As I’ve covered in the past, there are many different sets and subsets when it comes to types of EQ. The Pultec EQ is the latter, something of a cross between a parametric EQ and a semi-parametric EQ in that it gives you a little more control over where and how much you want to boost or attenuate a frequency range. Even if you’re a fan like me of the control you get with a full featured parametric EQ like my favorite Pro-Q 3, a Pultec EQ can still have a valuable place in your mix.
With that in mind, let’s identify what is a Pultec EQ and how to use one in your mix including the famous Pultec Trick. I’ll also offer a solid free Pultec EQ plugin which you can use to apply what I’m about to cover in your own mix.
What is Pultec EQ
The Pultec is a hardware based equalizer with many plugins emulating the warm, analog sound it imparts. It’s tube amp based, so there’s some coloring of the tone which you don’t get from a transparent EQ like the Pro-Q 3.
Sometimes you want that color which comes from the harmonic overtone distortion that’s created, sometimes you don’t, so it’s likely that a Pultec isn’t going to be your go-to EQ.
That said, Pultecs have a lot of uses and certainly have a place in your mix, including one very popular application known as the Pultec Trick for making your mix’s low end sound better.
Best Free Pultec EQ
Before we get into the Pultec trick or specifics on how to use it in your mix, check out the PTEq-X from Ignite Amps as an excellent FREE Pultec plugin you can use in your mix.
It’s available in both VST2 and VST3 options as well as both 32 bit and 64 bit plugin varieties to match whatever operating system your DAW runs on.
You can see what the PTEq-X looks like below in the overview on how to use a Pultec EQ.
How to Use Pultec EQ
Pultec EQs aren’t as intuitive as a simple semi-parametric EQ or even a visual parametric EQ where you can just create a band and drag it as you like.
Here is an overview on how to use a Pultec EQ featuring the aforementioned free PTEq-X.
Some Pultec based EQs like Waves’ PuigTec actually has two separate plugins: one for the mids and one for the low and high ends.
As you can see, with the PTEq-X it’s all combined, albeit into three major categories as we’ll cover each from top to bottom.
Mid Range Adjustments
At the top you have dials for boosting or attenuating frequencies between 200 and around 5-7k. There are separate dials for boosting the low mids or the high mids on the left and right sides, respectively. Alternatively, cutting/dipping the mids is done with a central 200-7k dial.
Note that each section has a bypass switch which is good for A/B comparisons.
Low and High Adjustments
Admittedly the low and high adjustment component in the middle is a little enigmatic outside of the straightforward “Bandwidth” dial which works as the Q setting for this section.
The real curve ball on a Pultec EQ is that while the low frequency adjuster has a single dial for the frequency itself which links with the boost and attenuating dials, the high end has TWO separate frequency selectors.
Depending if you want to boost or cut the high end of your audio, there are different parameters for the frequency itself. So if you want to boost at 5k, you need to use the “High Frequency” dial to set it to 5k. If you want to cut at 5k, you need to use the “Atten Sel” dial to set it to 5k.
Pultec Trick
One of the most common applications for Pultec EQs is the “Pultec Trick” – simultaneously boosting AND cutting the same frequency.
Common sense would dictate that the effect of boosting AND cutting the same frequency by the same amount would be null/non-existent.
Because of the way the Pultec operates and its signal flow, you still get a bit of that subtle tube saturation/distortion on your audio.
I find that it manifests in giving your audio some added thickness and pleasing warmth at that particular frequency.
Specifically this is typically applied to the low end, and particularly the kick.
Drop an instance of the PTEq-X on your kick, set the “CPS” to 60Hz, and set BOTH the “Boost” and “Atten” to 5 as a starting place.
Make sure they’re both set to the same value so that you’re boosting and cutting at the same rate and you should immediately hear a more rounded kick in that 60Hz fundamental when you split test it on and off.
If you want more of that effect, turn both dials up together to 6, 7, etc.
Personally, I like “4” for just a small taste of that effect, a barely palpable added saturated thickness on that fundamental of the kick.
Don’t limit your use of the Pultec Trick to your kick. Try it at 100Hz or 150Hz on your bass, or try it at 5k to smooth out excessive transient sharpness on different tracks.
Just note you need to set BOTH the “High Frequency” and “Atten Sel” to the same frequency on the high end as I show above.
Low and High Pass Filters
Lastly, you have high and low pass filters.
Use these, particularly the high pass filter on the left, to filter out any noise which you don’t need.
The high pass filter helps keep your mix clean by prioritizing the low end entirely to the tracks which actually need this frequency range like the kick and bass, not to mention cutting out unwanted background or technical noise, bleed, etc.
There are a few other features on the PTEq-X worth mentioning.
- There’s an oversampling option on the bottom for helping you avoid foldover distortion.
- There are 4 tube types to vary the coloring of the saturation/distortion (it can also be turned off altogether) for a cleaner EQ.
- There’s a mono or stereo option to suit your specific track or bus.
- There’s also an output gain setting in the bottom right so that you can maintain gain staging to have the output level match your input level after any cuts or boosts you make.
Grab the PTEq-X from Ignite Amps for free and try it on your kick for the trick then try expanding it to other instruments in your mix to add a touch of that pleasing analog warmth and dirt to your digital mix by way of your normal EQing.
