Solid State Logic X-EQ £347
Designed to run either on the SSL Duende Classic (10/10, cm105) or SSL's latest entry into the external DSP market, the all-new Duende Mini (see boxout opposite), X-EQ is a parametric EQ designed to combine "the best of the analogue and digital worlds".
The MusicRadar Team, Mon 21 Apr 2008, 11:09 am UTC
Manufacturer's description
X-EQ is an open and transparent sounding parametric EQ that provides the user with a truly comprehensive range of EQ tools within an intuitive user interface. X-EQ is exceptionally flexible with the ability to be surgically precise for mastering duties or to smooth and sculpt for everyday audio production and is particularly suited to real time manipulation for dramatic filter sweep effects.
X-EQ is at first glance a 10 band parametric EQ, but each of the 10 EQ bands can be selected to provide a different type of EQ, making X-EQ a vast range of different EQ processors in one package. Bands 1 and 10 are High and Low Filters, each of which can be set to employ one of five different Filter topologies with five very different tonal characters. Bands two and nine are shelving EQ’s with a Q range that extend right up to 10.3 and a degree of undershoot and overshoot at higher Q settings that give a unique tonal character. The remaining six bands are all Bell EQ’s with a choice of nine different EQ types providing a comprehensive range of response curves. All Shelving & Bell bands can operate across a full 20Hz-20kHz frequency range with a powerful gain range of +/-20dB. All of the Bell bands can also be switched from the usual serial signal flow of a parametric EQ to the parallel signal flow of a graphic equalizer.
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MusicRadar rating
Pros
Famous SSL sound quality, Well conceived, functional and versatile, Parallel mode sets it apart from many EQs, Built-in spectrum analyser, Covers all musical bases
Cons
It ain’t cheap, Analyser lacks hold/averaging, No ‘A to B’ copy, Needs a Duende to run!
Verdict
A couple of strange oversights aside, SSL’s expertise clearly shines through, as X-EQ is one of the best digital EQ plug-ins that we’ve had the pleasure of using
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Specification Show
X-EQ
- Price:
- £347
- Country of Origin:
- UK
- Features:
- 10 band parametric EQ with individually selectable EQ type per band. Intuitive user interface with drag and move graphic control, on screen knob layout, mouse wheel (& fine mouse) control and numeric editing. Bands one & 10 are High & Low Cut Filters, each with five different selectable topographies. Bands two & nine are Shelving EQ’s with proportional Q values. Bands three to eight are Bell Filters with 20Hz-20kHz range and nine individually selectable EQ types. Bands three to eight can be switched between standard series and parallel signal flow for classic graphic EQ style operation. Real time FFT signal analysis display. Stereo input and output metering with peak hold, separate RMS meter and dynamic range display.A/B facility for instant comparison of two different EQ set ups. Full parameter automation via any compatible host.
- Description:
- Stereo EQ plug-in for SSL’s Duende DSP system
- OS Requirements:
- Apple Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later, Microsoft Windows XP
- Platform:
- MacOS/Windows
- Additional Features:
- Low- and high-pass filters with five different slopes and dedicated low- and high-frequency shelving filters. Six ‘bell type’ EQ bands, fully adjustable between 20Hz and 20kHz with highly tweakable Q. Parallel mode. Real-time spectrum analyser. A/B function.
- Plug-in FX Type:
- EQ
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