My Top 10 Best EQ VST Audio Plugins I Use in 2024

After years of tweaking, adjusting, and refining tracks in the studio, one thing has become crystal clear to me: a great EQ plugin is the backbone of any solid mix! It’s not just about boosting highs or cutting lows, it’s about shaping the very soul of the sound. Whether I’m cleaning up muddy frequencies, giving a vocal that extra shine, or balancing an entire mix, using the right EQ is an absolute game-changer.

But with so many EQ plugins on the market, it’s easy to fall into the trap of collecting every shiny new EQ plugin that comes along. Trust me, I’ve been there, trying everything under the sun. Over time, I’ve realized that you don’t need a mountain of plugins to craft great mixes. You need a select few that you really know how to use.

Below, I will present my trusted EQ plugins, which have proven their worth in every session. Whether I’m mixing a new song or finalizing a master, these EQs have helped me shape the perfect sound, winning the respect and appreciation of my clients.

1. Fabfilter Pro-Q3

The FabFilter Pro-Q3 is a highly versatile EQ plugin known for its dynamic EQ capabilities and precise control. It supports up to 24 bands, linear phase mode, Dolby Atmos integration, and includes a spectrum analyzer with frequency collision detection. Pro-Q3 allows for mid/side and left/right processing on each band and features new EQ shapes like Tilt Shelf and Brickwall. Its dynamic compression and expansion functions enable detailed sound shaping, making it ideal for both mixing and mastering. The user-friendly interface and customizable features make it a powerful EQ plugin for professional audio work.

Buy Link: Fabfilter Pro-Q3

2. TBT Kirchhoff EQ

The Kirchhoff EQ is a versatile and powerful equalizer plugin that combines the best of modern digital technology with classic analog EQ emulations. It offers features like linear and minimum phase modes, dynamic EQ with Lookahead, and advanced stereo processing (mid/side and left/right control). Its extensive library of modeled analog EQs sets it apart, allowing users to apply iconic EQ curves from units like SSL, Neve, Sontec, and Pultec to individual bands within the same plugin. With deep customization options, high precision, and flexibility, the Kirchhoff EQ is an excellent plug-in for both mixing and mastering.

Buy Link: Kirchhoff EQ

3. Sonible Smart:EQ 4

smart:EQ4 by Sonible is a versatile EQ plugin with 24 flexible bands, dynamic modes for multiband compression and de-essing, and mid/side processing. Its key feature is the use of AI to analyze and optimize audio based on selected sound profiles, offering customized EQ adjustments for instruments, vocals, and genres. The smart:EQ 4 plugin allows for easy management of multiple EQs from one window, streamlining the mixing process. While it lacks a few advanced features from competitors like FabFilter Pro-Q 3, its AI-driven innovation and efficient workflow make it a standout EQ plugin for modern music production.

Buy Link: Sonible Smart:EQ4

4. TDR Nova

TDR Nova provides a neutral, clean sound and excels as both a standard and dynamic EQ, making it a strong competitor even against paid plugins. Although its free version lacks surgical precision, it performs exceptionally well for general EQ tasks and dynamic frequency control. In practice, it easily integrates into mixing workflows, offering flexibility and intuitive use. TDR Nova is a must-have EQ plugin for mixing sessions. Its free version is powerful, while the paid edition offers expanded capabilities for a reasonable price.

Free Download Link: TDR Nova

Buy Link: TDR Nova GE

5. UAD Pultec EQ Collection

The UAD Pultec Passive EQ Collection has become one of my go-to EQ plugins in the studio, and for good reason. These EQs offer that classic analog warmth and character that just can’t be replicated by most plugins. This collection includes three distinct EQs: the EQP-1A, the MEQ-5, and the HLF-3C filter, offering everything you need to shape your sound with precision and warmth. The EQP-1A is famous for its ability to simultaneously boost and cut the same frequency, creating unique low-end sculpting that adds punch without muddiness. The MEQ-5 focuses on the critical midrange, perfect for carving clarity into vocals, guitars, or drums, while the HLF-3C provides high and low-pass filtering for controlling unwanted frequencies.

Also, check out my article about How To Use a Pultec EQ For Warm And Punchy Sound

Buy Link: UAD Pultec Passive EQ Collection

6. Eventide SplitEQ

Eventide’s SplitEQ is a revolutionary EQ plugin that separates transient and tonal components, allowing for precise, independent control of each. This unique approach enables powerful sound shaping and problem-solving, making it perfect for mixing and mastering tasks that would otherwise require compromises or a full remix. I love how I can shape both transient and tonal elements separately on the same frequency band, offering an unparalleled level of control that feels both powerful and precise. The mid/side processing is another standout feature, letting me create wide, focused sounds with ease, something that’s been incredibly useful when I offer my song mastering services to my customers.

Buy Link: Eventide SplitEQ

7. Arturia EQ Sitral 295

The Arturia EQ Sitral 295 is a vintage-inspired equalizer designed for bus and group processing. It features three adjustable EQ bands with shelving and presence controls, mid/side processing for precise stereo imaging, and a link function to control both channels in tandem. It also offers a range knob for scaling EQ adjustments, auto-gain for consistent volume levels, and a subtle saturation option for adding analog warmth. With a real-time visualizer and independent output control for mid and side channels, it’s a versatile EQ plugin for enhancing group tracks and adding character to mixes.

Buy Link: Arturia EQ Sitral 295

8. Soundtoys Sie-Q EQ

The SoundToys Sie-Q is an analog-modeled emulation of the Siemens W295b EQ, a vintage EQ from the 1960s originally found in Siemens Sitral consoles. With a three-band EQ, Sie-Q allows for low, mid, and high-frequency adjustments, each with its own gain control. It also includes a mid-frequency selector with six options (700Hz to 5.6kHz) for more targeted sound shaping. The Drive knob is a unique addition not found in the original hardware, offering subtle saturation and added color, enhancing the vintage vibe. What I love most about the Soundtoys Sie-Q is how effortlessly it adds warmth and character to vocals, basses, and other elements needing rich tone and depth without switching to many knobs.

Buy Link: SoundToys Sie-Q

9. PB Scaler EQ

Scaler EQ from Plugin Boutique has become one of those plugins I never knew I needed but now can’t live without. What really sets it apart for me is its in-key EQ functionality. The key detection feature is another lifesaver, especially when I’m working on tracks with complex chord progressions or key changes. Having Scaler EQ automatically identify the key is a huge time-saver, letting me tweak frequencies based on that. Whether I’m working on vocals, guitars, or even drum buses, knowing that my EQ changes are harmonically aligned makes everything sound more cohesive.

Buy Link: Scaler EQ

10. Oeksound Soothe 2

Soothe 2 is not a traditional EQ, but it functions in a way that can resemble an EQ in certain aspects. It’s primarily a resonance suppressor designed to reduce harsh frequencies, similar to the Scaler EQ above. What sets it apart is how seamlessly it smooths out the audio, often leaving the track sounding more natural and balanced. Whether I’m working on de-essing vocal tracks or softening the high end of a snare, Soothe 2 is incredibly intuitive. It handles thousands of tiny adjustments across narrow frequency bands, doing what would otherwise take hours to dial in manually. For more details about this fantastic tool, check out my Soothe 2 Review.

Final Thoughts

This collection of my go-to EQ plugins has been thoroughly tested over the years, consistently helping me achieve balance and precision in every session, whether mixing or mastering. At the end of the day, it’s not about having every plugin, it’s about mastering the right ones.