VEQ-1A
by Antelope Audio · EQ · Pultec-style tube EQ
Not rated yet
VEQ-1A is a two-band tube EQ inspired by a classic studio unit made from 1961 to 1971.
It has a low shelf, a broad mid peak and the boost-and-cut-at-once trick, for tracks or buses, for $99.
Best for: Drums, Bass, Vocals, Mix Bus, Mastering. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: bass, classic, smooth, tube, full mix, hardware emulation, inspired by, 60s, 70s, bus processing, gentle, vocals, musical, 50s, acoustic guitar, airy, drums, huge, kick, mastering, mix bus, mixing, subscription, vintage.
What it does
VEQ-1A is Antelope Audio's 2-band tube EQ, based on a classic studio unit built between 1961 and 1971. The developer pitches it for "massive bass, gentle highs, and analog richness" on single tracks and full mixes.
- Low shelf: a shelving band with separate boost and attenuation for deep, solid bass.
- Boost and cut together: boosting and attenuating the same low frequency at once, the classic Pultec trick, which the developer says gives a quality other EQs can't easily match.
- Broad mid peak: a wide-bandwidth peaking boost for smooth presence and air.
- Bandwidth knob: sets how broad or focused the peak boost is.
- Attenuation selector: sets the attenuation, which users single out for its soft treatment of the highs.
The current version is 1.0.1. It is also part of the Antelope Cosmos subscription, which offers a free trial.
Source: Antelope Audio product page
When to use it
VEQ-1A is a lower-cost take on the Pultec program EQ, with the familiar broad boosts and the boost-and-cut low-end trick. Compared with the Pultec Passive EQ Collection, it is a single 2-band unit rather than a set of models, so there is no midrange companion EQ. Next to PuigTec EQs it covers the same classic moves, so the choice mostly comes down to sound and whether you already use Antelope's ecosystem. Unlike Pro-Q 4 or TDR Nova, it offers no precise frequencies, narrow cuts or dynamic bands; it is a tone shaper, not a surgical tool. Owners of Antelope interfaces get the extra benefit of running it in real time on Synergy Core.
- Best for: kick and bass low end, smooth top on vocals and acoustic guitar, and gentle bus and mix tone.
- Genres: any, especially rock, hip-hop and pop.
- Look elsewhere if: you need precise, narrow or dynamic EQ (Pro-Q 4 or TDR Nova), or a fuller set of Pultec models including the midrange unit (Pultec Passive EQ Collection).
What producers say
Buyers rate it highly for a smooth, musical sound at a fair price.
- Plugin Boutique users rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 17 ratings, praising its smooth and musical character and its soft, pleasant high-frequency attenuation, and calling it good value on individual tracks.
- Criticisms: a minority of reviewers still prefer Universal Audio's Pultec plugins.
Where to buy
- KVR Marketplace: $99
- Plugin Boutique: $99
- PluginFox: $99
- AudioDeluxe: $99
- Antelope Audio: see store
Tutorials and reviews
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