New Music Gear Monday: Masterlab DynaQ Dynamic EQ Plugin

We’ve all been using parallel compression for quite a while now as it’s become a standard technique for every mixing engineer. In fact, many compressors now provide a mix control to provide pseudo-parallel compression right from the plugin. The Masterlab DynaQ dynamic EQ takes that concept one step further to provide a sort of parallel-EQ, simultaneously working on the signal in a couple of different ways.

Masterlab DynaQ is basically two processors – one that works on the part of the signal above the dynamic threshold, and another that works below it. This novel approach allows you to get improved results while keeping the sound extremely natural. Of course, there’s plenty of color parameters if you want to whack it out as well. The best way to understand how the processor works is to check out the flow diagram below.

Each processor section is comprised of a 5 band dynamic EQ, a saturation module, and a width control, that’s all fed into mix section to control the amount of above/below threshold information in the signal.

The Dynamics section consists of a standard ratio control, attack and release, low and high pass sidechain filters, and a balance control for above/below threshold.

The 5 band EQ has a lot of versatility, allowing you to turn each band on or off, solo it, link it to another band, or set the inverse settings to the corresponding band above or below threshold.

There’s also input and output meter, compression amount, and individual above and below threshold band meter as well.

The only thing that bothered me a little is the fact that the user interface is so dark (I’ve lightened it up in the graphic above). I know this is the trend but too dark makes it harder on the eyes rather than easier. That’s a small nit to pick though.

DynaQ is a fascinating new approach to EQ that deserves some attention. It’s this kind of out-of-the-box thinking that’s finally getting us past the days of analog outboard gear emulation. We’ve been there and done that and now have more than enough models of what was used in days gone by. It’s time for totally new ideas about how tonal shaping can work and Masterlab Audio is at the forefront of leading the charge.

With the current exchange rate, DynaQ costs $101.39. There’s a 30 day free trial available, and it works on both Mac and PC platforms in VST2, VST3, AU and AAX formats.

Find out more here, or check out the video below for a more complete explanation of how it works.

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