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tarrtime « Pultec Style Eq without the Pultec Style Price »
Published on 12/28/12 at 07:22The IK Multimedia Vintage Program Equalizer is a software effects plug-in to be used in a DAW or with the IKM T-racks mastering suite. The software can be purchased off the IKM website, downloaded, and installed. Authorization is completed using the IKM Authorization software application. Recently, IKM released the T-racks Custom Shop application that can be used to purchase the plug-in. I had used the IKM Amplitube Custom Shop for a while and was familiar with how it worked. In this scenario, you have to buy 'gear credits' with cash then you use the credits to get gear.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
The controls on a Pultec-style EQ are little different than a standard EQ. IKM included the standard controls to be similar with the hardware version. It might seem counter-intuitive to boost and attenuate at the same frequency, but in reality these to dials are not inverses of each other. I recommend experimenting with both settings together, and watch some YouTube videos to see popular ways of using the EQ. There are also a few presets included with the plug-in if you want to try out some examples/suggestions.
The amount of gain that can be added is plenty. I typically only boost or cut at levels of 3 or 4 out of 10 even for applications like kick drums that typically need a lot of eq.
If there was one complaint about the IKM Vintage Program Equalizer, it would be that were is not more mid-range frequency control. I like to do a lot of subtractive eq in the mid-range to cut frequencies that resonate badly. The 'cut' on this eq is only limited to low frequencies and high frequencies. Waves has a similar emulation/model of the Pultec Eq. Waves has a separate mid-range plug-in that complements this Pultec Eq.
OVERALL OPINION
Pultec-style EQs are really popular in music production because they are unique and musical. The combination of 'boost' and 'attenuation' really thickens up a kick-drum, bass guitar, or overall mix. The high frequency equalization is very smooth and tasteful. The IK Multimedia model can do all these things. I haven't ever tried a hardware version of a Pultec EQ, nor have I tried any other software models (Waves, UAD, Digidesign, etc). They all might be a little bit different, but as long as the IKM version gets me close, I am happy with it.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
The controls on a Pultec-style EQ are little different than a standard EQ. IKM included the standard controls to be similar with the hardware version. It might seem counter-intuitive to boost and attenuate at the same frequency, but in reality these to dials are not inverses of each other. I recommend experimenting with both settings together, and watch some YouTube videos to see popular ways of using the EQ. There are also a few presets included with the plug-in if you want to try out some examples/suggestions.
The amount of gain that can be added is plenty. I typically only boost or cut at levels of 3 or 4 out of 10 even for applications like kick drums that typically need a lot of eq.
If there was one complaint about the IKM Vintage Program Equalizer, it would be that were is not more mid-range frequency control. I like to do a lot of subtractive eq in the mid-range to cut frequencies that resonate badly. The 'cut' on this eq is only limited to low frequencies and high frequencies. Waves has a similar emulation/model of the Pultec Eq. Waves has a separate mid-range plug-in that complements this Pultec Eq.
OVERALL OPINION
Pultec-style EQs are really popular in music production because they are unique and musical. The combination of 'boost' and 'attenuation' really thickens up a kick-drum, bass guitar, or overall mix. The high frequency equalization is very smooth and tasteful. The IK Multimedia model can do all these things. I haven't ever tried a hardware version of a Pultec EQ, nor have I tried any other software models (Waves, UAD, Digidesign, etc). They all might be a little bit different, but as long as the IKM version gets me close, I am happy with it.