Sonoris Mastering Equalizer (SMEQ) – parametric equalizer in the formats VST, AU, AAX and RTAS format for Windows and Mac. It has a selectable linear phase or minimum phase load for each range. The plugin is designed for mixing and especially for mastering, has 7 bands, includes lowpass, highpass, peaking and shelving filters.
SMEQ can be used to enhance or correct difficult material such as vocal or instrumental soloists and groups, orchestral recordings and complex mixtures without introducing undesirable coloring. The implementation of the linear phase SMEQ provides a transparent and simply increases or decreases the frequency range without adding “sound”. It does not alter the picture and depth of the original sound. In this way, you can enhance or weaken with a conventional equalizer without any of these negative side effects.
The linear SMEQ phase algorithm is based on a technology called back-and-forward filtering, which has not yet been implemented on some expensive high-end equalizers. The main advantage of this method is that IIR filters can be used instead of FIR filters, the latter are usually found in linear phase implementations. IIR filters are known for their more analog type of filtering and are also more efficient than FIR filters. The filters used in SMEQ are actually the same as those in the Sonoris equalizer, and also have the correct gain before Nyquist.
Each group can be created to handle stereo, L, R or (M) id and (S) ide channels. Processing the middle or additional information can be very useful in certain situations. In mastering for example, it allows you to enhance centered vocals, leaving other instruments intact. Or to the center of the bass without losing the stereo image of everyone else. Adjustment is easy because SMEQ allows monitoring of LR or MS channels.
The plugin has a large graphic display that shows exactly what you get. The size of the plugin can be changed to your liking by dragging the lower right corner.
The Sonoris Mastering Equalizer has an automatic as well as 2x, 4x or 8x manual upsampling mode. With increasing frequency, SMEQ has an even more accurate answer, especially at higher frequencies.