Following up our recent round-up of top-notch boutique compressor plugins, here we’re stepping into the frequency domain with virtual takes on five of the classiest hardware EQs known to producerkind. Each and every one of our picks stands as unequivocal proof, should it be needed, that today’s comparatively affordable software equalisers are a genuine match for even their most prohibitively priced physical counterparts, providing professional-grade tonal sculpting right in the DAW.
Empirical Labs BIG FrEQ
Although perhaps best known for their Distressor compressor (and its Arousor software emulation), Empirical Labs also happen to make one of the most acclaimed EQs on the market: the Lil FrEQ. Like Arousor, the plugin version – BIG FrEQ – expands on the architecture of the original hardware in various directions, not least being the addition of two extra parametric bands for a total of six (plus separate high- and low-pass filters and shelves). Then there’s the Slope control, which works alongside the Width (Q) slider to broaden the morphological scope of the filters; the Focus button on each band, narrowing the frequency range for tight adjustments; and the Finisher variable saturation stage.
The lack of a spectrogram is a downer, but BIG FrEQ is all about versatility and sound, and on those scores, it’s an absolute triumph.
Kush Audio Clariphonic DSP MkII
Greg Scott’s quasi-magical rackmount EQ uses a very specific combination of parallel high shelving filters to make sorcerous improvements to any signal lucky enough to be sent its way. In a nutshell, it adds high-frequency presence and brightness through the application of its ’Focus’ and ‘Clarity’ bands, switchable between several corner frequencies from 800Hz to 39kHz, the different combinations of which yield a variety of flavours. The plugin recreates an older Clariphonic build than the one available now, and thus doesn’t feature the Focus band’s Cut option; but in every other regard, it’s so close to the real deal it hurts.
Sonimus Burnley 73
“Inspired by” Neve’s 1073 preamp/EQ, Sonimus’ diminutive plugin does a remarkable job of capturing the sound and feel of that legendary hardware at a price that can’t be argued with. You probably know the deal: low and high shelving bands, a semi-parametric mid band and a high-pass filter all adhere to a fixed range of frequencies, with 16dB of cut or boost on offer per band, and the Q of the mid band narrowing as the gain is increased. As well as that, the gain-compensated Saturation knob dials in mic preamp distortion in one direction and less overt line amplifier distortion in the other, bringing an extra element of sonic tailoring to the table.
Lindell Audio TE-100
Impossibly rare and obscenely expensive if you can find one, the Klein & Hummel UE-100, from 1961, is an enormous valve-based EQ that defines its famously musical response curves through the adjustment of a series of button-operated band-pass filters and shelving bands, and can cut and boost particular frequencies at the same time, Pultec-style. Lindell Audio’s virtual clone mirrors the real thing down to the finest detail, including the same fixed filter frequency options and gorgeous tube saturation, but increases the ‘resolution’ of the gain knobs from 2dB to 0.5dB steps. Handy.
Every bit as desirable, characterful and relevant today as it was six decades ago, TE-100 is an unmissable piece of audio engineering history.
Check out our video demonstrating the TE100 on electric guitar.
Mäag Audio EQ4
Mäag’s boutique lunchbox-format six-band EQ has been uplifting engineers the world over since its release a decade ago, in no small part thanks to its bottom- and top-enhancing Sub and Air Bands, the latter an ultra-high shelf cornering at 40kHz. Mäag’s own plugin adds to a 1:1 copy of the hardware with global gain control and per-band bypass, and, most importantly, lets you capitalise on the EQ4’s incredible fixed-frequency tone shaping, and effortless eliciting of sweetness and sheen, on as many tracks in the mix as your CPU can handle. It’s invariably beneficial on the drum and master busses, but once you’ve tried it on vocals, you’ll simply never go back.
Check out the Maag Eq in our review
What’s your favourite ‘boutique’ EQ plugin? Let us know in the comments.