Pro-Music-News Recording and Studio

The Bettermaker EQ 232P two-channel analogue equalizer starts shipping

Showcased first at 133rd AES in San Francisco, the Bettermaker EQ 232P started shipping in late 2012. TransAudio Group also announces the Pultec-style two-channel analogue equalizer to be showcased at Winter NAMM 2013 show. The Bettermaker EQ 232P is a flexible two-channel analogue equalizer that updates a classic design and adds the digital accuracy, repeatability and consistency of a plug-in. Every parameter setting of the EQ 232P, which features five filters on each channel, may be saved in up to 399 presets in the unit’s internal memory. Using the supplied software plug-in, all settings may also saved with the DAW project.
Bettermaker EQ232P
Both channels of the EQ 232P include a 12 dB/octave high-pass filter covering the range 18 Hz – 200 Hz. There are two active parametric filters on each channel. EQ1 extends from 45 Hz to 1 kHz and EQ2 from 650 Hz to 15 kHz. The PEQ section, an homage to the classic 1950s Pultec analogue equalizer design, features high- and low-frequency shelving passive filters, each with separate boost and attenuation controls. The HF section also includes a fully variable bandwidth control, also similarly to the Pultec.
All of the digital rotary encoders controlling the filter parameters are velocity sensitive, enabling coarse changes when spun quickly and very precise fine increments or decrements when turned slowly. The high-pass filter (HPF), two filters and PEQ section may be individually hardware bypassed.
By applying digital control to analogue hardware, the EQ 232P’s hybrid design allows for an A/B switch which enables the user to instantly compare two different EQ settings, similarly to the operation of a DAW plug-in.
A Preset section saves and recalls the entire state of the unit. Seven factory presets created by Marek Walaszek, mixing/mastering engineer and Bettermaker CEO and product designer, are included.
The Bettermaker EQ 232P may be connected to a DAW via USB and controlled using the supplied software plug-in, which supports AU, VST and RTAS, and 32- and 64-bit architecture. The unit appears as a MIDI device and may alternatively be operated using Sysex commands. The currently selected preset automatically saves with the DAW project. All setting changes are bi-directional between the plug-in, which does not pass audio, and the hardware, which must be connected via the computer interface or sound card.
The unit’s analogue and digital circuits are electrically isolated from each other. Digital signals are transmitted through optical connectors to avoid any interference with the sensitive analogue circuits. The analogue and digital paths additionally utilize separate, shielded power supplies.
The Bettermaker EQ232P is equipped with two sets of identical outputs, providing additional flexibility. For example, the unit could be wired to provide parallel processing or to provide a secondary feed to a recording device, or inserted before the 2-bus to provide simultaneous finalized and non peak-limited versions. The outputs are not transformer isolated.
The Bettermaker EQ 232P Remote version features a blank front panel with external computer control exclusively via the GUI.
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