gain range is so wide that many color shades can be found. At lower settings it adds some harmonic coloration that will make kicks or snare fatter and punchier. Going up the gain hill moves it into downright distortion with an analog saturation rarely found in DAW plug-ins. This is a killer function that adds that elusive “analog” character to a sterile sounding track, or provides a new creative effect.
The EQ73 sounds great on virtually every audio source. Its combination of preamp circuitry and EQ interaction make it versatile enough to enhance any track, especially kicks, snares, overheads, bass, guitars and vocals.
Pour a cup of tea and crank your new EQ81.
EQ81
Following in the footsteps of its older sibling, the EQ81 takes the word versatility even further; the EQ section is composed of 4 independent frequency bands, rounded out by high and low pass filters to eliminate unwanted frequencies from the signal. This EQ powerhouse is at home in practically any mixing project where there is the need to sculpt the tone of a track with precision and musicality. Plus, adding to the versatility is the ability of the high and low shelving bands to become peaking type if needed.
Preamp and EQ Interaction: The Difference
As with the EQ73 model, IK Engineers made sure the preamp circuitry modeling was ultra-accurate and usable. Its Class A/B circuit design delivers another range of tonal coloration, and while the EQ section is so accurately modeled in the EQ81, its interaction with the preamp stage is what really sets the module apart providing identical sonic hardware performance not found in other digital models. Countless hours were spent not only in making sure the EQ curves are dead-on accurate, but that the preamp response and overall module interaction was faithful to the original hardware unit.
Both the EQ73 and the EQ81 models have the dual concentric knobs found on the original units “separated” for easier and faster shaping, and the unit offers improved readability of the knob positions for quick adjustment.
T-RackS Custom Shop is a free application that can be downloaded after registration from IK Multimedia’s T-RackS web site, http://www.t-racks.com/customshop
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