PEQ 3000
by TC Electronic · EQ · 12-band Midas parametric EQ
Not rated yet
PEQ 3000 recreates the Midas Heritage 3000 console EQ and extends it to 12 fully parametric bands.
It works in mono, stereo, mid/side or left/right, with bell, shelf and cut filters and phase-EQ options for multi-mic sources; the developer lists it at $199.
Best for: Vocals, Drums, Guitars, Mix Bus, Mastering. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: mastering, mid/side, bus processing, mix bus, drums, electric guitar, full mix, musical, built-in analyzer, beginner-friendly, clean, mixing, perpetual licence, preset-driven, simple, smooth, static, vocals.
What it does
PEQ 3000 is TC Electronic's plug-in version of the EQ from the Midas Heritage 3000 console, extended with eight extra bands. TC aims for "the smooth response and immediacy of a Midas console" on anything from single tracks to the master bus.
- 12 parametric bands: the console's bands plus eight more, with fully parametric bell curves and cut and shelf filters.
- Channel modes: mono, stereo, mid/side or left/right, so the two sides of a stereo signal can be shaped separately (hence "2x12").
- Phase-EQ: dedicated phase options for aligning multi-mic recordings, such as drums or miked guitar.
- Analyzer: a real-time frequency analysis display behind the EQ curve.
- Presets: custom presets from producers and engineers plus settings from TC's own engineering team, with full automation and project recall.
- Optional controller: a desktop unit with a high-resolution colour display is sold separately as PEQ 3000-DT for knob-based control.
The current version is 1.1.0. It is sold as a perpetual license. TC Electronic's own product pages currently return a 404 error, so these details come from KVR, Thomann and Sweetwater; no demo is mentioned.
Source: TC Electronic product page
When to use it
PEQ 3000 is for engineers who want a Midas console EQ sound but with far more bands and mid/side or left/right modes than a console channel offers. Compared with FabFilter Pro-Q 4, it has no dynamic EQ or spectrum-led band placement, but its curves follow a console design that users describe as musical. Unlike the Pultec Passive EQ Collection or PuigTec EQs, it is a fully parametric EQ with cut filters and twelve bands, so it can do corrective work as well as broad tone. It is closer in role to TDR VOS SlickEQ, but with many more bands, multi-mic phase tools and an optional hardware controller.
- Best for: tone shaping on tracks and buses with a console character, mid/side mastering EQ, and aligning multi-mic sources.
- Genres: general-purpose, for any style.
- Look elsewhere if: you want dynamic EQ or very precise surgical work; Pro-Q 4 or TDR Nova do both.
- Tip: Sweetwater users run it on the master bus as the last EQ before limiting.
What producers say
The few user reviews are very positive about the sound and ease of use.
- Thomann buyers rate the PEQ 3000-DT bundle (plug-in plus controller) 4.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings; one found it "a tad cleaner" than similar EQs, another called it "very musical".
- Sweetwater buyers rate the PEQ 3000-DT 5 out of 5 from 5 reviews, calling it "super crazy easy to use" and praising the solid controller.
- Criticisms: one Thomann reviewer found preset management "cumbersome".
Where to buy
- Best Service: $64.50
- KVR Audio: $199 (Developer's listed price on KVR; TC Electronic's own product page was unreachable (404))
Tutorials and reviews
- PEQ 3000 and DYN 3000 - Official Product Video
- TC ELECTRONIC MIDAS PEQ 3000 Review and Walkthrough EQ Plugin and Controller at Budget Price
- HARD OR SOFT OR BOTH?? HOW GOOD IS IT? - TC ELECTRONIC MIDAS PEQ 3000
- TAKE CONTROL - FILMMAKER GEAR - PEQ3000 FOR FILMMAKERS & MODERN CONTENT CREATORS
- PODCAST EP9 : TC ELECTRONIC PEQ 3000 et DYN 3000
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