What is the best EQ Plugin for vocals?

[JaeAudio]

first for vocals....and second for the master mix....or if theres 1 thats good for all what is it in your guys oppinion?

[Chris Bauer]

Before you invest in a third party plug in you should try the EQs that come with your DAW. A skilled engineer (as no doubt you are) will be able to get very good mileage out of them.

However, if you are desperate to spend money, you may want to consider EQ plug ins made by Sonnox, Flux, Sonoris, PSP, DMG Audio, Algorithmix, Brainworx, UAD ... to name but a few well respected companies.

Best regards

[neilwilkes]

Originally Posted by JaeAudio

first for vocals....and second for the master mix....or if theres 1 thats good for all what is it in your guys oppinion?

That would be the one that works best for your vocalist and the track.
Interface & functionality is another thing to consider, but this is highly personal.
(Some folks prefer dynamic EQ, others Linear Phase, others use a colour EQ)

Personally I love Neve on vocals, well on most things really.

[Beyersound]

My favorite for clear vocals that don't need extra warmth is the PSP ConsoleQ (Amek emu) from their sQuad bundle. It is my go-to and as good as they get. In fact, with that bundle you would have about everything you needed for all your plugin EQ situations. The NobleQ is an unofficial part of that series, it is definitely worth having.

[Marando]

I used to use a lot of different EQ's for different tasks.. (Waves API/SSL/Neve, Softube Trident-A, etc...) but nowadays I think 90% of my EQ tasks are covered with DMG Audio EQuick. I can get results fast, it is light on CPU and it sounds great!

Some other EQ's that are still used in almost all my sessions:

Brainworx Digital V2 (on the 2-buss)
Waves PuigTec EQP-1A

[mista min]

Originally Posted by JaeAudio

first for vocals....and second for the master mix....or if theres 1 thats good for all what is it in your guys oppinion?

Hey is it mac or pc? There are some great free plugins

[nas]

I have a collection of the Waves API, Pultec, Abbey Road TG Mastering pack, a few others and they all sound great but to be honest... DMG Equlaity can cover all my needs and then some. You can get very surgical and transparent or get analog color and tone shaping depending on what mode/algorithms you choose. It also has few other customizable parameters and an analyzer.

If I could choose only one EQ that can cover a LOT of ground... and do it VERY well... then DMG Equality would win hands down.

[fastlanestoner]

ReaEQ. Amazingly flexible. You can do broad EQ strokes or masterful surgical equalization. I also like that it doesn't give any flavor. That's what the hardware EQs are for!

[A Fak]

Originally Posted by nas

If I could choose only one EQ that can cover a LOT of ground... and do it VERY well... then DMG Equality would win hands down.

[Lawrence Sanchez]

Originally Posted by Chris Bauer

Before you invest in a third party plug in you should try the EQs that come with your DAW. A skilled engineer (as no doubt you are) will be able to get very good mileage out of them.

However, if you are desperate to spend money, you may want to consider EQ plug ins made by Sonnox, Flux, Sonoris, PSP, DMG Audio, Algorithmix, Brainworx, UAD ... to name but a few well respected companies.

Excellent advice.

A colleague of mine recently mixed a song using all stock PT9 EQ and comp/limiting plugins. The mix sounded great and I would have never know had he not told me.

[chavernac]

ANY parametric eq wil do.
Check you DAW's plugins.
A difference can me made when it comes to boosting the high end. Some eqs are dirty. some smoother.

[TonyBelmont]

It really depends.

Are you looking for something surgical to fix problems? In that case, the Sonnox EQ, Flux EQ, etc would be good choices.

Sweetening? There's a bunch of cool EQ's like the Softube Tube Tech Channel, Puigtec EQP, and so many others depending on your tastes.

[JXile]

I like the Waves plugins best still. The 1073 is probably my favorite (VEQ3), but also like the API's and PuigTec. The Neve is go to first through usually.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by JXile

I like the Waves plugins best still. The 1073 is probably my favorite (VEQ3), but also like the API's and PuigTec. The Neve is go to first through usually.

Really? I'm not a fan of the VEQ3 for this application.. The top end can get really harsh on vocals (which my 1073's don't).

[JXile]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Really? I'm not a fan of the VEQ3 for this application.. The top end can get really harsh on vocals (which my 1073's don't).

I know what you mean, but I have gotten good results so far with it. I don't do a lot of boosting of the highs with my mic though.

[rumimusic]

My most commonly used eq's are

Digidesign EQ7
Brainworx V2 Digital
McDSP E6

[Tube World]

Originally Posted by JaeAudio

first for vocals....and second for the master mix....or if theres 1 thats good for all what is it in your guys oppinion?

