Every music producersound engineeror home recordist needs access to EQ (equalization) plugins.
Many Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) have EQ built into them but can sometimes leave a little something to be desired.
Maybe they don’t allow you to apply high- or low-cut pass filtersor maybe they don’t feature the full spectrum of frequencies you need to be able to altermaybe the effect isn’t overly pronounced.
Whatever the caseit’s perfectly normal to go hunting for tools that can ease the burden of production.
In this guidewe look at the best free EQ VST plugins that’ll help you draw the best out of every track in your mix.
Contents
Blue Cat’s Triple EQ By Blue Cat Audio
Some consider Blue Cat’s Triple EQ to be one of the best free VST EQs available. But why is that?
Blue Cat’s Triple EQ is a three band semi-parametric equalizer that can be controlled like a single filter and customizable shape. It comes with low shelf and high shelf filtersboost/cut peak filter+/-40 dB per bandand a 0.01 to 5 octave bandwidth. This makes it especially versatile.
The plugin features an attractivesimple interface that makes it easy to control and use. It makes it easy for you to be able to see how your signal is being processed.
If you’d like to learn morethen check out the download page and see for yourselfI’m sure you’ll end up adding it to your collection. This one is certainly worth a look.
Download: Blue Cat Audio
RealPlugs VST FX Suite By REAPER
Okayso REAPER’s RealPlugs isn’t just an EQ plugin. It’s an entire FX suite.
But exactly how generous does a company like REAPER have to be to allow users to use their plugin suite? Obviouslythey are quite confident in what they offer.
RealPlugs includes ReaCompReaXcompReaDelayReaEQReaFIRReaGateReaStreamReaJSand ReaControlMIDI. The main plugin we want to pay attention to hereof courseis ReaEQ.
This is an unlimited band IIR based equalizerwith support for filters (shelfsbandsLPFHPFnotchbandpassallpass)frequency response and phase response displayapproximate note+octave of frequenciesper-band bypass controloptional full graph viewand more.
This one could become a real hit at your studio.
Download: REAPER
TDR VOS SlickEQ By Tokyo Dawn Records
Tokyo Dawn Records plugins are quite popularand there are a few of them on this list (yesthey have more than one EQ you can take advantage of).
TDR VOS SlickEQ is an easy to use mixing and mastering equalizerwith a semi-parametric EQ layout. It comes with a 64 bit “delta” multi-rate structurethree EQ bands with additional 18dB/Oct high-pass filterfour EQ models (AmericanBritishGermanand Soviet)five output stags (LinearSilkyMellowDeepand Toasted)advanced saturation algorithmsstereo and sum/difference processing optionsand more.
Having messed around with this plugin myself (I have yet to unlock its full potential)I can honestly say this EQ is great for shaping the sound of any track.
Download: Tokyo Dawn Records
TDR Nova By Tokyo Dawn Records
Here’s the other Tokyo Dawn Records plugin I wanted to share with youand it’s called TDR Nova.
This plugin has got a great interfaceand it offers parametric equalizationdynamic equalizationfrequency selective compressionmulti-band compressionand wideband compression. And it is super easy to use.
Having used it quite a bit myselfthoughI have one complaint: the effect seems a little too subtle. I have sometimes used two TDR Novas on the same trackand I could even see myself using three.
But for all those times you just need to do a quick touchupthis is a great choice. Worth experimenting with.
Download: Tokyo Dawn Records
VladG Nova-67P By Tokyo Dawn Records
Here’s the last of the Tokyo Dawn Records plugins I wanted to feature hereand it’s the VladG Nova-67P. This one has a little more of that “classic” vibeyou could sayat least based on the graphical interface.
Sowhat does it do? Wellit’s a parallel parametric equalizer combined with a compressor. The compressor can operate (optionally) in frequency dependent and split-band modes. But all saidit’s basically a parallel dynamic equalizer.
In that senseit’s basically like a channel stripand it’s always nice being able to apply multiple effects simultaneouslyespecially on tracks (like vocals) where you know you’re going to be using several plugins anyway.
Download: Tokyo Dawn Records
Marvel GEQ By Voxengo
Sometimesfree plugins can be disappointing. But I can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed by Voxengo products.
Here we have the Marvel GEQwhich is a track graphic equalizervoice streaming equalizermastering graphic equalizer5.1 surround equalizerand transparent graphic equalizer all in one.
