Plugin reviews - Softube

[rhythmtech]

Passive/Active Eq
Vendor: Softube
Copy protection: iLok
Platform: Windows: PC & Mac OSX
Plug-in formats: RTAS, TDM, Vst and Audio Units.
Licences available: this product is three separate software EQs but only available as one bundle. There is only one commercial license available. There is also a fully functional 20 day demo available, although an ilok is needed to utilise the demo
Availability: The software can be bought from many worldwide dealers as well as Softube’s own web store.
The Passive-Active Pack is a collection of three very different equalizers, each with its own character and quirks. The equalizers contain emulations of real workhorse equalizers, used on thousands of recordings from past to present.

Features:

• Authentic component modeling
• Fully automatable parameters
• Output gain and output metering
• 3-D rendered photo-realistic user interface

Features Passive Equalizer

• Three bands with an extremely wide and open sound
• Excellent treble control without any "digital harshness"
• Warm low end and a sparkling top

Features Active Equalizer

• Tight and focused sounding filters
• Low- and High cut
• Three parametric bands with:
  
  • Selectable gain in 2dB steps (-/+ 16 dB)
  • Selectable frequency with overlapping, but non-interfering, bands
    (50-500 Hz, 380Hz-3.8kHz, 1.8-18kHz)
  • Select between a sharp or blunt peak (Q) for each band
  
  

Features Focusing Equalizer

• Built-in one knob saturation with metering
• Selectable saturation type
• Choose between Passive or Active EQ character
• Three-band EQ that automatically and musically changes with Low and High Cut

Since purchasing the passive/active EQ pack they have quickly become my goto EQ for adding frequencies to material. They all contain very musical sweeps and the saturation modeling on the focusing EQ sounds beautiful.
Downside with this eq pack is that its pretty much useless for corrective eqing where tight frequency bands are needed.