11 Best EQ VST Plugins: Sculpting Sound to Perfection (2024)

What Are the Best EQ VST Plugins in 2024?

Here are the top EQ VST plugins to consider in 2024:

• FabFilter - Pro-Q 3
• Slate Digital - Infinity EQ
• Eventide - SplitEQ
• Soundtheory - Gullfoss
• Oeksound - Soothe2
• Universal Audio Mäag EQ4
• Minimal Audio - Morph EQ
• Sonible - SmartEQ 4
• SoundRadix - SurferEQ 2
• Brainworx - Elysia Museq
• HoRNet - Total EQ

Versatile All-Rounder EQs

These EQs are suitable for a wide range of tasks from mixing to mastering, offering a combination of features that make them versatile tools for any producer.

FabFilter Pro-Q 3

The Ultimate EQ Tool for Every Producer's Arsenal

Overview:

The FabFilter Pro-Q 3 stands tall as one of the most renowned EQ plugins in the music industry, and for good reason. It seamlessly combines robust features with an incredibly intuitive interface. Every adjustment feels precise, and the plugin is flexible enough to handle any equalization task, be it subtle correction or bold creative shaping.

One striking feature is its Dynamic EQ mode, where specific frequencies can be boosted or cut only when they surpass a certain threshold. This offers a blend of EQ and compression in a way that’s both innovative and useful. Furthermore, its Spectrum Grab feature is nothing short of revolutionary, allowing users to literally grab peaks in the visual spectrum and adjust them.

Pro-Q 3’s support for surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos 7.1.2, is an added boon for post-production professionals. Its adaptability ensures that it’s equally at home in a mix engineer’s toolkit as it is in a mastering suite.

Final Thoughts:

The FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is a testament to what is achievable when impeccable design meets cutting-edge functionality. For those seeking to elevate their sound sculpting capabilities, this EQ is a worthy investment. Dive into a world of unparalleled precision and flexibility, and let Pro-Q 3 redefine your approach to equalization. Don’t just take our word for it; experience the power of Pro-Q 3 for yourself!

Slate Digital Infinity EQ

Precision and Flexibility in Modern Equalization

Overview:

Slate Digital’s Infinity EQ is a state-of-the-art parametric equalizer that combines precision with flexibility. Designed to meet the needs of modern audio professionals, Infinity EQ features an unlimited number of EQ bands, giving users the ability to shape their sound with unparalleled detail. The sleek and intuitive interface ensures a smooth and efficient workflow, making it easy to navigate and adjust settings on the fly.

One of the standout features of Infinity EQ is its real-time spectrum analyzer, which provides visual feedback to help users make precise adjustments. This tool is particularly useful for identifying problematic frequencies and making surgical corrections. Additionally, the dynamic EQ mode allows for adaptive processing, enabling the EQ to respond to changes in the audio signal dynamically, ensuring a balanced and consistent sound.

Final Thoughts:

Slate Digital’s Infinity EQ is a powerful and versatile tool that offers both precision and flexibility. Its combination of an intuitive interface, unlimited EQ bands, and dynamic processing capabilities makes it an excellent choice for audio professionals looking to enhance their mixing and mastering workflows. Whether you’re fine-tuning individual tracks or shaping the overall sound of a mix, Infinity EQ provides the tools needed to achieve professional-grade results with ease.

Innovative and Intelligent EQs

These EQs incorporate unique technologies or innovative approaches to EQ processing, offering advanced features beyond traditional parametric EQs.

Eventide SplitEQ

Redefining Equalization with Structural Split Technology

Overview:

Taking the realm of EQ to new heights, the Eventide SplitEQ isn’t your typical equalizer. It integrates the groundbreaking Structural Split technology, a method that divides sound into its transient and tonal components, enabling highly specialized shaping not feasible with conventional EQs.

This spectral split method reveals the depths of your mix in a way that traditional equalizers can’t touch. Whether you’re looking to add clarity to a muddy track, isolate specific drum hits, or craft an entirely unique sound landscape, SplitEQ offers the tools in a sleek, user-friendly package. The panorama spectral view is especially noteworthy, giving producers and mixers a fresh perspective on how they view and interact with frequencies.

Beyond its EQ capabilities, the built-in compressors allow for dynamic control, offering both multi-band and multi-mode options for detailed sculpting. The advanced side-chaining capabilities open doors for creative gating and rhythmic effects, particularly useful in electronic music production.

Final Thoughts:

Eventide SplitEQ isn’t just another equalizer; it’s an evolution in the world of spectral processing. With its unparalleled features and cutting-edge technology, it stands out as an indispensable tool for producers and engineers. If you’re in search of an EQ that breaks boundaries and inspires creativity, SplitEQ is the answer. Experience the next generation of equalization today!