Whether you’re looking to apply EQ to individual tracks or full mixesthis linear-phase 16-band graphic EQ will help you make short work of making your tracks sound awesome.
Download: Voxengo
Luftikus By Ikjb Plugins
The colorful Luftikus is a digital adaptation of an analog hardware EQ. It has fixed half-octave bands as well as additional high-frequency boost.
It comes with 1040160and 640 Hz bands2.5 kHz shelfoptional boost-only shelf (at 2.551020or 40 kHz)mastering and analog modes“keep-gain” optionoutput trimand improved design for deeper cuts.
Simple and powerfulthis is not a plugin you should be embarrassed to add to your collection.
Download: Ikjb Plugins
TinyQ By Ikjb Plugins
Okayso you’ve got your powerhouse and workhorse EQ. What about all those times you need something a little smaller? What if you just need to make a few quick adjustments and move on to your next duty?
Wellarguablythat’s exactly what TinyQ is for. It comes with four bands (20 Hz to 20 kHz)Butterworth hi- and lo-cut (between 6 and 48 dB/octave)toggle (tiny/large/huge)and a frequency analyzer.
I think this baby is rather handyand rather versatile given that it’s supposed to be tiny.
Download: Ikjb Plugins
SplineEQ By Photosoundner
SplineEQ is a simple and flexible linear phase equalizer. This Eq plugin doesn’t user filter typesas everything is controlled with the control points that shape the curve. You can easily create new control points by double clicking. You can create up to 60 bands.
Unlike most pluginsthe gain goes from -infinite to +60 dB. Using the transpose functionyou can shift the curve up and down by up to 10 octaves.
This is a versatile and powerful but surprisingly easy to use EQ plugin. How can you resist?
Download: Photosounder
basiQ By KUASSA
Want a basic EQ plugin? I mean a really basic VST? Then you’ll probably enjoy KUASSA’s basiQ. As its name (and appearance) would suggestthere’s not a whole lot to this plugin.
basiQthoughis an acronym for Baxandall Simulation Equalizerwhich is a three-band EQ. Andnaturallyit’s modeled after the Baxandall Equalizerwhich features smooth shelves and natural sounding response.
Using the simple controls includedyou can shape your sound how you wantand fine tune to your precise heart’s content.
Whether you need to give your track a little more airshimmeror oomphyou can do it all with this three-bander.
This is a great plugin for mixing and mastering alikethough in KUASSA’s own wordsit is best paired with the Kratos Maximizerfor surgical precision.
Download: KUASSA
MEqualizer By MeldaProduction
The MEqualizer is a six-band EQ with seven filter types per bandintegrated tube saturationharmonics controland advanced visualization with a spectrum analyzer and sonogram.
Its user interface is incredibly well-designedand it comes free with the MFreeFXBundlewhich includes 37 analysissaturation and distortiondynamicsequalizerfiltermasteringmixingpitchreverband stereo effects.
The bundle is freebut if you want to unlock all the features available for each pluginyou’ll want to purchase a license at $58.
This plugin is compatible with Windows and Mac.
Download: MeldaProduction
SonEQ By Sonimus
The idea behind Sonimus’ SonEQ was to take the best parts of some vintage gear and put it all into one plugin.
Along with a meticulous and highly attractive interfaceyou get three bands (lowmidhigh)two musical filtershigh-passlow-passpreamp stage with bass booster64-bit floating point precisionand up to 192kHz sample rates.
This plugin is available as a VST 2.4VST 3AAXand RTAS with support for 32- and 64-bit operation. Both Mac and Windows are supported.
Download: Sonimus
Pushtec 5+1A By Leftover Lasagne
The Pushtec 5+1A is a six-band mid-range and program EQ. This plugin is only available for Windows.
The VST is based on the circuit of two analog vintage EQs and it also comes with some presets.
Reportedlya lot of users weren’t crazy about the interfaceand it took them a while to learn. That saidonce they figured it outthey were able to achieve some nice sounds.
Download: KVR Audio Software
ParisEQ By Matt Craig
Soit might seem funny to mention having come this far in this guidebut EQ is quite individual. It’s one of the reasons we decided to cover so many plugins on this list.
Which is to saysome are going to love Matt Craig’s ParisEQ. Othersmaybe not so much.
