- Product: AEQ-550 Beyond Analog
- Developer: NK Productions
- Type: Analog EQ Modeling Plugin
- Version: 1.3.1
- Format: VST3
- Requirements: Windows 10 or later
AEQ-550 Beyond Analog is a measured 4-band console EQ, rebuilt beyond the hardware. Modeled from a classic discrete op-amp console EQ. Every frequency step, proportional-Q curve, and shelf shape — measured from the real unit and rebuilt.
Built from a real console EQ
AEQ-550 Beyond Analog is modeled from a classic discrete op-amp console equalizer — measured exhaustively, then rebuilt. Every frequency step, proportional-Q curve, shelf shape and the FLTR band-pass is derived from the real unit and its schematic.
Presets that land where they were designed to
A preset assumes the signal arrives at the unit’s reference level. Feed one a quieter source and the modeled stage is driven less, so the tone and harmonics the preset was built on never appear. The usual fix — riding Input Trim — costs you the one control that decides how hard the analog stage is pushed.
Reference Calibration separates the two. Engage Ref Cal — the third state of the Unity button — and run Auto Input: the measured correction is held inside the unit instead of being written to Input Trim. The knob does not move, the amount in use is shown on the button, and because the calibration is not a plugin parameter it can never be baked into a preset. Leaving Ref Cal stops it being applied but remembers the value; step back in and it returns without re-measuring.
Measured, not modeled by ear — every curve derived from the real unit and its schematic
The EQ is not tuned by ear — each frequency step, shelf corner and proportional-Q bandwidth is measured from the hardware and rebuilt as a magnitude-matched filter. On top of that, the console’s reaction to level.