Soundtheory Gullfoss

Intelligent and Transparent EQ for Effortless Sound Enhancement

Overview:

Soundtheory Gullfoss stands out in the world of EQ plugins with its intelligent and transparent approach to sound enhancement. This plugin utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze your audio in real-time and make precise adjustments to the EQ settings, ensuring that your mix is balanced, clear, and full of life. The result is a polished and professional sound that requires minimal manual intervention.

One of Gullfoss’s key features is its ability to make transparent adjustments. The plugin enhances the clarity and balance of your audio without introducing unwanted artifacts or coloration. This makes it an excellent choice for mastering, where maintaining the integrity of the original sound is crucial. Whether you’re working with complex mixes or individual tracks, Gullfoss can help you achieve a natural and cohesive sound.

The user interface of Gullfoss is designed to be intuitive and straightforward. With just a few controls, you can guide the plugin’s intelligent processing to achieve the desired sound. The simplicity of the interface makes it accessible to both beginners and seasoned professionals, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of your work rather than getting bogged down in technical details.

Final Thoughts:

Soundtheory Gullfoss is an innovative and powerful EQ plugin that simplifies the process of achieving a balanced and professional sound. Its intelligent processing and transparent adjustments make it a valuable tool for both mixing and mastering. By leveraging Gullfoss’s advanced algorithms, you can enhance your audio effortlessly and achieve results that are both natural and impressive. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, Gullfoss offers a streamlined solution for all your EQ needs.

Specialized and Character EQs

These EQs are designed for specific tasks or impart a unique character to the sound, often emulating classic hardware units.

Oeksound Soothe2

Your Essential Tool for Removing Unwanted Frequencies and Harshness

Overview:

Enter the oeksound soothe2, a plugin hailed by many as a magic wand for its uncanny ability to dynamically detect and eliminate problematic resonances. Whether you’re battling with harsh vocals, unwanted fret noise, or any unpleasant tonal characteristics, soothe2 emerges as the knight in shining armor.

Unlike traditional EQs that statically cut or boost frequencies, soothe2 intelligently identifies problematic resonances and applies suppression as required, ensuring a cleaner, more pleasant sound. This dynamic approach means that the natural tonal qualities of your source remain intact, and only the problematic areas are tackled.

The plugin’s interface is both elegant and efficient. With a detailed spectrum analyzer at its core, you get immediate visual feedback, aiding in precise adjustments. The delta mode is a particularly unique and valuable feature; it lets you solo and hear only the resonances that are being processed, providing clarity about the changes you’re implementing.

Final Thoughts:

Oeksound’s Soothe2 stands out not just as an EQ but as an indispensable tool in the modern producer’s toolkit. For those seeking to elevate their mixes by eliminating harshness without sacrificing the core essence of the sound, soothe2 is a no-brainer. Give your tracks the smoothness they deserve; let soothe2 work its magic.

Universal Audio Mäag EQ4

Legendary Air Band for Superior Clarity and Presence

Overview:

The Universal Audio Mäag EQ4 plugin is renowned for its unique “Air Band,” which allows for boosting high frequencies with unparalleled clarity and presence. This feature is particularly useful for adding shimmer and brightness to vocals, drums, and other instruments that benefit from enhanced top-end detail. The plugin faithfully emulates the classic Mäag EQ4 hardware, known for its smooth and musical sound.

The Mäag EQ4 offers six fixed EQ bands, including the coveted Air Band, which ranges from 2.5 kHz to 40 kHz. This allows for precise control over the frequency spectrum, making it ideal for both mixing and mastering applications. The broadband control of the EQ ensures that any adjustments made are smooth and musical, avoiding harshness or unnatural artifacts.

In addition to its sonic qualities, the Mäag EQ4 plugin is designed to be user-friendly, with a straightforward interface that makes it easy to dial in the desired settings. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a beginner, the Mäag EQ4 provides powerful and intuitive EQ options that enhance the overall sound quality of your mixes.

Final Thoughts:

The Universal Audio Mäag EQ4 is a standout equalizer plugin, particularly for its unique Air Band feature that brings a distinctive and high-quality shine to audio productions. Its faithful emulation of the classic hardware and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to achieve superior clarity and presence in their mixes.

Modern and Creative EQs

These EQs offer modern interfaces and creative options for sound shaping, often with unique visual feedback and interaction styles.

Minimal Audio Morph EQ

Dynamic and Versatile Equalization with Creative Control

Overview:

Minimal Audio’s Morph EQ stands out as a dynamic and versatile equalizer designed to meet the needs of modern music producers. Its key feature is the morphing capability, which allows users to smoothly transition between different EQ curves, providing an innovative way to shape and enhance sound. This functionality is particularly useful for live performances and dynamic mixing scenarios where fluidity and flexibility are crucial.

