What Dynamic EQ Can Do for You
Music is dynamic. For precision sound sculpting, your EQ should be, too. Sweetwater has the answer: the Sonnox Oxford Dynamic EQ HD-HDX plug-in. If you've ever struggled to control shrill or boomy frequencies with traditional static EQ, you may well have compromised the integrity of the original recording in the process. Oxford Dynamic EQ provides just the right amount of processing when and where you need it — without butchering the rest of the track. With five bands of Type-3 EQ can be overlapped to bring unparalleled control and characteristic Sonnox transparency to single tracks, stems, and stereo mixes. The Oxford Type 3 curve features proportional Q that reduces with gain for highly-musical behavior similar to the coveted equalizers on certain vintage consoles.
Related Videos: Oxford Dynamic EQ HDX Plug-in
Amazing on vocals
Let's consider what the Oxford Dynamic EQ can do for vocals. A vocalist’s tonality changes throughout a performance depending on proximity to the microphone. An EQ curve that works great when she's singing softly close to the mic will not be as effective when she pulls back and starts belting. And vice versa. Oxford Dynamic EQ moves in sync with the vocalist, kicking in when the signal level crosses a threshold that you’ve specified — and laying out when it falls below that threshold. Dynamic, like a compressor.
Wimpy kick?
Your kick drum needs punch. You determine its impact is being masked by certain frequencies in the bass. You try notching those out with a standard EQ, but that wrecks the bass sound. The solution: dynamic EQ, using the kick drum signal as a sidechain trigger, and a very quick attack and release. Now the bass is being equalized only when the kick hits. With the offending frequencies of the bass momentarily attenuated, listeners can hear the full impact of the kick drum.
A valuable addition to your engineering tool kit
The Sonnox Oxford Dynamic EQ offers unique features such as the option to engage effect using transient detection, which can be incredibly useful when working with drums and percussion. Further, you can use the onboard mid-side processing to enhance a vocal without affecting the side-channel balance, or to open up a mix by focusing low-frequency energy in the center. The highly-tweakable space-sculpting capabilities of Oxford Dynamic EQ will be a valuable addition to your mixing tool kit.
Sonnox Oxford Dynamic EQ Plug-in Features:
- 5 overlapping bands of renowned Oxford EQ
- Type-3 EQ curve with highly musical proportional Q
- All bands can overlap fluidly without the static phase distortion or low-frequency artifacts often exhibited by multiband compressors
- Each band can process and/or detect from mono, stereo, mid, or side channels
- Flexible per-band internal/external sidechain controls
- Clear, informative GUI simplifies workflows associated with multiband dynamic processors
- Flexible upwards/downwards compression and expansion
- Engage the effect either via level threshold or via onset detection for precise transient processing
- 2nd Generation iLok required for AAX and 64-bit plug-ins