PuigTec EQs

Name: PuigTec EQs
Price: 29.99 USD
Author: Waves

by Waves · EQ · Passive tube

vst3s Score 8.6/10 · rated #4 of 10 EQs

Models of the EQP-1A and MEQ-5 Pultecs from the personal collection of producer and engineer Jack Joseph Puig.

A common first stop for making 808s and kick drums bigger, and for adding polish to vocals and the mix bus at a fraction of the cost of other Pultec emulations.

Best for: Bass, Drums, Vocals, Mix Bus. Genres: Hip-Hop & Trap, Pop, Rock & Indie.

Keywords: bus processing, drums, mix bus, 808s, hardware emulation, kick, vocals, bass, polish, electric guitar, tube, 50s, analog-sounding, beginner-friendly, CPU-light, enhancement, full mix, mixing, punchy, silky, simple, static, subscription, transformer, vintage, warm.

What it does

Waves' PuigTec EQs model two Pultec units from producer and engineer Jack Joseph Puig's own collection: the EQP-1A program EQ and the MEQ-5 midrange EQ. Waves sums them up as silky highs, punchy lows and rich mids.

EQP-1A: low boost and attenuation between 20 and 100 Hz, a high boost from 3 to 16 kHz with a bandwidth control, and high attenuation at 5, 10 or 20 kHz.
MEQ-5: three midrange bands between 200 Hz and 7 kHz: two boosts and a dip.
Analog behaviour: the models include harmonic distortion, transformer roll-off, and switchable power-supply hum and noise.
Availability: sold on its own and in Waves' Essential and Ultimate subscriptions.

Source: Waves product page

When to use it

PuigTec is the budget, low-CPU route to the Pultec sound, and a long-time favourite for 808s and kicks. It has fewer boxes than UA's collection (there's no HLF-3C filter) and reviewers find it less rich, but it usually costs a fraction of the price.

Best for: 808s and kick drums, bass, guitars, and mix-bus polish.
Genres: hip-hop and trap, pop, rock.
Tip: Waves' own posts highlight the EQP-1A trick of boosting and cutting the same low frequency at once.

What producers say

Opinion is warm but dated: it's an older plugin, and some feel newer Pultec models have overtaken it.

Waves Plugin Reviews praised the recognisable Pultec flavour, quick workflow and low CPU, and called it a no-brainer on sale, but found it short on character next to newer models and less useful on vocals and piano.
Audiofanzine users describe it as stable and easy to use, and use the MEQ-5 on vocals and guitars.

Where to buy

Plugin Boutique: $29.99 (regular $149)
PluginFox: $29.99
AudioDeluxe: $29.99 (regular $149)
Best Service: $35.73
Sweetwater: $39.99
Waves: see store (Price changes with Waves' weekly sales)

Tutorials and reviews

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