whiteLABEL has released TENQ, a freeware 10-band parametric equalizer effect in VST plugin format for Windows based digital audio workstations and plugin hosts (32-bit only).
I recall desperately searching for a freeware equalizer with a built-in spectrum equalizer for days back in 2009 or 2010. I checked all the audio related websites and asked around on various forums, but there were simply no such plugins available in the freeware world back in the day. Not a single plugin! We have several alternatives available today though (MEqualizer by MeldaProduction being one of the better offerings), and TENQ is yet another addition to the list.
See also: Free Parametric EQ VST Plugins!
Apart from the built-in spectrum analyzer, TENQ features ten parametric EQ bands with eleven different node types (high pass, low pass, high shelf, low shelf, etc.), a choice between stereo and M/S modes, packed inside an innovative hardware accelerated and zoomable user interface. The hardware acceleration of the user interface results in a significant performance boost and this is (as far as I know) the first ever SynthEdit plugin to use such a feature.
Although I won’t be switching my equalizers of choice any time soon (most of them are listed in the freeware EQ round-up linked above), I could easily recommend TENQ as a capable solution to anyone searching for a versatile free equalizer designed for mixing purposes. The only significant drawback when it comes to TENQ is the fact that the plugin will work on 32-bit Windows exclusively because it was made with SynthEdit.
Originally planned for release as a commercial product (the developer was planning to price it at £30), TENQ is actually being released as a freebie because of the new EU VAT laws. Although the plugin can’t be bought, you can still support the developer by making a donation on the product page linked below. whiteLABEL has several other freebies listed on their site (most of their commercial plugins come with an alternative free version), so check those out too while you’re visiting their website.
Video Demo
Check out the TENQ demo video:
Download
TENQ is available for free download via whiteLABEL (2.9 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit VST plugin format for Windows, made with SynthEdit).
18 Comments
AJYoung
onDear God, this looks amazing! I think this may actually replace my main EQ. Off to test…
dante
onhow did it go?
AJYoung
onI am sad =( In 32-bit REAPER, latest update, it is not working. The gui shows nothing but the bottom row of knobs + filter types, and white rectangles where the input/output meters should be. CPU usage also jumps to 60-65% when the gui is open. I can adjust the controls for whatever band is currently selected when I open a preset, and I can tell it affects the sound fine, but I can’t switch EQ bands or use the plugin as intended because the display simply isn’t there. Will contact the dev & see what’s up.
Bedroom Producers Blog
onCheck out the developer’s reply below. Perhaps it’s an openGL issue which could be fixed.
Narnia Man
on*EU VAT
Not sure if that’s a good place for a pun, confused me at first.
Sleeepydog
onHaha EQ VAT … i actually considered the possibility :D
That dev got some serious talent making, not only a plugin, but a synth edit plugin look that good!
The video posted.. looks very choppy at times :-s I hope he gets hired by some company or joins a dev group (like TDR or whatever they’re called)!
I love people being awesome at stuff :) Like you BPB <3 Your work is very appreciated!
Bedroom Producers Blog
onOMG what a typo to make. :D
Hopefully no one from the tax law department has seen this in the meanwhile, we don’t want them to get any funny ideas. OK, off to fix the error!
Bedroom Producers Blog
on:D
Cheers for reporting that, I’ll fix it right away!
Karma_tba
onTried in Studio one 2, Tracktion5, FL studio 11.5, Orion 8.5. Worked in none …no GUI.
Piler
onWork great on reaper 64
robotron sömmerda
ondont work in FL 11, gui is white.
only in 64bit?
hi guys – thanks for trying the plugin : sorry for the problems you’re experiencing.
For starters, it is intended for Vista or later and requires an openGL 2 or better graphics card. The absence of GUI – either black or white box and no metering signifies there’s some incompatibility with the openGL side of things – if you could use the email address on my site to tell me your O/S, GPU and Host that’d be potentially helpful :::: >> I can’t promise to get this running on every combination of OS/GPU/HOST but the more info I’ve got the more likely I’ll discover the problem. it is quite possibly down to the shader code (GPU-side) throwing some error (I’ve had at least one report of an AMD/ATI not happy to run).
The main caveat is thus : given that I’m no longer making money from this plugin, I can’t promise I’ll have much availability to put-out fixes, but I’ll try to find some time as and when I can ……
thanks to BPB for posting :)
daz whiteLABEL
oh, and btw : it *will* work on x64 hosts (with bridging) ;)
Bedroom Producers Blog
onThanks for the comment Daz! I was guessing that the issues reported by the readers were due to openGL (the same thing happened with NI Replika), but it’s great to get an official reply about this. Cheers!
Hi my friend, just wanted to tell you it works just as a mono eq, no stereo left right neither mid side options are working in FL STUDIO 12.0.2 and I’m sad about it :(
HansMono
onSooo sad that this gem is “windows only”… :/
This time i kinda wish there would be a mac-version for us to enjoy!! ;)
Thunderclap
onThis looks WAAAYYY too cool. Instant DL.
Also this is the best freeware m/s eq I have come across; it has:
~ 10 bands (instant win)
~ M/S mode (obviously)
~ Graphical display (I like to see what I’m doing)
~ Audio analyser (awesome)
~ Clean interface
Brilliant… just brilliant…
Ben Q.
onI disagree. TenQ works on lmms v1.1.3 64-bit on Windows 8.1 Single Language 64-bit :)