Bettermaker EQ232D Plugin Review

This Bettermaker plugin will make your mixing and mastering better (no pun intended). Although it’s not the Bettermaker Mastering Equaliser, it’s still an iconic EQ. However, it improves upon the studio-favourite Pultec EQP-1A whilst including additional parametric functionality with two bell EQ filters. 

But… we already have good Pultec emulations?

Although existing Pultec-style equalisers are readily available and can truly make your mixes (or masters) shine. There is however something more ‘mature’ about the Bettermaker EQ232D plugin… Which could be described as a smoother sound. A perfect addition to any mixing and mastering engineers plugin arsenal.

Based on the original hardware of the EQ232P MKII, the EQ232D has already proven to be a fan-favourite. Amongst the Plugin Alliance user-base, there is also a respectable 98% 5 star review rating. Another beneficial feature of this mixing and mastering plugin is the ability to have control over the mid-side channels. All within a single instance. This makes the EQ232D plugin extremely versatile.

How does the Bettermaker EQ plugin sound?

I can’t stress enough how good this sounds. It offers a smoother and a more well-rounded sound than most mastering equalisers such as the AMEK EQ 200. If you are looking for a transparent-sounding equaliser than makes your music immediately feel expensive, look no further!

Something else that sounds good is the built-in high pass filter. Extremely useful to roll off un-wanted low-frequency information when mixing and mastering.

Simultaneous boosts and cuts… Mixing and mastering trickery.

The ‘Pultec trick’ is where mixing and mastering engineers boost and cut simultaneously. This can ‘enhance’ the low end for example; providing some spectral separation. This is useful to add a sense of more sub-frequency information whilst cutting any ‘boxy’ low-mid range information, or to help shape high-frequencies in a subtle but pleasant way. This is also known as the ‘push-pull technique’. 

The Bettermaker plugin verdict.

An amazingly smooth and clean equaliser emulation that offers a unique user experience that simply makes sense. Deserving of its 37th NAMM TEC finalist award and perfect for any mixing and mastering task! Overall, we rate this plugin a score of 8.4 out of 10:

• Ease of use: 9/10
• Sonic quality: 10/10
• Features: 8/10
• User interface: 8/10
• Price: 7/10

Check out the Plugin Alliance Bettermaker EQ232D page for more information, to try and to buy: Try/Buy