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Parametr'EQ
Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ
"The best of both worlds"

Description

Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ - WYSIWYG Parametric Equalizer Plugin (VST, AU, DX)

Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ is a 7 bands parametric equalizer combining the advantages of both the digital and analog worlds. Its special non-linear and oversampling features let you easily simulate the compression and distortion that may occur in an analog EQ or on the contrary obtain a very clean and transparent digital EQ.

The plug-in includes a low shelf/low cut filter, a high shelf/high cut filter and 5 boost/cut band filters. An optional brickwall limiter has been added to the output to protect your ears and monitors. Its wide range of gain (+/-40 dB per band) and bandwidth (.01 to 5 Octaves) makes it suitable for any equalization task, especially with the extra zooming capability that lets you define your own range for the user interface. The included skins let you choose the layout that best suits your needs, and you can completely customize the user interface thanks to Blue Cat's Skinning language support.

The graph displays the computed frequency response of the plug-in, so that you can exactly know how your signal is processed. This is not an approximated or "ideal" response curve based on the controls of the user interface, but the exact computed frequency response of the filter, which makes this plug-in a true WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) equalizer.

Thanks to the included Smooth Update technology, every single parameter of this equalizer can be automated in your favorite sequencer or controlled by MIDI in real time (MIDI learn included). You will get an absolutely zipper-free continuous time-varying equalization. Filters activation and bypass functions are now totally smooth and won't damage your ears or speakers.

Last but not least, this equalizer has absolutely no latency, which make it perfect for real time applications.

This version is a mono effect, which means that you will get the same effect on left and right sides of your audio signal. You may also want to check the Stereo Parametr'EQ plugin or Widening Parametr'EQ plugin for more advanced control on the stereo channels.

Mac OS X 10.5Universal BinaryWindows XP or VistaVSTAudio UnitDirectX
Price: 69 EUR or $89
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Supported Platforms: Mac-AU / Mac-VST / Windows-DX / Windows-VST

Main Features

  • True WYSIWYG 7 bands parametric equalizer.
  • Filters designed after analog circuits.
  • Non linear modeling: add some warmth or analog distortion to each EQ stage.
  • Output brickwall limiter.
  • Output peak meter.
  • Oversampling for optimal sound quality, whatever your sampling rate.
  • +-40 dB range for each band with customizable effective range.
  • Automatic gain compensation.
  • No latency.
  • Real time display of the frequency response with precise measurement and zooming capabilities.
  • Window Opacity Control: make the plugin window transparent.
Blue Cat Audio Standards:
  • Supported platforms: Mac-AU, Mac-VST, Windows-DX, Windows-VST.
  • Native DSP code for optimal performance.
  • Skinnable user interface.
  • Smooth Update: silent (zipper-free) parameters update.
  • Full automation support (all parameters can be automated, with smooth and continuous update)
  • No CPU load on idle: when the plugin is fed with silence, the processing smoothly shuts down, to optimize the CPU usage of your Digital Audio Workstation.
  • Real time MIDI control with advanced settings (MIDI channel and CC numbers, with complete response curve control) and MIDI learn.
  • Automation and MIDI output: record output parameters as automation curves or send MIDI CC messages to other plugins for powerful side chain effects.
  • Smooth Bypass: activate/deactivate the plugin with absolutely no noise.
  • Undo/Redo.
  • Import/Export presets in a host independent format.
  • Any sample rate supported.

Screenshots

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ - Several skins included. Choose the layout that best suits your workflow! Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ - WYSIWYG Parametric Equalizer Plugin (VST, AU, DX) Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ - Get nice bell shaped EQ curves, even at high frequencies, thanks to oversampling. Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ - WYSIWYG Parametric Equalizer Plugin (VST, AU, DX) Blue Cat's Parametr'EQ - zooming capabilities let you precisely choose the EQ range

You can find more skins for this product here.

User Comments & Reviews

Upon first playing with the plug-in it sounded much like the v2.1 that we had installed. Not much of an audible change was a good thing considering I liked the quality of the ealier version. Next I turned to the Non-Linear and Comp-Dist controls to see if I could dirty up this clean sounding EQ.

I was really impressed with the amount of warmth that could be added with this control coupled with the low shelf.(...)

