Manley Massive Passive EQ UAD plug-in
By Rob Sandall
| Posted in Music Technology
A rather large group of production aficionados exploded in excitement just about an hour ago – let’s cut to the chase and confirm that prolific powered plug-in developer Universal Audio has sated the thirst of producers with the creation of the Manley Massive Passive EQ plug-in for the UAD-2 platform.
For those of you who are unaware of the hardware’s legendary qualities, the unit on which the software is based is a four-band analogue EQ that has found endorsement from the likes of Jerry Finn and Wilco, known as it is for warmth and organic response when recording anything from drums to vocals, as well as mixing and mastering.
In order to ensure that the plug-in was the match for its tangible brethren, UA had to work under the fearsome scrutiny of Manley, and proved itself worthy of the granted license by going to extreme lengths to ensure accurate modelling, taking everything to pieces and even tracking the effects of 13 separate wound inductors on the analogue signal.
To that end, the EQ captures the clean, open and toppy sing-song of the tube stage, the nuances of a unique filter curve, and frequency controls that are reactive to each other in order to provide an organic, natural response. The emphasis was on ensuring that the model not only created the much-loved tone shaping of the Massive Passive, but also the unique behaviour of control-tweaking.
The UAD-2 EQ itself is designed to be an amalgamation of numerous favourite setups, and therefore each channel can be switched better boost and cut, as well as shelf or bell – already you’re opening up a miscellany of combinations.
Then, depending on the package – either the standard or mastering versions of the plug-in – you’ll have 20db of continuous gain, boost or cut at your disposal, or 16 steps across 11db of gain, as well as 18db of hi and lo filters per octave and 5db of stepped-gain output.
The mastering version, then, is ready for even the most precise and proud producer going – organic and natural tone, yes, but tweaks can still be made with pinpoint accuracy. It’s why the likes of Jerry Finn (Morrisey, Blink, Bad Religion) have long been a fan, and it’s why you’ll be one too.
Remember of course you’re going to need the UAD-2 PCIe card to run this little gem, but this EQ alone justifies the price without even considering the myriad of other wonderful plug-ins that it counts as stable-mates. A platinum-standard EQ that will cost less than you might assume. Wonderful news.
Tags: EQ, Manley, Massive, Passive, UAD, Universal Audio