AXIS

Name: AXIS
Price: 99 USD
Author: Kush Audio

by Kush Audio · EQ · Saturating EQ (Sly-Fi Digital)

Not rated yet

AXIS is a Sly-Fi Digital EQ, sold by Kush Audio, that offers a darker take on a 45-year-old classic EQ with tighter curves and a saturation knob.

It has classic A, modern B and freely sweepable UBK modes and a phase flip, for $99.

Best for: Drums, Bass, Guitars, Vocals. Genres: Rock & Indie, Hip-Hop & Trap, Metal.

Keywords: classic, dark, utility, bass, drums, fat, tight, vocals, electric guitar, creative, inspired by, mixing, modern, op-amp, overdrive, perpetual licence, punchy, static, subscription, vintage.

What it does

AXIS, from Kush Audio's Sly-Fi Digital line, is "a darker take on a classic approach to EQ", inspired by an EQ design from about 45 years ago. Computer Music identified the inspiration as the API 550A, with a fourth band added to the original's three.

Four bands: a vintage-style band layout with tighter curves than the original hardware.
Three modes: Classic A, Modern B and UBK. In UBK mode every frequency and gain knob sweeps freely instead of stepping between the standard values.
Saturation: a Sat knob for op-amp-style overdrive at the input, which reviewers say adds fatness to the low end.
Separate setups: each mode keeps its own settings, so you can compare EQ moves.
Transfer: copy settings from the A or B mode into UBK to fine-tune them.
Phase flip: a polarity switch.

A perpetual license is available, a free 10-day demo is offered, and it is also included in Kush's subscription to all its plugins.

Source: Kush Audio product page

When to use it

AXIS is a character EQ: darker and grittier than its API-style roots, with saturation built in, suited to sources that need attitude rather than polish. Compared with TDR VOS SlickEQ, it is less of a clean all-rounder but adds real drive through the Sat knob. Against Mäag Audio EQ4 it works in the mids and low end rather than adding air. It is far less precise than Pro-Q 4, with no analyser or dynamic bands, but UBK mode gives more freedom than a stepped hardware clone. DEFLECTOR is its companion compressor in the same line.

Best for: dark, punchy tone shaping on drums, bass, guitars and vocals.
Genres: rock, hip-hop and metal.
Look elsewhere if: you want clean, airy or surgical EQ; Pro-Q 4, Mäag EQ4 or a Pultec emulation suits that better.
Tip: Everything Recording found the Sat knob useful enough on its own to use AXIS just as a saturator.

What producers say

Reviewers rate AXIS highly for character and its saturation, with minor workflow gripes.

Computer Music (via MusicRadar, 2015) called it the most recognisable of the Sly-Fi trio, praising the classic API sound and the precision of UBK mode, and said the Sat knob adds fatness and openness to the bottom end.
Everything Recording (2015) said its character "easily blows any other emulation of this EQ out of the water" and singled out the Sat knob.
Criticisms: Everything Recording missed a low-cut filter and noted that switching modes made direct comparison between stepped and UBK settings awkward.

Where to buy

Kush Audio: $99

Tutorials and reviews

Hands-on with Sly-Fi Digital Plugins: Axis EQ, Deflector & Kaya

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