SEQ-S
by NUGEN Audio · EQ · Linear-phase spline match EQ
Not rated yet
A linear-phase EQ where you draw the curve directly as a spline, with EQ matching, mid/side operation and support up to 7.1 surround.
It can morph between EQ curves, including tempo-locked morphs, which also makes it a creative filter effect as well as a mastering and post tool.
Best for: Mix Bus, Mastering, Vocals, Sound Design. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: match EQ, linear-phase, mastering, mid/side, creative, full mix, mixing, built-in analyzer, bus processing, mix bus, post-production, resizable UI, sound design, static, vocals.
What it does
SEQ-S is a "Match & Morph EQ": NUGEN says it gives "powerful sonic sculpting and EQ matching up to 7.1, with stereo mid/side operation and automated spectrum analysis."
- Direct-draw spline EQ: draw the EQ curve with the mouse, with curve scaling and smoothing, node locking and psychoacoustic banding, in a zoomable, resizable window.
- Linear phase: no phase smearing, suited to mastering and surround work.
- Match EQ: capture the spectrum of a reference and apply (or invert) it as a match EQ preset.
- Morphing: dynamic morphs between EQ curves, including tempo-locked effects.
- Channel control: independent left/right, mid/side and surround channel control in mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1.
SEQ-ST is the mono/stereo/mid-side edition.
Source: NUGEN Audio product page
When to use it
Choose SEQ-S over FabFilter Pro-Q 4 and iZotope Ozone EQ, the usual choices for precise parametric EQ with matching, when you would rather draw a free-form curve than place bands, when you need matching and linear-phase EQ across a 5.1 or 7.1 mix, or when you want curve morphing as an effect. Where sonible smart:EQ 4 automates tonal balance, SEQ-S has you draw the curve.
- Best for: mastering, reference matching, surround and post-production EQ, and drawn resonance cuts.
- Genres: any; it is a general-purpose corrective and matching EQ.
- Look elsewhere if: you want numeric band entry or minimum-phase EQ; Pro-Q 4 covers those.
- Standout: spline drawing with match and tempo-synced morphs in one linear-phase EQ.
What producers say
Reviews praise its sound and precision once learned, with complaints about a dim display and missing minimum-phase mode.
- Mix (2020) Barry Rudolph called it "an awesome-sounding equalizer" and ended up using it "as an everyday precision mixing/mastering EQ."
- Sweetwater user (2019) a sound engineer said "I don't use any other eq. literally" and that zoom makes it "golden for mastering."
- Gripe: Mix found the analyzer scale values "too dim to see well" and noted a learning curve; the Sweetwater reviewer wanted a minimum phase mode.
Where to buy
- NUGEN Audio: $249
- Plugin Boutique: $249
- PluginFox: $249
- AudioDeluxe: $249
Tutorials and reviews
- NUGEN SEQ-S Plugin Review
- Nugen Audio's SEQ-S | Taming Resonant Frequencies
- [AES] Nugen Audio: New Versions of SEQ-S and Audio Visualizer (Audiofanzine in English)
- A short walkthrough of the NUGEN Audio SEQ-S audio equalizer.
- An Introduction to SEQ-S
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