Check your system and your license plan before you buy the 1A Equalizer review subject, because 64-bit only and a 30-day online check on two of the plans will rule it out for some rigs. Audified’s tube EQ costs $49.50, models the Pultec EQP-1A, and wants at least 4GB of memory.
If you’re on a 32-bit host, skip it. If you’re renting through Rent to Own or Beatport Studio and your studio machine never touches the internet, think hard first.
Everyone else gets a colored EQ built for broad, musical moves rather than surgical ones. It’s for producers and mixers who want that 1950s curve under their fingers without hunting down hardware.
The Catch Up Front
Start with the hard requirements. The plugin is 64-bit only on both macOS and Windows, and it wants at least 4GB of memory plus 120 MB of disk space.
Rent to Own and Beatport Studio plans need an internet connection every 30 days to validate the license. Miss that window on an offline machine and you’ve got a problem.
macOS support runs from 10.11 up to 12 Monterey, on Intel and M1 Apple Silicon. Windows covers 7 through 11.
Then the design limit. M/S processing is its own operating mode, not something layered on top of standard L/R processing at the same time. You choose one or the other. Annoying if you wanted both in one instance.
What You Get If You Clear It
The 1A Equalizer is a tube-based EQ modeled after the Pultec EQP-1A. You get boost and attenuate controls for both lows and highs, which is the whole point of that classic design.
Saturation calibration lets you set how hard the tube stage works. A THD meter displays the saturation level, so you see the distortion instead of guessing at it. That’s clever, and underrated.
Mid/Side processing splits the signal into Mid and Side components. You can treat the center of your mix separately from the edges of the stereo image.
It runs in switchable L/R and M/S modes, and parameters can be linked. Formats are AAX, AU and VST3 on macOS, and AAX and VST3 on Windows. Current version is 1.0.2.
Where It Shines
The M/S mode is the headline for us. Open it on a stereo bus, switch to M/S, and lift the highs on the Side channel only. The edges open up while the vocal in the center stays put.
Or flip it around. Boost the lows on the Mid component to firm up the kick and bass without swelling the width of your pads.
Owners describe the tube emulation as warm and analog-like, and call it a reliable colored EQ they reach for often. Push the saturation calibration and the THD meter climbs, so you can watch the grit arrive instead of trusting your ears alone.
The interface is simple. Owners say it works for novices and experienced users alike. Pultec-style moves are broad, so fewer knobs is a feature here, not a shortcut.
Against the Field
Here’s how we’d line it up against the obvious rival, plus a related pick from our own archive.
| Plugin | Price | Strongest point | Weakest point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A Equalizer (Audified) | $49.50 | Pultec EQP-1A modeling with switchable L/R and M/S modes plus a THD meter | M/S can't run alongside L/R at the same time |
| Bettermaker Passive | N/A | Another Pultec plugin emulation, so it competes directly on the same sound | N/A |
| VEQ-HLF (Antelope Audio) | N/A | A simple Pultec filter done right | N/A |
Pick the 1A Equalizer when you want M/S control and a visible saturation readout in a Pultec design. Bettermaker Passive is the one to audition against it, since it’s chasing the same hardware.
We can’t call a winner between them on sound alone. Demo both on your own material before you spend.
For a lighter, simpler take on the same family, read our VEQ-HLF review first.
Who Should Buy This
✅ Buy if you want a Pultec-style EQ that can split Mid and Side and treat them separately. ✅ Buy if you like seeing saturation on a THD meter instead of guessing at it. ✅ Buy if you want a simple, colored EQ you’ll reach for on buses and instruments alike.
❌ Skip if you’re on a 32-bit host or a machine with under 4GB of memory. ❌ Skip if you’re on a rental plan and your studio computer rarely goes online. ❌ Skip if you need M/S and L/R processing active together in one instance.
Specs & Technical Details
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Audified |
| Price | $49.50 |
| Plugin Format | macOS: AAX / AU / VST3. Windows: AAX / VST3 |
| OS Support | macOS 10.11 to 12 Monterey (Intel and M1), Windows 7 to 11, 64-bit only |
| Activation | Rent to Own and Beatport Studio plans need an internet check every 30 days |
| CPU Usage | N/A |
| Trial Available | N/A |
| Version Reviewed | 1.0.2 |
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Quality | 4.0/5 | Owners report warm, analog-like tube color from the EQP-1A model |
| Value for Money | 4.0/5 | $49.50 buys M/S mode and a THD meter on top of the Pultec design |
| Ease of Use | 4.5/5 | Simple interface that suits novices and experienced users |
| Features | 4.0/5 | Boost and attenuate, saturation calibration, linkable parameters, M/S mode |
| CPU Efficiency | N/A | No CPU figures to score against |
| Overall | 4.0/5 | A focused Pultec EQ with a smart M/S mode and a few licensing and system limits |
Alternatives to Consider
- Bettermaker Passive: the closest rival, another Pultec plugin emulation. Audition it head to head. See our best EQ plugins roundup.
- VEQ-HLF from Antelope Audio: a simpler Pultec-style filter if you don't need M/S. Our VEQ-HLF review covers it.
- If you're building a bigger toolkit around tone shaping, our SEQUND Lite review shows a very different kind of creative plugin.
Our Verdict
Buy it at $49.50 if you want a Pultec-flavored EQ with a Mid/Side mode and a THD meter that shows you the tubes working. It’s a tidy, honest tone tool.
It’s the wrong buy on a 32-bit host, under 4GB of memory, or an offline rental setup that can’t phone home every 30 days. Check those three before you check out.
Put it on your mix bus in M/S, lift the Side highs, and listen to the edges open up. If that moment makes you grin, you’ve found your EQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 1A Equalizer?
It's a tube-based EQ plugin from Audified modeled after the Pultec EQP-1A from the 1950s. It has boost and attenuate controls for lows and highs, saturation calibration and a THD meter.
Which plugin formats does the 1A Equalizer support?
On macOS it supports AAX, AU and VST3. On Windows it supports AAX and VST3. It's 64-bit only on both platforms.
Does the 1A Equalizer have Mid/Side processing?
Yes. It splits audio into Mid and Side components so you can treat the center and the stereo edges separately. M/S is a separate mode from standard L/R, so you switch between them rather than running both at once.
Does it need an internet connection?
Only on certain plans. Rent to Own and Beatport Studio plans need an internet connection every 30 days for license validation.
What are the system requirements?
You need at least 4GB of memory and 120 MB of disk space. macOS 10.11 to 12 Monterey is supported on Intel and M1, and Windows 7 to 11 is supported, all 64-bit only.
