Who doesn’t love a Pultec EQ? However, not everyone has the budget for that particular hardware classic. If you’re light on cash after Christmas, Analog Obsession’s free Poortec is the EQ for you!
On Friday, the indie dev launched the new Poortec EQ for macOS (VST3, AU, AAX) and Windows (VST3, AAX).
The Poortec is presumably based on the OG Pultec EQP-1A, given the similar appearance of the interface and the fact that the plugin’s main six controls are identical to those on the EQP-1A.
The iconic and much-imitated Pultec EQP-1A Program Equalizer debuted in 1951. The two-band tube EQ made waves as the first passive program EQ on the market.
So what have Analog Obsession done with their “poor man’s” take on the classic studio staple?
The dev describes Poortec (a brilliant name, I might add) as a no-frills Pultec build without an SRPP gain stage and inductors. The emulation uses a Fairchild-style old line amp to amplify the signal after the passive EQ.
The Poortec has low- and high-frequency EQ bands. The dev notes that the low band allows you to perform the Pultec “low-end trick with extra frequencies.” The high band, meanwhile, offers a shelf-shape high boost and cut at the same frequency.
On the bottom right, there is a trim pot (TP) on the gain stage circuit. This pot can be used to add more drive to the signal, providing a unique sound with enhanced transients.
Next to the trimpot, there’s a clean master output, and there’s a bypass on the bottom left.
Analog Obsession has provided a nice and easy download process. With a single click, you can grab the macOS or Windows installer from the dev’s Patreon announcement page.
Over the years, many developers have tried emulating the Pultec EQP-1A, often pricing them as high-end products, even for plugin releases.
If you haven’t tried the Pultec sound yet, this freebie is the perfect opportunity to do so. Alternatively, old hands may wish to check out a fresh take on the classic hardware unit.
The original Pultec EQP-1A was valued for its no-frills operation and its warm and musical presence.
The unit (and the Poortec emulation) can also boost and cut at the same frequency point (which the original manual advised against), creating a tight and unique low-end character.
We offer something similar in our recently released BPB Bassaturator plugin. Give it a try if you’re looking for a plugin to saturate and enhance your bass.
Download: Poortec (FREE)
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32 Comments
El°HYM
onNot too sure about the non – anti – aliasing on this one.
Rainer Butt
onYou can click on the analog obsession text on most AO plugins to turn on oversampling.
Edward Kenway
onNot on this one, it literally says so quite far up top in the description; “—NO OVERSAMPLING—“
Peter
onIf you’re a reaper user you can use turn on plugin instance oversampling and get around that issue.
Joe Dirt Poor
onHaving just got back into a house after living in my car for 2 years, I can say with great confidence that I’m a subject matter expert vis a vis being poor. I almost did a spit take when I read Poortec. It’s friggin’ hilarious. All I’d say here is don’t take things too seriously. Clearly no malice was intended…which means everything. Poortec is an awesome name, and I fully appreciate and endore the dark humor involved. I see the name as a dig on how stupidly expensive Pultec units are, and has nothing to do with me personally. C’mon guys……..
Eric
onTried this on a mix and it’s very good! I have the versions from UAD, Waves, Kiive and a couple others. The Poortec holds up against them all.
DerSilvano
onHow does this differ from AO’s Rare?
Sir Otter
onLooks like a simplified somewhat stripped down version.
Arthur
onActually I was going to write that compared them both and failed to understand why I need almost the same Pultec. Rare does a good job)
JWP
onLabeling a tool from a degrading standpoint makes me never want to use it, and is not a practice I agree with. It’s equivalent to saying your a loser if you use this. I’m stupid with^
Some of these plug-in companies advertisements seem to think it’s funny or marketable to do the same.
Your crush: LA-2A
The father: 1176
The sibling LA-3A
Their crush: 2500
Their Ex: 160
You: an air compressor
So disrespectful, like I can’t be an audio compressor, forget you and your whole crew!
Pavlova
onExactly my thought, stupid name – makes me not even want to try it.
JJ
onI am so offended by those poor poor people that we should give up on “poor man’s something” phrase altogether. FinanciallyChallengedTec would instead be an instant download. (◔_◔)
JWP
onI’m stupid with ^
Your lack of articulation is resulting in your potential sarcasm or sympathy losing authenticity. From my experience, people who are quick to ridicule the poor haven’t had a recent day of hunger, homelessness, or being unfortunate enough to be put in the situation of feeling helpless.
The practice doesn’t leave me offended, but disheartened; I hold it in disdain, and not as an assault for which requires retaliation, but complete disregard; like “fuhgeddaboudit!”.
JWP
onThat last sentence was a run on, and too many butts! not sure what else I might have used as a conjunction tho? “however” disheartened full stop? “instead” complete disregard?
