The Sword

Name: The Sword
Author: Audiority

by Audiority · EQ · Graphic EQ and clean boost pedal

Not rated yet

The Sword is a free analog modeled EQ boost pedal, taken from the EQ/boost section of Audiority's Solidus VS8100 amp sim.

It has a 10-band graphic EQ and a 20 dB clean booster, and is free.

Best for: Guitars, Bass. Genres: Rock & Indie, Metal.

Keywords: clean, free, analog-sounding, electric guitar, bass, mixing, simple, crunchy, heavy, oversampling, randomize, resizable UI, static, transparent.

What it does

The Sword is a free "Analog Modeled EQ Boost Pedal" from Audiority, made with The Amp Sim Universe. It takes the EQ and boost section of Audiority's Solidus VS8100 amp plugin and turns it into a pedal for shaping tone before an amp sim.

10-band graphic EQ: analog modeled, with a fader per band for up to 12 dB of boost or cut.
Gain knob: sets the level of the signal coming out of the EQ section.
Clean boost: up to 20 dB of transparent boost, to push an amp sim harder into drive or simply raise the level.
Switches: separate on/off switches for the EQ and the Boost, so either can be used alone.
HQ mode: oversampling to reduce aliasing when the signal saturates.
Workflow: Randomize and Reset buttons, lockable knobs that keep their value when presets change, and a resizable interface.

The current version is 1.0.1 (March 2024). It is free.

Source: Audiority product page

When to use it

The Sword is a guitar pedal, not a mixing EQ. Where Pro-Q 4 and TDR Nova are rated mixing EQs with parametric bands and dynamics, and the Pultec collections add colour to a mix, The Sword offers fixed graphic bands and a boost, meant to sit in front of an amp sim and tighten or reshape a high-gain tone, much like a hardware EQ pedal. It is free, small and quick, which makes it an easy add to any guitar chain.

Best for: boosting and shaping guitar or bass tone in front of an amp sim, or as a quick graphic EQ after it.
Genres: rock and metal.
Look elsewhere if: you need a mixing EQ; TDR Nova is free and far more flexible, and Pro-Q 4 is the rated standard.

What producers say

Coverage is light, but the one write-up found it simple and useful for a free pedal.

Bedroom Producers Blog called it "simple and impactful" with an interface "as straightforward as can be".
Usage note (Bedroom Producers Blog): a clean boost can slam an amp into crunchier drive or just add volume, so results depend on where you place it.

Bedroom Producers Blog article

Where to buy

Audiority: Free

Tutorials and reviews

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