Universal Audio Precision EQ

Can't fault U-Audio on any of this.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

They got their stuff together very solidly.

OVERALL OPINION

The Universal Audio Precision EqualizerTM is a stereo or dual-mono four band EQ and high-pass filter designed primarily for mastering program material. The Precision Equalizer may also be used in recording and mixing where the utmost in EQ quality is required. The Precision Equalizer is based on industry standard analog mastering filters, and uses the classic parametric controls ar- rangement. The Precision Equalizer utilizes the best from those designs while incorporating features convenient to digital mastering. To preserve the great- est sonic detail and ensure a minimum of artifacts in the upper frequency range, the Precision Equalizer is upsampled to 192 kHz.
In Dual mode (dual-mono mode), the left and right parameters can be inde- pendently adjusted so that each side of the stereo signal can have different EQ settings. Note that this mode is infrequently used during mastering be- cause phase, imaging, and level inconsistencies may be induced in the result- ing stereo signal.
Mode Selection
Any of the below methods may be used to modify the Mode value: • Click the Stereo button to cycle through modes A and B
• Click the Dual button to activate dual-mono mode
• Click the indicator light above each mode
• Click+hold+drag the indicator light above each mode.
n Stereo mode, the L and R equalizer sections both control one side of the ste- reo source signal. The L and R controls are linked in stereo mode.
In stereo mode there are two sets of EQ settings (referred to as A and B), with each set containing the full set of L and R parameter values (the high-pass filter value is global per preset). This feature enables easy switching between two EQ settings for comparison purposes. Both the A and B parameter sets are contained within a single Precision Equalizer preset.
Each control set (L and R) has four EQ bands. Two bands are overlapping low frequency bands labeled L1 and L2, and two bands are overlapping high fre- quency bands labeled H1 and H2.
Each of the four bands has a control for bandwidth, enable, frequency, and gain. All four of the EQ bands can be used in parametric or shelf mode. The controls are exactly the same for each band; only the available frequency val- ues differ.
The Bandwidth (Q) knob defines the proportion of frequencies surrounding the band center frequency to be affected by the band gain control.
The numbers represent the filter slope in dB per octave. The available selec- tions are 4, 6, 9, 14, 20, and Shelf.
When set to Shelf on the L1 and L2 bands, the band becomes a low shelving filter. When set to Shelf on the H1 and H2 bands, the band becomes a high shelving filter.
Each band can be individually engaged with the Enable button. All bands default to disabled. When a band is enabled, the button glows blue. To enable a band, click the Enable button or move the band Gain knob.
You can use these buttons to compare the band settings to that of the original signal, or to bypass the individual band.