The user interface is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, making it easy for both beginners and seasoned professionals to navigate and utilize its features effectively. With high precision in controlling the frequency spectrum, Morph EQ ensures that users can achieve the exact tonal balance they desire, whether it’s for subtle enhancements or dramatic sound transformations.

Final Thoughts:

Minimal Audio’s Morph EQ is a powerful tool for anyone looking to add dynamic and creative equalization to their audio production toolkit. Its unique morphing feature, combined with a user-friendly interface and precise control, makes it a standout choice for shaping sound in innovative ways. Whether you’re in the studio or performing live, Morph EQ offers the flexibility and quality needed to elevate your mixes.

Dynamic and Adaptive EQs

These EQs offer dynamic processing capabilities, adapting to the audio signal in real-time for precise control over changing frequencies.

Sonible SmartEQ 4

Intelligent Equalization for Superior Sound

Overview:

Sonible’s SmartEQ 4 is a cutting-edge equalizer plugin that leverages artificial intelligence to deliver unparalleled sound quality. This intelligent equalizer analyzes the frequency spectrum of your audio and makes precise adjustments to ensure a balanced and transparent sound. The use of AI in SmartEQ 4 allows it to adapt to different audio sources, providing tailored EQ adjustments that enhance the overall mix.

SmartEQ 4 employs proprietary algorithms to achieve precise and transparent EQ adjustments. These advanced algorithms enable the plugin to handle complex audio signals with ease, ensuring that your sound remains natural and free from artifacts. Additionally, SmartEQ 4 features customizable EQ profiles that cater to different instruments and audio sources, making it a versatile tool for any producer or engineer.

The plugin’s user interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, with clear visual feedback that makes it easy to understand and control the EQ adjustments. Real-time processing capabilities allow for immediate feedback, enabling users to make quick and effective adjustments on the fly. This combination of advanced technology and user-friendly design makes SmartEQ 4 a powerful tool for achieving superior sound quality.

Final Thoughts:

Sonible’s SmartEQ 4 sets a new standard in intelligent equalization, offering a combination of AI-powered analysis, advanced algorithms, and customizable profiles. Its ability to deliver precise and transparent EQ adjustments makes it an essential tool for any audio professional. Whether you’re mixing a complex track or fine-tuning individual instruments, SmartEQ 4 provides the tools you need to achieve a balanced and polished sound. For those seeking an intelligent and efficient EQ solution, SmartEQ 4 is a standout choice.

SoundRadix SurferEQ 2

Harmonically Enhance and Balance Your Mixes with Innovative Pitch-Tracking Technology

Overview:

The SoundRadix SurferEQ 2 is a unique EQ plugin that brings something innovative to the table – the ability to track the pitch of monophonic instruments and vocals and adjust the EQ in real time. This groundbreaking feature, termed as “SURF,” ensures that your EQ moves stay relevant across the entire performance, lending an unmatched consistency and clarity to your tracks.

Conventional equalizers apply static frequency adjustments. However, the dynamic nature of many musical performances, especially when pitches shift, can make these static adjustments less effective. SurferEQ 2 breaks that mold. For instance, if you boost the low end of a bass guitar at a particular frequency, SurferEQ 2 ensures that this boost remains consistent, irrespective of the pitch changes, lending a uniform tonal balance across your track.

Further enriching its feature set is the Harmonic Filter which helps in refining tonal balance, making sure your boosts or cuts are harmonically resonant. The inclusion of the Spectral Gate is an added boon for mix engineers, allowing them to zero in on specific instruments, even in a complex mix, providing an extra layer of precision.

Final Thoughts:

The SoundRadix SurferEQ 2 is not just another EQ in the market; it’s a revolutionary tool that reshapes the way we approach equalization. By focusing on the harmonic content and the dynamic nature of musical performances, it offers a level of precision and consistency rarely seen. For those looking to step up their EQ game and introduce a new dimension of control in their mixes, SurferEQ 2 is an essential addition. Dive in and ride the waves of impeccable sound quality!

Analog-Modeled EQs

These EQs emulate the sound and behavior of classic analog hardware, providing warmth and musicality to digital productions.

Brainworx Elysia Museq

High-End Analog Sound with Digital Precision

Overview:

The Brainworx Elysia Museq plugin brings the revered analog sound of the Elysia Museq hardware equalizer to the digital domain. Known for its lush, warm tone and versatile EQ capabilities, this plugin is designed to provide the same high-end audio quality and flexibility that the hardware unit is famous for. Each channel features five EQ bands, allowing for intricate sound shaping and tonal balancing across a wide frequency spectrum.