There is no such thing as a best plug in, pre, mic, monitors or compressor. It all comes down to the individual song, the way the vocals or 2 bus mix was recorded and what kind of sound you and the artist want.

[Andreas G]

Originally Posted by JaeAudio

first for vocals....and second for the master mix....or if theres 1 thats good for all what is it in your guys oppinion?

Trident A Range by Softube.

[Format C: yes]

IMHO i am not a professional but I love the Voxengo GlissEQ

[Solar]

@JaeAudio again as many said here, indeed you can achieve with the Eq plugins that comes with your DAW to start with. Now you can go about to add some flavor if you wish with the dozens Eqs out there and there are also amazing FREE ones, but I mean amazing starting by #bootsy plugins (Variety of Sound), Variety Of Sound
Just with these set plugins you are served to go mate especially that #Baxter Eq man, simply looooooooooooooove it.

You need to answer what you're looking for, Surgical, sweetening/taming Eq etc.. etc..

Either Stock plugins/Free ones (donations) or Paid ones will all do the job if you know or learn how to apply them in context.

Good luck

[JaeAudio]

JaeWorldPoet granted these mixes are mastered aswell... I just fill like things could be louder...clearer...more live.... and im talking before the mastering process.... i feel my overall console master mix can be EQED and and COMPRESSED a bit better as well...im just trying to get a better whole sound before im done with a recording session and mixing session... i literally use Graphic EQ-10 BAND for all vocals...and Waves Comp 1 ....your true verb and simple delay....

[JaeAudio]

Jaeworldpoet.bandcamp.com <----- click here

[JaeAudio]

Originally Posted by mista min

Hey is it mac or pc? There are some great free plugins

it is a pc sir.

[e-are]

I have not seen any one eq plug that is the best eq for all applications. Like everything else, a few surgical and character eq's would be best. I like the uad cambridge for surgical and quite a few for character or colored eqing. Some are (uad):1073 / 1081, helios, pultec pro, trident. Also, the ssl duende channel eq, ddmf 6144 and the good old ren eq(not a character eq but i probably use this one more than any other).

[grooveminister]

Vocals can sound so different depending on the vocalist & style, that there are a lot of options.
I mostly use: UAD 1073 / 1081, Harrison 32C, Pultec Pro for "color" EQ or MMAutoDynamicEQ for surgical approaches.

For mastering / 2-bus: UAD Massive Passive or Pultec EQP-1 / Pro are good choices because I like the way they sound when I have to boost the hi-end.

[masteringdigital]

I usually use one of the following options from the UAD-2 equalizers:

Cambridge EQ Plug-In (surgical)
Pultec Pro EQ Plug-In (warmth)
Neve 1073 Classic Console EQ Plug-Ins (emphasis)
Helios Type 69 EQ Plug-In (clarity)
Harrison 32C Channel EQ Plug-In (color)

[daez]

tg12412 is my go to eq in the box for vox.

[markham]

Originally Posted by JXile

I like the Waves plugins best still. The 1073 is probably my favorite (VEQ3), but also like the API's and PuigTec. The Neve is go to first through usually.

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Really? I'm not a fan of the VEQ3 for this application.. The top end can get really harsh on vocals (which my 1073's don't).

You know, sometimes I really like the V-Series on vocals, too, but it's always the VEQ4 for me. Never the VEQ3.

Originally Posted by daez

tg12412 is my go to eq in the box for vox.

That's a fantastic EQ for just about any application, in my book.

Softube Trident is really nice on vox, too.

Also, I have really been enjoying the Waves H-EQ the last couple mixing sessions I've done. The versatility with the curves is just incredible, and I've found it pretty easy to work with. Love the "keyboard", too.

[RevolutionStudio]

Hello all! first post, but avid reader of this site.

Im a huge fan of the Waves plugins. Personally I think the Sonnox EQs are pretty surgical to say the least (still great plugins nonetheless), but I'd sometimes use TG12412, something from UAD, Trident etc for some subtle color.

[mista min]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

It really depends.

Are you looking for something surgical to fix problems? In that case, the Sonnox EQ, Flux EQ, etc would be good choices.

Sweetening? There's a bunch of cool EQ's like the Softube Tube Tech Channel, Puigtec EQP, and so many others depending on your tastes.

What about the GML option for the Sonnox. I've tried out the Sonnox recently on a mix and really liked how it added in a none harsh way, but I haven't tried the GML option since it's TDM only

Originally Posted by Andreas G

Trident A Range by Softube.

Used it loved it, now don't really use it, to much "colour"... lol. Worked really well to smoothen out some harsh nasally stuff.

Originally Posted by JaeAudio

it is a pc sir.

I used these on a mix last time and his ThrillerEQ and 10EQ were great.

Forgot to post the link.... http://phoenixinflightaudio.blogspot.com/