Introducing MQ55 by J1000 – a powerful and highly flexible parametric equalizer designed specifically to tackle the most challenging tasks in the mixing stage of your music production. This plugin will become an indispensable tool in your arsenal, allowing you to accurately and delicately shape the tonal balance of your tracks.
MQ55 combines an intuitive interface with deep functionality, making it equally useful for experienced sound engineers and beginners alike. Its architecture is based on seven minimum-phase stereo filters optimized for mixing needs, providing a clean and transparent sound without introducing unwanted artifacts.
Key Features of MQ55
Thanks to its thoughtful design and rich feature set, MQ55 offers exceptional precision and control over sound:
- Seven powerful filters: five peak filters for point correction and two shelf filters (low-frequency LSF and high-frequency HSF) for gentle changes in the overall frequency response.
- Wide adjustment range: each filter has a gain/attenuation range of up to ±12 dB in standard mode, providing ample room for maneuver.
- Flexible frequency control: the frequency controls are divided into seven overlapping zones that cover the entire musically important spectrum. Although LSF/LF and HF/HSF use common zones, their different nature provides unique results.
- Precise Q adjustment (Q): five blue knobs control the Q of the peak filters, and two green knobs control the shelf filters. A higher Q value means a steeper filter characteristic, allowing you to isolate or amplify narrow sections of the spectrum.
Detailed Overview of Functionality
Unique Ratio Knob
A special function of the MQ55 is the Ratio knob. It acts as a global multiplier for all set gain/attenuation values of the filters. For example, at the maximum position (3:2), each gain value is multiplied by 1.5. This allows you to finely adjust the overall equalization intensity after adjusting all individual filters, essentially working as a dry/wet control for the entire EQ section.
Filter Modes and Monitoring
MQ55 is also equipped with additional high-pass (HP) and low-pass (LP) filters. The HP filter has two selectable slopes (1st and 2nd order), and the LP filter also has two (2nd and 4th order), providing additional options for shaping the edges of the spectrum. The Monitor (MON) button activates the isolated listening mode for each peak filter, which is extremely useful for finding and eliminating problematic frequencies.
Ease of Use and Performance
The MQ55 interface is designed for maximum efficiency during operation. The displays above the frequency controls show the numerical values of the current frequency or filter gain/attenuation. At the bottom of the panel are on/off switches for each filter, allowing you to quickly compare results. For the most accurate adjustment of any knob, use the CTRL+mouse combination, and double-clicking resets the parameter to the default value.
From a technical point of view, MQ55 provides 32-bit internal signal processing accuracy. The plugin works with zero latency and has low CPU resource consumption, allowing it to be used in large projects without overloading the system. An important advantage is the complete absence of introduced harmonic or dynamic distortions, guaranteeing the purity of your mix.
Overall, MQ55 by J1000 is a high-quality, functional, and resource-efficient parametric equalizer that gives sound engineers complete control over the frequency spectrum to achieve the perfect balance in their musical works.
