Passive circuits inherently do less harm to audio, especially when it comes to smeared transient response, various distortions and other unwanted colorations. A simple passive filter may have only 5 components, while a single band of an active EQ circuit may be made up of dozens of transistors, sophisticated opamps, tubes, capacitors and resistors.
An obvious advantage of passive EQs, then, is their simplicity. Since only passive components are used, the equalizer does require a make-up amplifier to boost the EQ’d signal back up to its original level. Instead, they use only passive electronic components-resistors, capacitors and inductors. Passive equalizers create tonal changes without using any powered components, like transistors, opamps, or tubes. These and many other passive EQ designs have graced our beloved musical tracks and remain at the top of the food chain for musical, high quality tone control. SPL re-invented the modern passive EQ with its powerful Passeq Mastering Equalizer. The Abbey Road RS56 originally showed up in 1956, quickly making its way from the mastering room into the tracking rooms at Abbey Road Studios. This beast has been around for 2 decades and may be the world’s finest passive EQ. The next most well-known passive EQ is arguably Manley’s Massive Passive. These units have graced racks in studios, radio stations and mastering facilities since the 1950s. The most iconic of all passive EQs is the Pultec EQP1-A, and to a lesser extent, it’s brother, the MEQ-5.
Familiar Friendsīefore we get into the use and benefits of passive EQs, let’s discuss some of the most popular passive units and their plugin counterparts. Though passive EQ have been around form more than 60 years, many folks aren’t familiar with passive EQs, or aren’t even aware that they may already be using passive equalizers. The classic devices provide a certain mojo and inherent musicality, which can add dimension and life to your tracks and masters. More is better, or at least more inspiring, so this post will introduce (or reintroduce) you to a classic EQ that belongs in your arsenal.Īlong with the myriad of parametric, graphic, dynamic, mid-side and adaptive equalizers, you are doing yourself and your music a huge disservice if you don’t spend some time to investigate traditional passive equalizers. Every modern DAW provides excellent stock EQs and each one of those plugins is more than capable of performing quite well, so you shouldn’t let a lack of EQ options hinder your workflow. Each of us is familiar with at least a few parametric equalizers and probably some graphic EQs as well as some channel strip EQ emulations. Equalizers tops the list of creative tools used to shape our productions, mixes and masters.
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