While the appeal of passive EQs shows no signs of dwindling, many would concede that the features and controls of classic units are limited. We look at one way to get passive goodness with modern control with a twist or two.
Many would agree that although the gear is important, it is the engineer themself that has the biggest effect on the outcome of a mix by a long margin. That said, there are some gear designs that many engineers would not be without, with the passive EQ being one of them. Perhaps the most famous example of the these is the legendary Pultec unit, which continues to enjoy ‘go-to’ status on mix and channel alike in those facilities lucky enough to have access to one.
The Original Passive EQ
For those not familiar with it, the Pultec EQP-1 is the blue box from the 1950s with which it all began. Fundamentally, this design uses discrete components to apply cuts to audio, with valve amplifiers employed at the output to compensate for losses resulting from EQ-ing. This way, boosts can also be inferred by cutting around the ‘boost’ frequency and amplifying the result. While the control set is reminiscent of modern EQs, the panel controls remain cryptic to many. The draw of this box is certainly one of sonic appeal, with regular users getting the most out by using it in unintended ways.
Describing a sound in text is perhaps the wrong medium, but the reasons why these units sound the way they do easy easier to quantify. Compared to a modern EQ design, the classic passive designs instead employ simple discrete components (instead of ICs or ‘chips’) for the tone shaping, as well as transformers and valves (tubes) for coupling and amplification. As a result, these designs’ technical specs make for a sound that is imperfect by nature, displaying all the subtle saturation, phase shift, and colouration that is the perfect counter to digital cleanliness.
Passive Sound, Modern Control
Understanding engineers’ needs for an obtainable and useable passive EQ, manufacturers and developers have come up with a number of hardware and software alternatives over the years since the original EQP-1’s conception. While offerings from Avid, SPL, UAD, and the free Warmy EPQ1-1 Tube EQ bring passive character, most apart from the SPL PassEQ offer control sets along the lines of the original. Of all current designs, arguably the most recognisable is the Manley Massive Passive. This revered stereo valve beast can be found in the racks of many high-end facilities, promising ‘the’ sound with a more modern parametric-style control set.
The Next Step?
Despite later passive EQ incarnations, engineers who want the passive sound have to forgo luxuries that modern EQ users take for granted. First is that springs to mind is a simple rotary cut/boost control, and second is that none provide any visual feedback of what the final EQ response is. Enter Pulsar’s Massive EQ. This plugin aims to bring the sound of its namesake to in-the-box mixes, as well as adding a few twists of its own. Compared to the box from which it takes its inspiration, the Pulsar Massive brings some unique enhancements:
Single Cut/Boost gain control Engineers take for granted being able to grab a single control to either apply cut or boost in any given band, bringing conventional-style control to the passive EQ aesthetic.
On-screen curve editor This best-of-both-world approach gives an immediate overview of applied corrections while highlighting the singular behaviors of the original unit.
Realtime spectrum analyser with peak and RMS metering.
Two switchable transformer models The original transformer response can be selected, as well as a crunchier flavour for more noticeable saturation tones. Bypass provided.
Drive Control Allows the amount of saturation to be controlled through the Pulsar Massive’s virtual tubes, transformers, and inductors.
MS mode, Auto Gain, and Resizeable GUI Extra goodies that let you optionally process and monitor the mid or sides signal. Auto gain restores subjective level post-processing.
Watch how we try Pulsar Massive’s tones on mix duties while making use of its new best-of both world features. We include some MS surgery to add weight and definition to the mid channel while opening up the sides with some passive top end silkiness.
The Passive EQ Without Limits?
Until now, engineers wanting the passive EQ experience have had to accept that the technology’s desirable tones bring with them limitations centering around workflow. While the original Pultec’s legacy is assured, later hardware incarnations have refined the passive EQ paradigm cementing its place in recorded music for years to come. By bringing in features that users of modern active EQs will reach for, software recreations need not be artificially restrictive. Recognising this, Pulsar Massive offers a best of both solution that aims to close the issue. Whether its sound can stand up revered studio hardware is best answered by those with the equivalent hardware unit for comparison. Failing that, there’s no doubt that this new EQ tool does something that few before have offered; a refined passive sonic fingerprint with modern parameters that are hard to resist.
Get Pulsar Massive for a special introductory price of $89 until June 26th. Regular price $149.
Many thanks to Leila Jane