UA's original premium performance EQ utilizing the best of classic hardware designs.

The Precision Equalizer plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces is a stereo/dual mono four-band EQ and high-pass filter made primarily for use with program material. The Precision Equalizer is modeled on the behavior of real-world analog mastering filters, and uses the classic parametric controls arrangement.

The Precision Equalizer plug-in utilizes the best from traditional hardware designs while incorporating features convenient to software digital mastering. To preserve the greatest sonic detail and ensure a minimum of artifacts in the upper frequency range, the Precision Equalizer is up-sampled to 192 kHz for maximum sonic accuracy.

Precision Equalizer

Precision Equalizer Controls

The easy to use Precision Equalizer features stepped controls throughout for easy recall. Both the left and right channels feature four bands of EQ, grouped in two overlapping pairs. There are two bands for low frequencies (L1 and L2), and two for highs (H1 and H2). There is also a shelving or peak/notch filter available for each band, along with five peak/notch (Q) responses per band. The high-pass filter is a far-reaching 18 dB per octave, which enables precise filtering of power-robbing sub-harmonic content, or other creative uses.

The Precision Equalizer also features flexibility in auditioning. There are three separate EQ configurations, allowing selection of two complete sets of stereo parameters or the Dual mode when disparate channel adjustments are necessary. In addition, parameter values can be easily transferred between parameter groups using the Copy buttons.

Control Grouping

The L and R equalizer sections are independent groups of parameters, each controlling one side (left or right) of the stereo source signal.

The L and R controls are linked except when in Dual mode. In Dual mode, control groups L and R can be independently adjusted.

Modes

The Mode switches define the operating mode of Precision Equalizer. The currently active mode is indicated by a blue light. Each mode is detailed below.

Stereo Mode

In Stereo mode, the L and R equalizer sections both control one side of the stereo source signal. The L and R controls are linked in stereo mode.

In stereo mode there are two sets of EQ settings (referred to as A and B), with each set containing the full set of L and R parameter values (the high-pass filter value is global per preset). This feature enables easy switching between two EQ settings for comparison purposes. Both the A and B parameter sets are contained within a single Precision Equalizer preset.

Dual Mode

In Dual mode (dual-mono mode), the left and right parameters can be independently adjusted so that each side of the stereo signal can have different EQ settings. Note that this mode is infrequently used during mastering because phase, imaging, and level inconsistencies may be induced in the resulting stereo signal.

Mode Selection

Any of these methods can be used to modify the Mode value:

• Click the Stereo button to cycle through modes A and B
• Click the Dual button to activate dual-mono mode
• Click the indicator light above each mode
• Click+hold+drag the indicator light above each mode

Parameter Copy Buttons

The Parameter Copy buttons provide an easy method for copying parameter values. The behavior of the buttons is determined by the current operating mode of Precision Equalizer.

Important: The values that existed at the destination before copying are overwritten.

Stereo Mode

When in Stereo mode, clicking A > B copies the left AND right parameter values from parameter set A to parameter set B, and clicking the A < B button copies all the values from parameter set B to parameter set A.

This feature is useful when you want to make an EQ change to a stereo signal while maintaining the original values so the two settings can be easily compared.

Note: The high-pass filter parameter is global per preset and is not effected by this control.

Parameter Copy in Dual Mode

When in Dual mode, the A and B buttons behave as left and right channel copy buttons. Clicking A > B copies all the values from the left channel parameters to the right channel parameters, and clicking A < B copies all the values from the right channel parameters to the left channel parameters.

Power

The Power Switch determines whether the plug-in is active. This is useful for comparing the processed settings to the original signal, or to bypass the plug-in to reduce the UAD DSP load (load is not reduced if UAD-2 DSP LoadLock is enabled).

Click the rocker switch or the blue UA logo to change the Power state.

Band Controls

Each control set (L and R) has four EQ bands. Two bands are overlapping low frequency bands labeled L1 and L2, and two bands are overlapping high frequency bands labeled H1 and H2.

Each of the four bands has a control for bandwidth, enable, frequency, and gain. All four of the EQ bands can be used in parametric or shelf mode. The controls are exactly the same for each band; only the available frequency values differ.

Bandwidth

The Bandwidth (Q) knob defines the proportion of frequencies surrounding the band center frequency to be affected by the band gain control.

The numbers represent the filter slope in dB per octave. The available selections are 4, 6, 9, 14, 20, and Shelf.

When set to Shelf on the L1 and L2 bands, the band becomes a low shelving filter. When set to Shelf on the H1 and H2 bands, the band becomes a high shelving filter.

Band Enable

Each band can be individually engaged with the Enable button. All bands default to disabled. When a band is enabled, the button glows blue. To enable a band, click the Enable button or move the band Gain knob.

You can use these buttons to compare the band settings to that of the original signal, or to bypass the individual band. UAD DSP usage is slightly decreased when a band is disabled (unless UAD-2 DSP LoadLock is enabled).

Frequency

The Frequency knob determines the center frequency of the filter band to be boosted or attenuated by the band Gain setting.

This knob is stepped with 41 values for easy reproducibility during mastering. The available values for each of the four bands is the same in both parametric and shelf modes, and are listed in the table below.

Tip: Press shift while adjusting the Frequency knob for increased control resolution.

Band Frequency Ranges

Gain

The Gain knob determines the amount by which the frequency setting for the band is boosted or attenuated. The available Gain values are listed in the table below.

Band Gain Values

High-Pass Filter

The high-pass filter is useful for reducing low frequency content. This is a global filter; it always affects both left and right channels, regardless of the active mode. The available High-Pass frequencies are listed in the table below.

High-Pass Frequencies