I might have to start drafting my posts in crayon first…
I go by the cliche that using the word but makes anything that comes before it BS.
Nana
onTouch some grass. Seriously.
Netch
onWhoever said being poor was a degrading standpoint except you? If you don’t have substantial money, you are considered poor. If you don’t have substantial money, Pultec offer a free plugin. Ironic you would call them out for having a degrading standpoint when they are being charitable.
Netch
onAnalog Obsession**
Joe Dirt Poor
onHaving just got back into a house after living in my car for 2 years, I can say with great confidence that I’m a subject matter expert vis a vis being poor. I almost did a spit take when I read Poortec. It’s friggin’ hilarious. All I’d say here is don’t take things too seriously. Clearly no malice was intended…which means everything. Poortec is an awesome name, and I fully appreciate and endore the dark humor involved. I see the name as a dig on how stupidly expensive Pultec units are, and has nothing to do with me personally. C’mon guys……..
Robin
onMaybe one day I’ll finally understand the hype, but for now I can’t help but wonder if this ancient hardware EQ everyone keeps emulating hasn’t been massively outclassed by most modern EQ’s on every level for decades, but its cult status alone keeps it worshiped 75 years after its inception.
JWP
onTo my understanding, it has a type of mild tube saturation which fell out of design practice when transistors became more popular, along with the conversion of the EQ shelfs creating a unique “bump” in the low end at the cross over point. Paired with it’s archaic jargony contextual labels, that a novice has to discern the definitions to understand fully, it makes for a superficial novelty that music producers seem to drool over.
JWP
onconvergence*? XD of the EQ shelfs
mrg
onModern EQs = (usually) Transparent, clean. Some would say boring.
Old EQs = Made out of funny tricks, weird components, strange cost-cutting ideas, etc… So, yeah, they color the sound in a specific manner to their design, their imperfections.
Same goes anything, really, compressors, preamps, analog or even early digital.
The ‘hype’ comes from the fact they were used by artists or producers, and people want -that-sound. The thing is, there are so many possible interactions in an analog/hardware signal chain, so many different variables that you might never get -that- sound anyway.
You do you, there’s nothing wrong with the tools you feel like using. I usually prefer a cleanish EQ because I know what I’ll get from it and prefer coloration from ‘tape’ saturators or other means. It’s all about preferences, it’s personal.
Lucas
onThis entire thread is a damn-fine example of why I usually skip audio threads anymore.
Imagine my chagrin, thinking I’d get the low on how this plugin was working out in people’s mixes.
Clownshoes. XD
S/O to Eric for apparently being the only guy to give it a run.
Paramita
onIndeed, but Eric also mentioned having about 5 other Pultec emulations already.
There was not much need to try the AO version.
Other than GAS being stronger than the resolve to make music.
I’m going to keep GAS under control this year and get more good music out.
Work on skills rather than spend time chasing new plugins…
Michael in South Korea
onGreat point Paramita 😄
I’ve mentioned before that BOB should run a contest to see who has the most free plugins.
G.A.S, baby!!! Like… wow!!
How many does a person need?
What came with my DAW, and the few freebies I picked up MORE than get the job done.
Create music, y’all!!!!! 🤘
Michael in South Korea
onOopps… meant BPB should run a contest…..
Homer Simpson moment 😄
Paramita
onYeah Michael, I am sure most BPB visitors have hundreds of plugins on their computers ..
I probably have 12 compressors (after reducing) 30 distortions, 8 or 10 reverbs, etc…
I’ve had GAS for 20+ years and only lately starting to focus better !
Robin
onYou need to read between the lines in these kind of cases. If the plugin would blow someone away it would’ve been explicitly written. If such thing doesn’t happen it’s probably not that special. Besides, a written comment by a strangers doesn’t say a lot. You don’t know their style, their skill, or if they have the tendency call a mere difference an improvement, f.e. There’s only one way to really find out, and since it’s free: have at it.
octavio
onI dont know.
I’ve been using sonimus soneq ever since it came out.
And i have tried other eqs both paid and free. but i just feel like even if there is a difference its just minimal. and i always keep coming back to soneq free.
I wonder if this poortec is worth the try.
Bob
onFor the next 7 days, Overloud are giving away 1000 copies of TH-U Essentials each day.
overloud dot com /free-thu
Paramita
onMuch appreciated Bob. I will compare with BIAS FX2 for which I have the full version and which I love!
With regards to the GAS issue, if I decide to test something, I force myself to decide if it really is worth keeping after, now I remove way more easily than before.
Me
onthere are some interesting uses for this type of eq. like the andrew schepps pultec trick for vocals.