Pultec EQP-1S3

Name: Pultec EQP-1S3
Price: 149 USD
Author: MixWave

by MixWave · EQ · Pultec program EQ (tube and solid-state)

Not rated yet

A model of the Pultec EQP-1S3, which extends the EQP-1A with mid boosts at 1 kHz and 2 kHz and high shelves at 5 kHz and 10 kHz.

It includes a tube version and a solid-state EQP-1S3-SS version with a 2520 op-amp, for $99 on sale (normally $149).

Best for: Vocals, Drums, Bass, Acoustic Instruments, Mix Bus, Mastering. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: solid-state, tube, bass, bus processing, mix bus, drums, tight, vocals, hardware emulation, mastering, op-amp, warm, classic, component-modelled, full mix, piano, 50s, circuit-modelled, clean, inspired by, built-in mix knob, mixing, parallel processing, smooth, static, vintage.

What it does

Pultec EQP-1S3 is MixWave's model of the later Pultec program EQ that expands the classic EQP-1A with more mid and high choices. MixWave describes it as "the Pultec legacy. Evolved," built with component-level modeling, and offers both tube and solid-state versions.

Low end: Pultec-style low boost and attenuation with a choice of bass frequencies and curves revised for tighter low-end definition.
High boost: a wide range of boost frequencies (the MIDI Audio Expert review lists 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 16 kHz) with a bandwidth control from narrow to broad.
Extra mid and shelf options: boosts at 1 kHz and 2 kHz that the EQP-1A lacks, plus two high shelf boosts at 5 kHz and 10 kHz.
High attenuation: a shelf cut at 5, 10 or 20 kHz for softening the top.
Tube or solid-state: the tube model gives warm harmonics and a rounded low end; the solid-state version (EQP-1S3-SS, built around a 2520 op-amp) has a "tighter low end" and a cleaner, more focused sound.
Plugin extras: wet/dry mix for parallel EQ, input and output high-pass and low-pass filters, and an EQ bypass.

A 14-day fully working trial is available.

Source: MixWave product page

When to use it

Pultec EQP-1S3 is the better choice when you like Pultec curves but want more than the EQP-1A's few high frequencies. Compared with the Pultec Passive EQ Collection and PuigTec EQs, which centre on the EQP-1A and its companion units, it adds 1 and 2 kHz boosts, extra high shelves and a solid-state amp option in a single plugin. It is less flexible than the Manley Massive Passive EQ, which has fully sweepable bands, but quicker to use for broad, musical moves. For surgical cuts it is no substitute for Pro-Q 4 or TDR Nova.

Best for: broad tone shaping on vocals, piano, drums, bass, the mix bus and mastering.
Genres: any.
Look elsewhere if: you need precise or dynamic cuts (Pro-Q 4, TDR Nova) or want the classic EQP-1A layout exactly (Pultec Passive EQ Collection).
Tip: switch to the solid-state version on bass and the mix bus when the tube model's low end gets too thick.

What producers say

Early reviews are very positive, praising the modeling and the choice of tube and solid-state voices; no criticisms have surfaced in the review we read.

MIDI Audio Expert "highly recommended" it for expanding a Pultec collection, praising the component-level modeling done with Pulse Techniques and its results on vocals, piano, drums, bass and the mix bus.
Sound notes: the same review found the tube mode smooth and warm, and the solid-state mode tighter, with less harmonic distortion and more transparency.

MIDI Audio Expert review

Where to buy

MixWave: $149

Tutorials and reviews

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