Equalizer does help a lot. And there are tons of audio plugins of equalizers available out there. Some are included as a default plugins when you bought a Digital Audio Workstation software, while others are available as a third party plugin(s). But with those numerous options, do we have the time to try all the plugin(s) suitable for this precise need? probably not. But to look for plugin(s) with characters referred as a vintage analog equalizer would be great. The Pultec* EQP-1A and MEQ-5 is pretty known for its character shaping precision. So does Neve* 1081 & 1084 audio plugins with their smooth frequencies.
Probably most of today’s musicians out there ever dreamed of having a vintage character on their instruments, wishing the warm analog juice which colours countless of classic recordings on the 20th century. There are various name of virtual instruments developer making a lot of vintage virtual instruments out there. All packaged in audio plugins. Started from wavs samples to vst plugins, or even “oldschool” drum machines to keys and synths such as Rhodes or Minimoog.
Having the right instrument is a good start, but most of the time a post processing are needed to make the instrument sits beautifully in the mix. To bring the character even bolder or even reducing the character to make the overall mix sounds well balanced. But doing that needs tone shaping tools with precision. Tools, audio plugins, which could maintain the original tonal shape without altering or even adding more color to the sound, but has the ability to adjust the frequency the way we desired. And the first thing that came up would be an “Equalizer”.
Now it would be easier to find the right equalizer according to your specific needs. This article will try to review each of the Kuassa vintage Equalizers with each of their own characters:
EVE-Series
4-band parametric equalizer. Inspired by the EQ section of a renowned British Classic –the Neve* 1081– this equalizer delivers a clear, smooth sound for broad musical applications.
5-band parametric equalizer. Designed as a tribute to the EQ section of a well-known British Classic –the Neve* 1084 –this equalizer delivers stronger character in spades to add sheen, remove mud, and shape tones.
EVE-AT1 is a 4 band parametric equalizer inspired by Neve* 1081. It has Low pass and High pass filter with 5 selectable frequencies on each of it. The interface is very simple, direct and pretty much similar to Neve* 1081. Selectable frequencies on each band added with a -18 dB/octave Shelf/Peak switch for Low and High frequency band. Plus a Broad/Narrow Q switch on the Low-mid to Mid-high band makes this equalizer suitable for every kind of instruments. The minimal yet precise feature gives this equalizer the ability to maintain the clarity of the original character but packed with precise power of tone shaping tool. Phase reverse switch, Output trim and the ability to compare between 2 settings gave us musician more ease to achieve the best character we look for.
EVE-AT4 is even easier to use. Inspired by Neve* 1084, this audio plugins packed with 4 selectable frequency on the High Pass Filter, 5 selectable frequency on the Low Pass filter, and precise 3 band equalizer with an addition of Broad/Narrow switch on the Mid band gave more similar simplicity to Neve* 1084. But the simplicity does not mean that the AT4 has no power to be the precise tone-shaping tool. It actually has the same clarity and precision as the AT1 although with less frequency selections, its strength lies in its unique filter implementation, producing an idiosyncratic frequency response not present on the EVE-AT1. The result is a particular tonal character; the sound and tonal shape of its original incarnation is a hallmark of many classic recordings from the 70s.
Both of the series are a hassle free equalizer with direct purpose power for vintage tone shaping of most instruments used on modern music productions. Could be used on most musical instruments with a specific tonal character. You could use it to minimize the rumble of an acoustic guitar yet keeping the body character of the sound intact. Or maintaining the vocal clarity with the ability to adjust the frequency to make the vocal sits perfectly right in the mix. It’s simply a “go-to” equalizer for all-purpose. You can even use it on your mastering chain to give a subtle vintage color.
EVE-MP5
This one is a combination of 2 classic equalizer known for its signature character. Inspired by Pultec* EQP-1A and MEQ-5. EVE-MP5 has the solid power to shape a character of your instruments. With the ability to boost and/or attenuate (at the same time) for its low and high frequency, MP5 truly gives you the ability to control both edges. You can use it on an instrument with broad frequency range such as modern synths and you will know why MP5 is a powerful tone shaper. The ability to boost and/or attenuate both low and high frequency will put the synth sits nicely on the mix without having collisions with another instruments on both low and high band. And amazingly, you could do it without altering the original character of the sound itself. And if it’s not enough, you still have more control. Inspired by Pultec* MEQ-5, EVE-MP5 will give you the power to control your mid frequency even more. You can control both edges of your mid band and give more presence to your sound or even reduce it without tampering the whole character. Beside the powerful control of tone shaping equalizer, MP5 could give a subtle saturated feel to your sound. Turn the switch on, dial the “Input” knob, and you’ll have that vintage grit you needed. And you can turn the “Auto” switch to compensate the level automatically. EVE MP5 clearly has the “it” to be the right tone-shaping tool or to give a vintage color to your sound. Just like the EVE-AT series, MP5 has the same ability to switch between A/B to compare for better setting.
No matter what instruments used on your productions, audio plugins EVE series gives you the ability to shape the character of your sound with a vintage sense. Direct user interface saves you more time from tweaking pointlessly and ended up going nowhere. This equalizer set will give you control of the sound on each instruments that you use, gives a vintage grit to it, or use it on your mastering chain to shape the overall mix. Numerous presets are packed on each of EVE series to help you find a good start on how to achieve the character you want. Or you can start it from scratch and save the setting for another use. EVE AT1, AT4 and MP5 are tools with simplicity yet packed with detail precision as a vintage tone-shaping tool you need. Features on it are significantly on point.
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