This is a four-band stereo parametric EQ using the same algorithm as E-mu/Esoniq Paris system. It comes with switchable EQ type per band (high passhigh shelfpeakinglow shelflow pass)adjustable cut/boost for shelving and peaking typesadjustable bandwidth (in octaves)adjustable trim at outputphase-reverseEQ in/out switchesand 64-bit internal precision.
Users found the interface easy to usebut their main complaint was just that it made the bass sound a little too wooly or fluffyand highs can be a little too harsh. Like I saidto each their own.
This plugin is compatible with Windows only.
Download: KVR Audio Software
EQ1A Equalizer By Mellowmuse
The EQ1A features a simpleattractive design. It’s a smoothanalog equalizer with minimal phase coloration. It comes with a high pass filter with variable Qfrequency sweepable low and high shelf filterssweepable low and high peak filters with variable Qand bypass.
The plugin is compatible with Mac and Windows.
Download: Mellowmuse
STEQ By Analog Obsession
Okayso we had to dig a little for this onebecause Analog Obsession has moved all their plugins over to Patreon. That saidit’s understandable that they’d be looking for support from the community.
STEQ is based on a small format console EQ from a well-known tape machine brand. It features easy to use coloration with variable frequency (150 Hz to 7 kHz) on mid band and a fixed “broad” high (10 kHz) and low (80 Hz) shelf.
STEQ is compatible with Windows and Mac.
Download: Patreon
Moss Equalizer By Stone Voices
Here’s a highly ratedoft downloaded VST. The Moss Equalizer features a range of -150 to +60 dB from 10 to 20000 Hz.
This plugin allows you to change the amplitude-frequency characteristic of your trackwhich can help you do everything from boosting and cutting to removing unwanted noise.
The Moss Equalizer can also model comb filters (which sounds a lot like a vocoder).
Although it’s only available for Windowsthis is an EQ with a lot of potential and a blast to mess around with.
Download: Stone Voices
MQ57 By J1000
As with the Moss EqualizerMQ57 is highly rated and often downloaded.
The Windows-only plugin is a parametric EQ designed with mastering in mind. It’s quite powerfulbut it doesn’t take too long to learn.
MQ57 comes with seven fully parametric minimum-phase filters per channel (five peaktwo shelf)two additional cut filters per channel with two selectable slopesseparated or linked mid/side operation for each filterfunctions and ranges optimized for subtle mastering EQ tasksband-pass frequency monitor for five peak filters32-bit internal precision with zero latencyand no introduced harmonic or dynamic distortion.
The fact that it’s Windows only and doesn’t support 64-bit might be a deal break in the eyes of somebut others will find this one handy for mastering.
Download: KVR Audio Software
7Q By MANDA AUDIO
If you know about the MT Power Drum Kit (it’s quite popular so far as free drum plugins are concerned)then you will already be familiar with MANDA AUDIO and the quality of products they make.
7Qof courseis their free EQ inspired by Kjaerhus Audio’s Classic EQ. It was developed as a possible 64-bit alternative with musically predefined bands and Q values.
High and low pass filters are includedand its CPU consumption is minimal.
Whether you’re looking to use it as your main EQ or for individual instrument and vocal tracks7Q could be just what you’ve been looking for.
It’s available for Windows and Mac.
Download: MANDA AUDIO
How Do I Learn To Use EQ?
So far as I’m concernedmusic production is an art and a science. There are things you can learn in a bookand then there are things you can learn by experimentation and trial and error.
Just because you think or have been told the guitar should be at -12 dB doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the result you’re looking to achieve.
What am I trying to say?
What I’m saying is that while it’s worth reading books or watching videosat least to get a sense of how EQ works and how it’s usedthe best way to learn is to use it yourself and see what kind of results you get by messing around.
Yesthere are certainly ways of putting together a mixand certain methods that people follow. But at the end of the dayit’s got to work and to feel good to you.
Sodon’t be shy. Bust out those plugins and give them a try.
Best Free EQ VST PluginsFinal Thoughts
Sowith all these optionsyou might be wondering exactly how to find your perfect plugin.
Wellyou can read up on each oneeven check out video demos.
But at the end of the daythe best way to know whether a plugin is for you is just by trying it.
That’s the great thing about being a music producer or sound engineerto be honest. You get to figure out your own workflow. You get to try different things and see how to create the results you’re looking to create.
Soexperiments lots and have fun.