The Top 5 Equalization (EQ) Plugins for Producing and Mixing

The equalizer (EQ) is a fundamental tool in professional music production. It’s not just about fixing sound problems, but about shaping and tailoring the frequencies of each track so that every instrument or element sits exactly where we need it in the mix or master. In this article on the 5 best EQ plugins, drawing on our 14+ years of experience producing songs online for songwriters and artists from all over the world, we’ve picked some of the best EQs available today, based on our own experience and the input of our collaborating mixing and mastering engineers.

What is an equalizer and what is it used for?

An EQ lets you modify the frequency balance of any track or group of tracks with precision, which is essential when you’re after a balanced, professional mix. With an equalizer, you can boost certain frequency bands on an instrument or cut those that clash with other elements in the mix. This is crucial at the mixing stage, where one of the biggest challenges is preventing different sounds from overlapping in the frequency spectrum.

An equalizer is also indispensable for fixing common recording issues. From filtering out unwanted low-end to taming excessive highs, the EQ lets you fine-tune every track so the final mix sounds clear and well-defined.

What to look for when choosing the best EQ plugins

When choosing an EQ plugin for music production, there are several things to keep in mind. Here are some of them:

• Sound quality
• Flexibility and adjustment options
• Intuitive, user-friendly interface
• Compatibility with different operating systems and DAWs
• Price and value for money

Below, we present our selection of the most outstanding paid EQ plugins of the moment, each with its strengths and weaknesses, so you can decide which one best fits your needs. We also throw in some tips to help you get the most out of these essential music production tools. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the free plugin alternatives available today, since they’re getting closer and closer to the paid versions. And of course, if you’re just getting started in music production and audio mixing, free plugins and native ones (included in whatever DAW you use) are more than enough to learn the ropes and gradually improve your EQ chops.

The 5 best EQ plugins for producing and mixing music

In this list we’ve put together, we want to highlight several of the industry-standard EQ plugins and a range of EQ types or styles that shouldn’t be missing from your production library (corrective EQ, creative EQ, dynamic EQ, NEVE-style, SSL-style, EQ for mastering). We’ve included a free alternative for each one of them.

1. FabFilter Pro-Q4

The Fabfilter Pro-Q4 is one of the best (if not the best) EQ plugins available today

Since the release of the Pro-Q2 and Pro-Q3, Fabfilter’s EQ has become the industry’s reference equalizer, and with the arrival of the Pro-Q4 it keeps its crown. It’s one of the most versatile and popular equalizers on the market, and it’s a staple in almost every modern music production studio; in fact, it’s our flagship EQ, present on 90% of the tracks in the online mixing and mastering sessions we run at our studio. It offers a huge range of adjustment options and high-quality filters, along with the ability to act on frequencies dynamically (boosting or cutting based on how much signal is hitting that frequency) —now with adjustable attack and release, something Q3 users had been asking for for years— making it an excellent choice for any kind of music production. Its approach is corrective (precise, with very tight Q control), and the interface is highly intuitive and easy to use, with advanced features like being able to copy or visualize the EQ from another track in the session to help you make decisions. The spectrum analyzer view and the ability to pick frequencies automatically from it is one of the reasons it sits where it does.

Among the most notable new features in the Pro-Q4 is Spectral Dynamics, a mode that takes dynamic EQ a step further: instead of acting on the whole band, it fires only on the specific frequencies that cross the threshold, leaving the rest untouched. It’s a killer tool for taming resonances, sibilance or harshness without affecting what already sounds good. It also adds EQ Sketch, which lets you draw the EQ curve directly on the display by dragging the mouse; the Instance List, where you can view and control every Pro-Q4 instance in the session from a single screen (a massive time-saver at the start of a mix); and the new Character modes (Gentle and Warm), which add analog saturation and harmonics to bring character and warmth when the material calls for it. On top of that, full Dolby Atmos support up to 9.1.6, fractional filter slopes, and a new All-Pass filter type for phase adjustments.

An absolute “must” in any professional music production studio today.

Free alternative to FabFilter Pro-Q3

• TDR Nova
• Native plugins from any of the best DAWs (Ableton EQ Eight, Fruity Parametric EQ…)

2. Waves SSL E-Channel

This Waves equalizer is a classic in the music production world. Based on the iconic EQ channel from the SSL 4000 mixing console, it delivers great sound quality and a wide range of adjustment options. An SSL-style EQ (usually included in a channel strip that also bundles the legendary compressor plugin, noise gate, and high-pass and low-pass filters) is a non-negotiable in any EQ arsenal. The Waves version is one of the most used by professionals and, according to some engineers, the one that comes closest to the analog Solid State Logic 4000 mixing console.

