Eq Eight Ableton Download

EQ is one of the most basic—and important—tools you have as an audio engineer.

But there are so many different EQs out there, how do you know which ones are for you?

You might be thinking your DAW’s channel EQ is perfectly fine. But not all EQs are the same. There’s more types than you might think.

How to Install and Activate Ableton Live Lite 15 November 2019 23:27; Updated; Ableton Live Lite 10. Find the downloaded Ableton Live Lite 10 file in your 'Downloads' folder. Once the zip file has downloaded, double-click on it to run the installer which is the Setup Icon, (or a different folder if you specified a download location) and then. Want to widen your sonic palette while working in Ableton Live? These seven essential plugins will complement your Ableton workflow and open new production possibilities by giving you effects not included in Ableton’s stock selection. By Martin Delaney, Ableton Certified Trainer.

Here’s the 15 best EQ Plugins on the market today:

  • In this latest addition to our VST Plugin Directory, I tried to cover the best freeware parametric equalizer VST plugins. In case your favorite free parametric EQ isn’t included in the list, please suggest it in the comments section below.
  • Ableton Live Suite 10 Free Download Latest Version for Windows. The program and all files are checked and installed manually before uploading, program is working perfectly fine without any problem. It is full offline installer standalone setup of Ableton Live Suite 10 Free Download for supported version of windows.
  • The absolute first step to understanding how to EQ effectively is to know where all of the fundamental frequencies of the instrument lie on the frequency spectrum. That's why we created EQ WISE+ - 8-band parametric equalizer with built-in interactive instrument frequency charts to help you EQ better.
  • Mar 19, 2013  Professionally Set EQ 8 Presets for Free Download! Although I have seem some very heated discussion about EQ presets on forums I have decided to make a 15 Pro Preset pack for Ableton’s EQ 8. I do think each and every track has and needs it’s own unique EQing, sometimes have somewhere to start can really help speed things along.

This article will teach you about the common styles of EQ and how to use them to shape the perfect sound.

Let’s dive in!

Analog EQ

Early EQs were all analog. Some of the earliest equalizer designs are still around today.

Engineers covet these analog beauties for the musically pleasing way they shape sounds. The musical qualities are the result of the unique circuit design of each unit.

Certain EQs became so sought after that plugin designers developed software to emulate them as closely as possible in the digital domain—leading to a mind-boggling ocean of plugin choices.

So what are the different styles of analog EQ? How do they work? What are they used for and where do they work best?

There’s no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing an EQ. But there are some helpful guidelines that will help you get started with the classic designs.

Pultec-style EQ

The Pultec EQP-1A is the most sought after EQ ever. Well-preserved original units can sell for over $10,000.

The Pultec EQP-1A is the most sought after EQ ever.

Fortunately for us, the EQP-1A has a long history of software emulation. Today’s Pultec-style plugins can sound good—if you know how to use them.

Pultec-style EQ can work wonders to subtly boost top end or extend lows. It can even make broad EQ enhancements without sacrificing any of the original vibe of the sound.

Since the EQP-1A hails from the earliest era of equalizers, it’s control scheme is a little less intuitive than modern designs.

The bandwidth control affects both the high and low band, but low band works differently from the high band.

For the low band, the boost and attenuate knobs are both linked to one of four frequency options. This quirk allows you to both boost and cut at the selected frequency.

The overlapping filters create a steep bump that’s fantastic for boosting the fundamental frequencies of low end instruments.

The high band has separate frequency options for boosting and cutting with overlaps at 5 and 10 kHz.

These controls are interactive and can result in some unique equalization curves.

Best Pultec EQ VSTs

Free Plugin: Ignite Amps PTeq-X

Ignite Amps PTeq-X is a fantastic (and free) way to get started with Pultec-style EQ. It works just like the original so you can get a sense for creating those quirky overlapping curves.

Cheap Plugin: Waves PuigTec EQP-1A

The Waves PuigTec EQP-1A is a well-emulated, workhorse Pultec EQ. It’s very affordable if you can catch it on sale.

Pro Plugin: UAD Pultec EQP-1A

The UAD Pultec EQP-1A is the industry standard software Pultec. UAD spared no expense in creating the perfect Pultec for your DAW.

