In terms of digital sound processing these VST plugins are relatively simple and straight-forward. They don't possess any magical properties that will make sound better just by passing through them. They don't emulate obsolete vintage studio gear, do not produce "warm and musical analog sound" and certainly won't make you the next Phil Spector. They don't deliberately introduce any audible distortion and their phase response is close to linear. Basically, they are just regular equalizers made according to my ideas how should they look like and react. The main focus was on their functionallity, versatility and usability. I didn't waste time drawing photorealistic screw heads, shiny metal reflections and corrosion or any other trendy graphical anachronisms. These plugins are meant only to be used, not to be drooled upon.

MQ57 is parametric equalizer designed for mastering. It is powerful, but quite easy to use after you understand what each knob and button does, so learning curve should be very mild for everyone who grasps basic principles of equalization. The main difference from other, standard EQs is that MQ57 has all controls and functions optimized for mastering needs, i.e., it has relatively wide Q factors that focus on overall balance rather than narrow cuts and boosts, moderate gain ranges for fine-tuning and functions such as channel balance, spectrum tilting and pass filters.

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PQ33 is a freeware VST equalizer loosely based on Portico 5033 hardware unit. The goal was to create effective processor that won't distract with flashy graphics and animations, that will disregard exact numerical values and place focus on the sound and finally, prioritize user-friendliness over complexity. Try it and see if this approach makes equalization easier for you. It is intended for use during mixing and tracking, but it can also be used for simple mastering tasks.

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QX24 is one half equalizer, other half exciter. It is authentic design and there are just few other plugins that offer comparable functions without getting too complicated. Using it properly you'll be able to accent parts of spectrum where instrument's character resides making it more prominent, while gently reducing remaining frequencies that often clutter the mix. Sound gets harmonically enhanced mostly with first two harmonics, but if you push it past moderate drive levels it gets much brighter - experiment and find the best way to utilize it.

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