The limiting and oversampling are also welcome new features. Overall I am excited to work more with this plug-in in a mix. - Daniel Agosto, Media Producer - gearwire.com

To add your own comment about this product, please contact us.

System Requirements

PC

  • Microsoft Windows XP or Vista.
  • Any DirectX or VST compatible host software (see our FAQ)

Mac

  • An Intel or PowerPC processor.
  • Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) or Snow Leopard (10.6).
  • Any VST or Audio Unit compatible application.

Demo Limitations

  • One single instance of the plug-in per session.
  • The effect is bypassed for 4 seconds every 40 seconds.

Versions History >subscribe to our newsletter

2009/05/05

V3.41

Mac VST update: fixed incompatibility issues with Cubase 5 on Mac.
2009/03/09

V3.4

  • Mac Audio Unit support.
  • Mac VST Support.
  • New Windows installer (you should uninstall any previous version before installing this new one).
  • New documentation.
  • Minor user interfaces changes.
2008/03/28

V3.3

  • Skins loading performance improvement.
  • Misc user interface performance enhancements.
  • Improved parameters display in host application and settings window.
  • Fixed a crash on certain configurations while opening the global settings window.
  • Settings window is now faster to open.
  • Installer now registers the VST plugin to avoid registration issues in some host applications.
2007/09/17

V3.2

  • Undo/Redo.
  • Load/Save presets in a host-independent format: you can now share presets between the directX and VST versions.
  • New toolbar to access main functionalities.
  • Blue Cat's Skinning Language 1.3.4 support.
2007/06/04

V3.1

  • Frequency ranges have been enlarged.
  • Bug fix (VST): in some hosts, when a loading a project the parameters where not properly restored and the response curve was flat.
  • Bug fix (skinning): knobs did not display the disabled state image.
2007/05/21

V3.0

  • New audio engine:
    • Non-linear behavior with analog compression and distortion at each EQ stage.
    • Output brickwall limiter for output protection or compression effect.
    • Oversampling capability for optimal sound quality, even with low sampling rates.
    • New low cut and high cut filters.
    • Smooth bypass: activate each band of the EQ with absolutely no noise.
  • New GUI design and Blue Cat's Skinnning language 1.3.2 support:
    • Streamlined user interface with simplified controls for optimal workflow.
    • Zooming: adjust the dB range of the EQ and the response curve graph.
    • Frequency response measurement: new mouse coordinates display.
    • New output level meter.
    • Window Opacity Management: make the plugin window transparent.
  • Less restricted demo version.
  • Performance improvements:
    • Faster skin loading.
    • Reduced memory consumption when several instances are loaded.
  • Note: due to the number of changes in this new version, it is installed as a new plug-in. If you have a previous version installed and do not want to keep it, just uninstall it manually.
2006/11/29

V2.1

  • Now supports Blue Cat's Skinnning language 1.2.4.
  • Parameters can be fine tuned when the shift key is down, which offers a .1 dB gain resolution.
  • CPU efficiency improvement: no processing occurs when input is silent.
  • Settings window now loads faster.
  • (Bug fix): in some plug-in adapters (such as FxPansion's VST to RTAS adapter) the GUI did not display properly when first loaded.
  • (Bug fix): when reinstalling the software in another directory, the "skin not found" message was displayed.
2006/10/18

V2.0

  • Brand new skinnable graphic user interface using Blue Cat's skinning language v1.2.3.
  • Advanced MIDI control with customizable parameters curve response and MIDI learn.
  • Performance and precision improvement of the filters algorithms.
  • All parameters can now be fine tuned thanks to a text-edit popup window that appears when double clicking on user interface widgets.
  • User Manual accessible from plug-in UI.
  • DX version: the factory presets are now available from the host standard presets view (for hosts that support static presets)
  • Warning: because it now supports MIDI events, the DirectX plug-in may appear in the "Synth" or "DXi" category instead of "effects" in some hosts (such as Cakewalk Sonar). If it does not appear in you host, you might want to use our DXi Manager to de-activate MIDI features.
  • Warning: this new version breaks the presets compatibility, and is thus installed as a new plug-in. If you have a previous version installed and do not want to keep it, just uninstall it manually.
2005/06/13

V1.1

Brand new GUI based on customer feedback.
2005/05/19

V1.0

First release.
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