MasterQ2
by PSP Audioware · EQ · Mastering EQ
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A mastering EQ that can be precise and surgical or used as a color processor for mixing and sound design.
It runs its filters at 80-bit precision with PSP's FAT double sampling, and adds limiting and soft clipping on the output.
Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus, Sound Design. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: mastering, sound design, soft clip, creative, fat, bus processing, mix bus, transparent, full mix, mixing, corrective, heavy, mid/side, musical, static, surgical, transformer, wide.
What it does
MasterQ2 is PSP's high-end mastering equalizer, pitched as "Musical, Creative, Quality." It combines precise parametric bands with analog-style harmonic color and output limiting.
- Seven filters: 12/24/36 dB/oct low and high cuts, low and high shelves switchable to peaking, and low-mid, mid and high-mid peaking bands with wide frequency and Q ranges.
- Precision: 80-bit extended floating-point filters and PSP's Frequency Authentication Technique (FAT) double sampling.
- Output stage: limiting and soft-clipping algorithms with a Ceiling control; Sound On Sound also notes a soft peak mode and transformer-style harmonics.
- Workflow: an EQ graph, a frequency-hunting mode for finding problem areas, and stereo, L/R or mid/side operation.
- Sample rates: 44.1 kHz to 768 kHz, with about 1100 samples (26 ms at 44.1 kHz) of latency.
The current version is 2.1.5.
Source: PSP Audioware product page
When to use it
For mastering, MasterQ2 sits between clean precision EQs like FabFilter Pro-Q 4 and colored mastering units such as Lurssen Mastering EQ or the Chandler Limited Curve Bender Mastering EQ. Pick it when you want transparent, high-resolution bands plus optional harmonic color and a built-in soft clipper and limiter.
- Best for: mastering and mix bus tone shaping, plus creative filtering for sound design.
- Genres: general-purpose.
- Look elsewhere if: you need a low-latency EQ for tracking; its roughly 26 ms latency rules that out.
- Standout: 80-bit filters with FAT double sampling combined with limiting and soft clipping in one mastering EQ.
What producers say
Reviewers at launch in 2015 found it transparent and flexible, with latency and heavy boosts the main caveats.
- Sound On Sound (2015): Martin Walker wrote "almost every aspect has been enhanced" over version 1, adding "I love it to bits!"
- SonicScoop (2015): Andrew Koss welcomed its transparency and said "there's no reason not to give it a try."
- Gripe: SonicScoop found boosts above about 6 dB harsher than rivals; Sound On Sound noted the latency makes it unsuitable for tracking.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $135
- PSP Audioware: $149
- Plugin Boutique: $149
- PluginFox: $149
- AudioDeluxe: $149
Tutorials and reviews
- PSP MasterQ2 a precise, surgical EQ plug-in! (PSPaudioware)
- PSP MasterQ2 Plugin - Surgical Mastering EQ Plugin
- PSP MasterQ2 VST/AU/AAX EQ plugin in action!
- PSP MasterQ2
- PSP MasterQ2 🎼
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