SSL Channel EQ

SSL console strips did a lot to inform our idea of what a modern EQ is.

SSL console strips did a lot to inform our idea of what a modern EQ is.

Classic features we’re familiar with today like integrated high/low-pass filters and variable Q were popularized by these consoles.

The SSL consoles are famous for their incredibly powerful filters.

The sharp high/low-pass filters, precise frequency ranges and extremely narrow Q options make this a EQ a first choice for surgical suturing and dramatic tonal changes. Their character is precise but aggressive.

Best SSL EQ VSTs

Free Plugin: Smacklabs Logic Channel

Smacklabs Logic Channel is a good entry-level SSL EQ. This free plugin models the entire SSL channel strip, so you can try out the classic SSL-style compressor and gate/expander while you’re at it.

Cheap Plugin: Slate FG-S

The Slate FG-S comes bundled with their very affordable VMR channel strip collection. The FG-S packs all the features and sound of the aggressive, surgical SSL channel EQ.

Pro Plugin: SSL Native Channel Strip

SSL recently jumped into the software game with its own line of plugins—including an in-house version of their classic console channel strip. Why not go straight to the source?

API-style EQ

Experienced engineers often refer to API as the “American” sound in contrast to the “British” Neve tone.

They’re two sides of the same classic console coin.

If you’re a fan of music from the 60’s and 70’s, there’s a good chance some of your favourite records were recorded one of these desks.

The classic API EQ comes in a three band (550a) or four-band (550b) flavour.

The bands don’t have individual Q controls, but the EQ is designed so that the Q becomes progressively sharper as you apply more extreme cuts or boosts.

It’s intuitive and keeps you from worrying too much about the Q setting.

Ableton

API-style EQ splits the difference between surgical and sculpting. Mild settings can be very transparent, while extreme cuts or boosts can be dramatic and vibey.

Best API EQ VSTs

Free Plugin: Bee-Happy 550

Bee-Happy 500 is a free API-style plugin for those looking to start with classic 70’s console EQ.

Cheap Plugin: Sly-Fi Axis

Sly-Fi Axis is part of the UBK family of products that includes the innovative Kush Audio hardware and software. This EQ is an API on steroids that’s meant to exaggerate the analog colouration of the original.

Pro Plugin: Waves 550a & 550b

Waves 550a and 550b are fantastic native emulations of the API EQ. These are great-sounding and versatile plugins to get the API sound on your tracks.

Neve-style EQ

Neve consoles are the world’s most prized vintage recording equipment.

From the early sixties until the mid-eighties, Neve Electronics produced consoles legendary for their warm, musical sound.

The preamp section of the Neve console strip often gets the most attention, but the EQ is a big part of the Neve sound.

Neve EQs are another great option for broad, smooth cuts and boosts with lots of character.

Neve EQs are another great option for broad, smooth cuts and boosts with lots of character.

There are several different flavours of Neve EQ from the various revisions of the console, but they mostly share the same architecture with a high-pass filter, two or three parametric mid bands and one fixed high band.

The fixed 12 kHz high band found on the Neve 1073 EQ is famous for its ability to add air to vocals, drum rooms and overheads.

Eq eight plugin

Best Neve EQ VSTs

Free Plugin: Smacklabs SL84 Console EQ

Smacklabs SL84 Console EQ will give you a taste of the Neve EQ sound for free. It’s accurately modelled using IR technology.

Cheap Plugin: Sonimus Burnley 73

Sonimus Burnley 73 is super economical way to get the sound of a 1073 on to your tracks.

Eq Eight Plugin Download

Pro Plugin: UAD Neve 1073

The UAD Neve 1073 is a tremendously accurate emulation of the classic 1073 preamp and EQ. It’s incredibly smooth and musical with tone that screams Neve.

Digital EQ

We all drool over the analog EQ beauties. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t extremely useful and creative tools that don’t have anything in common with the classics.

Digital EQ is essential for any DAW. It’s the most precise tool in your EQ tool box.

Reach for digital EQ when you want to make changes without colouring your sound at all. In the right hands, digital EQ can be powerful, flexible and utterly undetectable.

Reach for digital EQ when you want to make changes without colouring your sound at all.

It’s a first choice for “problem solving” duties like notching out room resonances.

