Softube Passive-Active Pack

The Softube Passive-Active Pack is a bundle of three equalization plug-ins. The plug-ins included with this bundle are the Softube Passive Equalizer, Softube Active Equalizer, and the Softube Focusing Equalizer. Installing the bundle should be quick and easy granted that you have a compatible system and that your system can handle it. The make up of these plug-ins is generally pretty easy to follow, although each has it's own type of thing going on. The interface is designed to look like an old stereo system, which is kind of cool to look at. The plug-ins are available in either VST, RTAA, or AU formats. I haven't had a look at a manual for this bundle, nor do I anticipate ever needing one.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I recently got the Softube Passive-Active Pack and I'm now running it in my home recording that consists of Pro Tools LE 8 and a Mac Book Pro lap top computer with a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of RAM. I run Pro Tools LE with a Digi 002R audio interface and I monitor everything with a pair of Adam A7s. I've yet to encounter any performance issues with these plug-ins, as they work just fine within my configuration.

OVERALL OPINION

While these plug-ins definitely sound good and are useful to have around, the Softube Passive-Active Pack plug-ins aren't my go to equalizer plug-ins. I've been tending to use them when I'm looking for something a little bit different. You can change your sound pretty drastically with these plug-ins if you'd like, but usually I just make small EQ moves with them. I'd recommend checking out the demos for these plug-ins if you're looking to add some relatively inexpensive EQ's, but they wouldn't be my first recommendation if you are looking for your first or second EQ buy.