EQ1979 by Belles Ondes: Legendary Analog Sound of the Neve 1073 Console in Your DAW
EQ1979 by Belles Ondes is a meticulous emulation of a stereo analog console strip, inspired by the sound of the iconic British Neve 1073 console. This plugin is designed to bring warmth, saturation, and musicality to your digital workflow, offering not just an equalizer, but a complete tone-shaping signal processing.
It is ideally suited for adding character to individual tracks or for gentle processing of the entire bus, replicating the harmonic saturation and the inductor equalizer characteristics typical of vintage equipment.
EQ1979 Architecture: Three Stages of Analog Processing
The EQ1979 plugin sequentially processes the audio signal through three key stages, each emulating the characteristics of analog circuits:
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Input Driving Stage
Emulates an analog transformer-based input amplifier. Adds soft, pleasing saturation to the signal, making the sound denser, warmer, and more “analog”. Saturation is dynamic and depends on the input signal level.
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Filtering Stage
This is the main equalizer, based on the emulation of inductor filters known for their musical and natural sound. Includes three bands:
- Low Shelf: For gentle boosting or cutting of low frequencies.
- Mid Band: Parametric band for working with mid frequencies, with a special musical response thanks to inductor emulation.
- High Shelf: For working with high frequencies, adding “air” or gently smoothing them.
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Third Order Highpass Filter
Effectively cuts unwanted low frequencies (hum, rumble), helping to clean up the mix. The third-order filter provides a fairly steep cut slope while preserving the natural sound of the useful signal.
Why Choose EQ1979?
- Classic Sound: Get warm, musical tone inspired by Neve 1073.
- Full Processing Strip: More than just EQ – it’s a tone-shaping system with saturation and filtering.
- Musical Filters: Inductor emulation provides natural and pleasant-sounding equalization curves.
- Effective Cleaning: Built-in high-pass filter helps keep your mix clean.
- Stereo Emulation: Works with stereo and mono signals.
- Free Access: High-quality plugin with analog character, available for free.
EQ1979 by Belles Ondes is a valuable tool for sound engineers and musicians seeking to achieve professional analog sound in their digital projects. It is easy to use, yet has the depth and character to significantly enhance your mixes. Download it today and add that classic warmth and saturation to your music!
