MAAT thEQblue12

Why develop yet one more parametric equalizer (PEQ) when there’s already hundreds on the market? The answer is simple…’Cuz there was room for improvement! It was customers of the original LinearPhase PEQ Red and Orange who asked Algorithmix to develop a classic EQ, for recording and mixing tasks, with unparalleled purity and transparency. Over several years, our Dr. Christoph closely analyzed many of the best out there, and compiled a vast knowledgebase of analog EQ best practices. Cherry picking from that, he implemented not just one or two, but an entire collection of trad minimal phase EQs. The result? A distillation of analog antecedents, while others are based on new ideas.

We know you’ll enjoy our dozen variations of blue, newly revised by MAAT, and will find your favorite sound. We’ve also added subtle but important touches, like the ability to freely assign Sections to either stereo [left/right] or sum/difference [L+R/L-R] at the same time, and to “group” all Sections and make a global gain change without disturbing the relationship of individual Sections.

The Twelve

We wanted to lift analog to another level, so we reverse engineered a variety of well respected hardware EQs, creating idealized digital versions from that inspiration. Rather than models or simulations that carry analog baggage, thEQblue has no noise, distortion or other secondary effects inherited from analog.

thEQblue is the most complete collection of classic equalizer Architectures ever assembled into one package. You get precise, idealized examples of legendary analog equalizer circuitry, complemented by progressive new models. Whether it’s vintage, modern, or experimental, thEQblue is a sonic sandbox for every mixing and mastering engineer to play in.

Dither…For Your Brain

Even though thEQblue is lauded by the top echelon of audio pros, we weren’t satisfied. The sound quality was as good as anything available, but benchmark analog still had an edge. So, we added a radical new tech to thEQblue. It’s called FiDef and it adds that indescribable beauty lent by the best of analog.

FiDef® by FideliQuest (www.fidef.com) is a very low amplitude, psychoacoustic stimulus designed specifically for audio engineers. FiDef can be thought of as dither for your brain. It makes a receptive brain relax and pay closer attention to an incoming audio stimulus. In brain physiology laboratory tests using functional neuroimaging techniques, FiDef has proven to excite brain activity related to perception and attention, and to enhance the subjective processes of listening and engagement.
You have to simply try FiDef and see if you hear an improvement. You may, or maybe not. Better yet, give your customer two almost identical versions of a song, the only difference being FiDef or no FiDef, and let them decide.

BFF

The equalizer is perhaps the oldest and the most popular of sound processing tools. From its earliest days, the main function was correction or enhancement by boosting or cutting certain frequencies.
For a century, engineers have developed countless equalizers. A few became legend, our thEQorange is one. The most popular version in recording and post is the parametric equalizer or PEQ, first perfected by Massenburg in 1972. It offers maximum flexibility with only three controls. Properly used, the PEQ is a powerful tool and the best friend of every audio engineer in the quest for perfect sound. As Spidey (and Voltaire) always reminds us though, “With great power comes great responsibility.” When designed by a clueless or cost–constrained software engineer, it can be your greatest sonic enemy.

Choice Is Good

In order to give you a choice of features and price, thEQblue is available in two versions: • thEQblue6, with 6 Architectures; No.s 1 through 6; • thEQblue12, with all 12 Architectures ? thEQblue6 owners can upgrade to get all twelve Architectures.

Iron Maiden

The contribution of distortion to the specific sound of a particular analog equalizer caused by its respective electronics is largely what makes it “good.” Usually though, non–linear distortion, horrific group delay and other deficiencies produce more “nasty” than “magic.” Our philosophy, for PEQ design, has always been to make filters as precise and clean as possible. For controlled distortion, we recommend high quality tape emulation, a well made pedal or other carefully applied studio magic.

Comprehensive

With thEQblue, you can simultaneously call up twelve Sections from one of the twelve Architectural styles available. For each Section, choose from nine freely assignable filter topologies, including bell, first and second order low or high shelf along with first and second order low or high cut. The most significant filter types bearing the equalizer name are bells or peaking filters. Set to a particular Q, different bells change their bandwidth depending on the amount of boost or cut making comparison difficult between Architectures.

How to Compare Architectures…

In order to make meaningful comparisons of different Architectures you must be aware of two factors:

1. All 12 equalizer Architectures are normalized to have exactly the same bell shape for 6dB of boost. If you use just one bell filter at +6dB, you will get the same audible result for all types. This normalization of the Q or Quality Factor is a unique MAAT feature, and distinguishes our typologies from their analog antecedents because many of the originals have undefined Q definitions due to the limitation of analog technology. The normalization allows you to compare the different EQ Architectures in thEQblue with ease.

2. A single minimal phase bell filter with identical shape will sound the same regardless of Architecture. The difference between styles becomes obvious when you have activated more bells and other filters so that they start to interact with each other. This will reveal the different characteristics of each Architecture, in terms of phase interaction and different gain and Q relationships.

Learn More

For much more information on thEQblue and its Architectures, please visit .

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