Equalize 2 is a professional equalizer plugin with up to twelve bands, adjustable filter slopes, and three phase modes including a unique mixed phase mode for controlling pre-ringing artifacts.
Core Equalization Power
Equalize 2 is a versatile equalizer offering up to twelve independent bands with eight filter types: low cut, low shelf, peak, tilt, bandpass, notch, high shelf, and high cut. Each band allows free adjustment of center frequency, gain, bandwidth, resonance, and filter slope from 3 dB to 120 dB per octave, enabling precise tonal shaping beyond standard EQ capabilities.
The plugin provides three phase modes: minimum phase for zero latency operation, linear phase to preserve phase relationships, and a novel mixed phase mode with adjustable latency from 5 to 120 milliseconds. This mixed mode lets users balance phase coherence against pre-ringing artifacts, offering a practical solution for transparent filtering in mixing and mastering.
Intuitive Workflow
The user interface is designed for straightforward operation, with band parameters adjustable directly via handles on the graphical frequency response display, including bandwidth and slope controls. A flexible real-time analyzer allows monitoring of the processing, helping you make informed adjustments visually.
Each band supports independent channel mode selection (full, mid, side, left, or right), and the plugin automatically routes the audio signal internally to ensure optimal results with minimal latency. This makes stereo and mid/side processing simple and efficient without manual routing hassles.
Phase Flexibility Explained
Minimum phase mode ensures zero latency, making it suitable for live tracking or low-latency monitoring. Linear phase mode preserves time alignment across the audible spectrum, ideal for mastering where phase coherence matters, but it can introduce pre-ringing artifacts, especially with steep filters.
The mixed phase mode is a key feature: by setting latency freely between 5 and 120 milliseconds, you can mask pre-ringing using the temporal masking of human hearing while keeping time alignment. Latency values below 20 milliseconds typically disguise pre-ringing effectively, offering a balanced approach for critical mixing.
Practical Use Cases
Use Equalize 2 for subtractive EQ on individual tracks, such as removing resonant frequencies or shaping tonal balance with precise slopes. The mid/side processing per band is handy for widening or centering elements in a mix, while the analyzer helps identify problem frequencies in real time.
In mastering, the linear phase mode provides clean, transparent EQ without phase shifts, and the mixed phase mode gives extra control over potential artifacts. The variable filter slopes allow gentle corrective EQ or aggressive surgical cuts, making the plugin a flexible tool for both corrective and creative tasks.
Key features
- Up to twelve independent EQ bands
- Eight filter types including tilt and notch
- Adjustable filter slope from 3 to 120 dB per octave
- Three phase modes: minimum, linear, and mixed
- Mixed phase mode with 5–120 ms adjustable latency
- Per-band channel processing (full, mid, side, left, right)
- Real-time analyzer with graphical band handles
Best for
Equalize 2 is best for mixing and mastering engineers who need precise tonal control with flexible filter slopes and advanced phase handling. Its mixed phase mode offers a practical way to avoid pre-ringing artifacts while maintaining time alignment, making it useful for both corrective EQ and high-quality music production.