If you usually EQ in a more visual way, this console-style approach might take a bit of getting used to at first, but we guarantee it’s worth the adjustment: with one single channel strip, you’ll have EQ, compression, gate, and levels sorted on every track you use this plugin (or any of its alternatives) on.

Paid alternatives:

• Brainworx bx_console SSL 9000 J
• Plugin Alliance SSL 4000 E Channel Strip
• Universal Audio SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection

Free alternative to the Waves EQ SSL E-Channel

• Variety of Sound BootEQ

3. UAD Neve 1073

The UAD Neve 1073 is one of the best EQ plugins available today. Based on the legendary Neve 1073 hardware, this equalizer offers a wide range of adjustment options and high-quality filters. Its warm, musical sound (perfect for creative EQ) makes it ideal for a wide variety of genres and music styles. It also features advanced functions like component modeling, which emulates the sound and behavior of the original hardware. In short, the UAD Neve 1073 (or any of the alternatives that emulate the sound of a Neve channel) is an essential EQ for any producer or sound engineer looking for a warm, musical, high-quality sound in their productions.

Just to add that we use this kind of plugin constantly to add color to tracks, not just to boost or cut frequencies. Another alternative is the Neve 31102, an emulation of the equalizer from the legendary Neve console, maybe slightly smoother, and also one of our favorites.

*The UAD 1073 plugin is only available on Universal Audio DSP audio interfaces or through their native plugin system, Spark.

Paid alternatives:

• Slate Digital VTM
• Waves Scheps 73
• Brainworx bx_console N
• Acustica Audio ACQUA – Gold4

4. WAVES PuigTec EQP-1A

The PuigTec EQP-1A is an equalizer inspired by the legendary Pultec equalizers from the 50s and 60s. It offers a wide range of adjustment options and high-quality filters, and its interface is very intuitive and easy to use. This EQ is known for its ability to smooth out the sound and add tons of warmth and body to tracks (the original hardware and some emulations do this even when they’re switched off). Its handling of the low end, where you can boost a frequency with the Boost control and cut the same frequency with the Atten, makes it unique. It’s especially useful in mixing and for adding a subtle EQ touch when recording vocals and acoustic instruments like guitars and pianos. In short, the PuigTec EQP-1A or any Pultec-style EQ alternative is an essential equalizer for any producer or sound engineer looking for a warm, vintage sound in their productions.

Paid alternatives:

• IK Multimedia T-RackS EQ P50A
• Universal Audio Pultec EQP-1A
• Plugin Alliance Lindell Audio PEX-500

Free alternative: Warmy EP1A (Kiive Audio)

5. BRAINWORX BX_DIGITAL V3

No EQ plugin library is complete without one focused on audio mastering. The BRAINWORX BX_DIGITAL V3 offers a wide variety of EQ tools, including high-pass and low-pass filters, a low-cut filter, a high-cut filter and an 11-band parametric equalizer. It also features an “M/S” mode that lets you adjust the level and EQ of the mix signal based on the relationship between the stereo and mono audio. Using it subtractively is how you’ll get the most out of it.

This plugin has an intuitive, user-friendly interface that lets you quickly tweak the EQ parameters to improve the clarity, balance, and depth of the mix. It’s widely used by pro producers and mixing engineers to improve the quality of their productions, whether they’re EQing individual tracks, processing audio stems, or especially during the mastering process.

*Also available on the Universal Audio UAD platform.

Paid alternatives:

• FabFilter Pro-Q4
• Izotope Ozone 9 Equalizer
• Sonnox Oxford EQ
• Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor
• Universal Audio Precision EQ

Conclusion

To wrap it up, the equalizer is a fundamental tool in music production. The plugins mentioned in this list are just a handful of the many options available on the market. It’s important to experiment with different plugins and EQ techniques to find the sound you want for each project. And don’t underestimate the free VST plugin alternatives or the native plugins that come with your DAW, as they can be just as effective in most cases.

While paid plugins tend to offer more options and higher sound quality, free alternatives and native plugins are a great way to start learning and experimenting with EQ without having to spend big. Enjoy EQing with whichever one you pick and make your home studio productions sound even better!

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