New Plug-In Recreates Sound And Workflow Of An 80s Console EQ

US HoRNet releases the SW34EQ for Mac and Windows 12/12/13

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HoRNet says that the new SW34EQ is an equalizer coming straight from the 80s. They tell us that it's the digital version of the EQ found in an American console and it features the typical analog EQ sound and controls. Here's a description in HoRNet's own words...

This plugin is specifically modeled after one channel of this console used in the main room of Virus Studio, here in Siena, Italy. This EQ is very smooth and gentle, both in the EQ shapes (bells and shelves) and it's almost perfect for general tone shaping, especially the low shelf gives weight to the sound without pumping it too much.

You also get an high-pass filter at 40Hz with 18dB/oct slope that can be activated even if the rest of the EQ is not.

The SW34EQ does not just model the EQ curves but also the saturation characteristics of the original device, we are talking about an 80s console here so there are op-amp everywhere in the signal path and the saturation mainly produces even harmonics, but as you crank the gain a lot of odd harmonics jumps out. Of course the hiss is modeled too and the whole emulation can be deactivated.

We also tried to emulate the workflow of the EQ and we put the frequency and gain knob on the same axis, the only indication of the current frequency for every band is on the outer of the knob, while there is no explicit gain indication for the gain knob, you only know that at maximum you have +/- 15dB of gain or reduction. This is for hardcore mixers who use their ears and nothing else to get the job done.

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