Best Digital EQ VSTs

Free Plugin: Your built-in DAW EQ

Most DAWs come bundled with a capable digital EQ. We’re talking about stock DAW plugins like Ableton EQ Eight, Logic Channel EQ, and Avid EQIII. These are all effective entry points into digital EQ.

Cheap Plugin: Voxengo PrimeEQ

Voxengo PrimeEQ is a robust, well-designed digital EQ from a respected company. Look no further if you’re after a nice workhorse digital EQ.

Pro Plugin: Fabfilter ProQ 2

Fabfilter ProQ 2 is the most technologically advanced EQ on this list. The raw power of this EQ is staggering—it’s a singular feat of DSP engineering. Listing all its incredibly powerful features would take far too long, let’s just say this a top-tier professional EQ!

Great Equalizer

There’s a whole world of EQ out there.

It’s such a fundamental tool that engineers will always have strong opinions about it. And that means that designers will always be creating new and better versions.

Wading through that water is daunting and exciting at the same time.

But now that you know a little bit about the types of EQ, go head try some of the plugins on this list. You’ll find out which EQ works best for you!

EQ8 is probably the most used Live device - it's extremely powerful & at the same time really easy to use. Despite this, there may be a number of less obvious features you aren't taking advantage of that are time-saving & in some cases eye-opening. I find these to be tragically underused, so I'll detail some of them here.

selecting multiple bands

Some of the best EQ techniques involve the interaction of multiple bands - a subtle cut beside a boosted hump can go a long way in creating balanced & natural adjustments to your sound. I personally used live's eq for years without knowing about the drag-box-select, but by selecting multiple nodes, you can lock in these relationships when you move your eq curves as needed. Just click & drag over as many or as few nodes as you want.

adjusting q

You might not know you can edit a band's q right from the graphical interface. Hold down alt/option & drag up & down on a node to make the adjustment. I find this useful to avoid having to break my workflow when setting gains & frequencies, which I prefer to do using the graphical interface. This can also combine with the previous technique to adjust all q's at once.

scale & inverse

If your eq isn't doing enough work globally, the scale value will let you emphasize existing bands (or ease them off if they're too strong). What's cool is you can lower this into negative values to invert the curve. If you have two sounds that are fighting each other, you might find it useful to boost the important bits on one, copy the EQ to the other, & inverse it to give yourself a starting point on getting the two sounds to behave with one another.

expanded display

You can expand EQ8 by clicking the arrow beside the device name, the benefits of which are twofold: for one, you get more room to view your curve & spectrum. You'll also find your band controls become organized in a more console/rack unit fashion which may feel more natural. If the idea of the expanded view gets you excited, it's good to know you can extend this as large as your screen by dragging from the top. if you really need to get into the details, this level of magnification will ensure you don't miss a thing.

spectrum tweaks

Getting a visual look at your sound's spectrum can help you understand its frequency content & while you don't want to become overly reliant on it (use your ears), you can turn this option on with the button in the upper right. In the expanded view, you can get more control over the behavior of the spectrum overlay - essentially, these will allow it to become more accurate at the cost of CPU. I recommend maximizing accuracy by setting 'block' to the largest value & 'refresh' & 'avg' to the lowest. You can than collapse the expanded view & save these settings into the default preset (via the context menu) to always have the most detail.

reset all gains

Sometimes, nodes/bands are best used as markers & placeholders. A novel strategy when mixing is to copy an eq to a competing instrument & reset all gains. This will show you where the important frequencies are in the other sound as a reference for setting the new curve. Of course, this can also be a handy feature for starting over if you feel you've done too much.

Eq Eight Ableton Download Free

oversampling

Eq Eight Ableton Download

I've beat the oversampling/hi-quality horse to death by this point, but I would be remiss not to include it in this list for those that haven't dug through the context menu. Unless you are really fighting high CPU, this should probably be saved into your default preset.

m > s, s < m; l > r, r < l

If you're taking advantage of EQ8's split modes, you'll love this time-saving tip. In the context menu, you can copy your mid curve to your sides curve or vice versa. This is really useful for giving yourself a starting point when you switch between them. Of course, the copy feature also works for l/r mode if you find yourself using it..

& that's all. I hope you found or remembered a feature of the EQ8 that you'll find useful! let me know your favorite via twitter.