One of the standout features of the Elysia Museq plugin is its high-resolution filters. These filters offer steep slopes, enabling precise control over the audio signal and allowing for detailed sound sculpting. This level of precision is particularly useful for mastering engineers and producers who require exacting standards in their audio work.

Final Thoughts:

Brainworx’s Elysia Museq plugin is a must-have for those who seek the analog warmth and flexibility of the original hardware EQ in a convenient digital format. Its precise control, high-resolution filters, and rich analog modeling make it an excellent choice for both mixing and mastering applications. Whether you’re enhancing individual tracks or fine-tuning a complete mix, the Elysia Museq plugin provides the tools needed to achieve professional-quality results.

Affordable and Accessible EQs

These EQs provide great value and accessibility for those who need effective EQ tools without breaking the bank.

HoRNet Total EQ

Craft Your Sound Precisely with This Extensive Equalization Tool

Overview:

The HoRNet Total EQ stands as an embodiment of precision combined with versatility. For producers and mix engineers demanding flexibility in their EQ choices, the Total EQ ticks all the right boxes. It boasts 11 distinct EQ shapes, from traditional peaks, shelves, and notches to more intricate tilt, band-pass, and all-pass filters, providing unparalleled sonic sculpting power.

Beyond static frequency adjustments, the Total EQ shines with its Dynamic EQ capabilities. This feature allows specific frequency bands to respond dynamically based on the input level, akin to a multiband compressor. It’s a game-changer for tackling resonances or enhancing specific tonal elements only when needed.

Its user interface, detailed yet uncluttered, houses a robust spectrum analyzer. With adjustable parameters for resolution and speed, users can see detailed frequency representations in real time, aiding the decision-making process. Moreover, the auto-gain feature ensures that any EQ changes don’t misleadingly affect perceived loudness, streamlining the mixing process.

Final Thoughts:

The HoRNet Total EQ promises, and delivers, a comprehensive EQ experience. Its blend of traditional parametric controls with modern dynamic capabilities makes it a formidable tool in any audio professional’s arsenal. Step up your mixing game and embrace the enhanced clarity and precision offered by Total EQ.

“After shaping your frequencies with the right EQ, explore dynamic control options in our guide to the Best Compressor VST Plugins.”

FAQ Buying Guide: Best EQ VST Plugins

EQing is a fundamental skill in music production, and a quality EQ plugin is indispensable. It can sculpt and define your sound, ensuring clarity and cohesion in your mixes. Whether you’re carving out unwanted frequencies or enhancing the character of an instrument, the right EQ VST can make all the difference.

• What is an EQ VST plugin?

  An EQ (Equalization) VST plugin is a tool used to adjust the balance of specific frequencies in an audio signal, allowing producers and engineers to shape the tonal qualities of a sound or mix.

• Why is EQing important in music production?

  EQing helps in enhancing or reducing specific frequency ranges to ensure clarity, balance, and depth in a mix. It can correct problems like muddiness or harshness and help instruments sit well together in a mix.

• What's the difference between a parametric and graphic EQ?

  Parametric EQ allows you to select a specific frequency, adjust its bandwidth (Q), and then boost or cut it. Graphic EQ, on the other hand, divides the spectrum into several fixed frequency bands, allowing you to boost or cut each band.

• How can I identify problematic frequencies?

  Many modern EQ plugins have a spectrum analyzer. By boosting a narrow band and sweeping it across the spectrum, you can pinpoint resonant or problematic frequencies. Once identified, you can reduce or eliminate them.

• What is a shelf EQ?

  A shelf EQ boosts or reduces frequencies either above or below a set point. A high-shelf will affect frequencies above the set point, while a low-shelf targets frequencies below it.

• Can I use EQ to add warmth to my mix?

  Yes. Boosting certain low-mid frequencies (typically around 100-500 Hz) can add warmth. However, too much boost in this area can make a mix sound muddy. It’s all about balance.

• What's the difference between a transparent and colored EQ?

  Transparent EQs aim to make adjustments without adding any distinct character to the sound, ideal for corrective tasks. Colored EQs, however, impart a specific tonal character, often emulating classic hardware units.

• How many EQ plugins do I really need?

  While having multiple EQ plugins can provide various flavors and functionalities, it’s more about knowing how to use them effectively. Many professionals have a few go-to EQ plugins they’re intimately familiar with and use them across projects.

• Are there any risks with excessive EQing?

  Over-EQing can introduce phase issues or degrade the audio quality. It’s usually best to make subtle adjustments and trust your ears. If you find yourself making extreme EQ cuts or boosts, consider addressing the issue at the source or using a different sample or recording.

• Is it better to EQ in solo mode or within the context of the mix?

  While soloing a track can help identify problems, it’s essential to make EQ decisions within the context of the entire mix. What sounds good soloed might not necessarily work well in the mix.