Viator DSP offers Electron EQ, a freeware EQ plugin inspired by vintage hardware.
Electron EQ is available in AU and VST3 formats for macOS and Windows via the developer’s Patreon page.
The developer, Landon Viator, has released multiple free plugins that are worth checking out. So, if you like what he does, you can become a Patreon and support his work.
Electron EQ is inspired by some of the most popular studio tube EQs of the past few decades. If that interests you, you should also check out the Warmy EP1A Tube EQ that we covered recently.
Despite the unassuming GUI, Electron EQ is a fairly feature-rich plugin that packs a bigger punch than you might expect.
If we go through the controls, there are four larger knobs making up the first row. These knobs control the Low Boost, Low Attenuation, High Boost, and High Attenuation (from left to right).
Both the Low Boost and High Boost range from 0 dB – 10 dB, and each is controlled by the corresponding (closest) Frequency knob. The Low-Frequency control ranges from 22 Hz to 300 Hz, and the High-Frequency ranges from 1000 Hz to 16000 Hz.
The attenuators provide some of that magic found in units like the Pultec EQP-1A. It’s something that adds definition and clarity in a subtle but distinctive way.
Between the two Frequency knobs, you’ll find the Bandwith knob, which controls the Q factor of the filters between zero (narrow) and ten (wide).
Moving on to the slider controls, we start with a Low-Pass Filter ranging from 20000 Hz to 3000 Hz.
Next up is Drive, which is one of the most interesting features of Electron EQ. The drive feature is a modeled tube circuit with parallel processing for introducing subtle tube saturation. If the slider is set to 0 dB, the processor turns off to save the CPU.
Trim is a simple output volume slider.
There are still a few notable features left, including 4X Oversampling and Stereo Mode.
With Oversampling on, you’ll hear the difference with additional clarity in the high-end.
Stereo Mode allows for mid/side/left/right/stereo processing. It means you can work with more precision and creative freedom.
Viator DSP added a couple of small features that are also worth a mention. The first is that plugin will save its window size as you save the project in your DAW and recall the same size next time you open it.
The second is that, like the Drive processor, the Filters will turn off processing when set to 0 dB to save CPU.
Electron EQ is worth checking out, and supporting the developer, even just with feedback, is encouraged.
More info: Electron EQ
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Last Updated on August 6, 2021 by Tomislav Zlatic.
