Undertone Audio Releases MPEQ-1 Super-Parametric Saturation Equalizer
Undertone Audio has released the MPEQ-1 Super-Parametric Saturation Equalizer Plugin, effectively translating one of its signature hardware designs into a versatile software tool. While the plugin serves as a highly capable corrective EQ, it includes several innovative additions that extend its utility well beyond standard frequency management.
The standout feature of the MPEQ-1 is its independent saturation control on every band. This design choice provides producers and engineers with granular control over where harmonic color is introduced into the signal path. Rather than relying on a single, broad saturation stage across the entire sound, users can now target specific frequency ranges. For instance, you can push the upper mids for added presence while keeping the low end pristine, or add density to a snare drum’s body without compromising its transient response.
Per-Band Saturation Changes The Way The EQ Can Be Used
The MPEQ-1 plugin features four super-parametric bands, wide-range Q control, versatile filters, and Undertone Audio’s proprietary Vari-Phase mode. By recreating the curves and workflow of the original hardware while providing direct digital parameter control, the software offers a seamless experience for modern mixing environments.
The independent saturation controls effectively push the plugin into a new category of creative tools. A bass guitar can gain character in the midrange while the sub-frequencies remain tight and controlled. Similarly, a synthesizer can be brightened and roughened in specific bands without the entire patch becoming overdriven. For mastering engineers, this offers a more surgical approach to introducing color, allowing for precise texture adjustments that a single uniform process could not achieve.
A Hardware-Inspired EQ That Takes Advantage Of Software
The MPEQ-1 does not merely aim for a strict hardware-replica workflow. Instead, Undertone Audio has preserved the core EQ architecture while leveraging the digital medium to add functionality that would have been difficult to implement in a physical unit. This approach provides the best of both worlds: the classic tone and behavior that users expect, combined with the flexibility required for modern, complex production chains.
For producers, the MPEQ-1 is poised to become a go-to tone-shaping tool for individual tracks and complex buses alike. With its combination of per-band saturation and Vari-Phase controls, it offers a sophisticated route into harmonic detail and mix balance. The MPEQ-1 Super-Parametric Saturation Equalizer Plugin is available now for $149 through Undertone Audio.
