Overview

Based on the first parametric equalizers that started it all, the AMEK EQ 200 is a beautifully transparent plugin EQ, inspired by the classic sound of icons like the GML 8200 and vintage SONTEC EQs.

Plugin Alliance and Brainworx are proud to bring you the very first in a series of new plugins under the iconic AMEK brand, which has just joined the Plugin Alliance family. The first product under the new AMEK brand is the EQ 200, which is modeled after some of the most coveted hardware EQs ever designed.

Drawing on years of experience in analog modelling, Brainworx goal with the EQ 200 was to develop a plugin that captures the DNA and recreates the unique sound of the most legendary parametric equalizers of the 70s and 80s.

This era was dominated by new, paradigm-shifting EQ designs from brands such as SONTEC and GML, which offered groundbreaking new features, including parametric control: the ability to adjust the center frequency and bandwidth for each band. While this is a standard feature on EQs today, it was an absolute audio revolution back then.

The extraordinary resolution, extreme transparency, enormous headroom and surgical precision of these classic 70s and 80s mastering-grade EQs served as the inspiration for many later equalizer designs. And for many top engineers, these original parametric EQs are still considered unrivaled tools, even today.

These early high-end parametric EQs were born during an amazing era for pop and rock music and lived on to become true industry standards for the next 30+ years. Today, they can be heard on countless major recordings, as they are still actively used in many of the very best mixing and mastering studios on the planet.

The AMEK EQ 200 Plugin is inspired by the sound of Brainworx founder Dirk Ulrich‘s own GML 8200 EQ and vintage SONTEC EQs - some of his all-time favorite pieces of analog outboard gear.

But Dirk and the Brainworx modeling team decided to take things a step further, enhancing the original design with many useful plugin-only features, such as innovative Auto-Listen features, variable high-pass and low-pass filters, M/S processing, and their groundbreaking patented TMT (Tolerance Modeling Technology, US Patent No. 10,725,727), to offer an unrivaled analog experience in the box.

With all these additional features, the AMEK EQ 200 offers everything you need to bring the glorious sound and intuitive workflow of the very best vintage EQs to your DAW.

The AMEK EQ 200 plugin is a complete 7-band EQ, with 5 parametric bands, plus added high and low pass filters. It operates in Stereo, Dual-Mono, Mono and M/S modes. Each of the five wide, overlapping EQ bands offers up to 15 dB of boost or cut and an adjustable bandwidth (or "Q") control from 0.4 to 4. The lowest and the highest bands can also be switched to shelving mode.

Brainworx included their well-known retractable “Extra Unit” which provides the following features, that cannot be found on any of the original analog idols: Brainworx ́s Tolerance Modeling Technology (TMT), M/S Processing, Mono-Maker, Stereo Width, Correlation, Balance, Input and Output Meters.

Brainworx Plugin-Only Features

  • Brainworx TMT inside: Patented Tolerance Modeling Technology (TMT) simulates channel-to-channel variances in electronic components for the most realistic analog sound possible inside a DAW
  • M/S Processing: A simple workflow enhancement to dramatically tweak the width and depth of your mixes
  • Mono-Maker: Sums your low-frequency content to mono, giving you focused, punchy bass response.
  • Stereo Width: Expand the stereo width of your tracks.
  • High Pass & Low Pass Filter: Continuously variable filters with a 12 dB per octave slope
  • Variable THD control: For adding extra analog mojo and tone
  • Correlation, Balance, Input and Output Meters: To better understand and control your EQ curves
  • Auto Listen: Available on all five bands to audition each change in isolation
  • Scalable User Interface: To perfectly suit the size of your screen

Features

  • 5 wide overlapping fully-parametric EQ bands
  • Additional High and Low pass filters, and Low and High shelving EQs.
  • 15dB or 7dB switchable boost or cut for each band
  • Modeled after the brilliant, precise and beautiful sound of legendary EQs, like the GML 8200 and vintage SONTEC EQs.
  • TMT — Brainworx patent-registered “Tolerance Modeling Technology” (US Patent No. 10,725,727)
  • Variable THD control, M/S processing, Mono-Maker mode, Auto Listen and more.
  • Scalable UI to adapt to your screen size and workflow
  • Loaded with plenty of useful presets to give you a starting place for finding your sound, including presets from legendary mastering engineer Howie Weinberg (LA)

Audio Examples

Industry Reviews

  • Howie Weinberg

    Howie Weinberg

    15 Grammy Awards, 32 Grammy nominations

    Every session I open has the AMEK EQ 200 in. It's not just the perfect layout or the additional Mono Maker & Stereo Width, but the sound, it has the sound of an INCREDIBLE EQ.

  • Glenn Schick

    Glenn Schick

    Mastering Engineer (Future, J. Cole, Missy Elliot)

    Plugin Alliance obviously put in a lot of thought when designing the Amek 200 EQ. Based off a gold standard classic EQ known for its transparency, they added tons of new, really useful features… Read More

  • Matt Schaeffer

    Matt Schaeffer

    Recording Engineer (Kendrick Lamar, Bakar, A$AP Rocky)

    I've been trying the AMEK EQ 200 out on drums and mix bus for a couple weeks now. It sounds great and is loaded with features. I love the added hi/lo pass filters. Although the EQ sounds great,… Read More

  • Eric Racy

    Eric Racy

    Mixing Engineer & Producer (Katy Perry, Pharrell, Lil Wayne)

    There are so many EQ plugins out there but the AMEK EQ 200 is one of the best EQs I’ve ever found for bringing out and enhancing the most musical elements of sources. The overlapping bands,… Read More

  • Fabian Mazur

    Fabian Mazur

    Music Producer, DJ

    I’m crazy about this EQ. First of all, the GUI is incredible and very intuitive for beginners as well as pros. The Auto-Listen feature makes it easy to dial in your different bands and… Read More

Customer Reviews

  • This is great.

    ★★★★★
    by Joost
    I've been using this EQ now for almost as long as it's out and I still love it. It is just very ergonomic and works well especially on vocals and on the mixbus. It's just that kind of EQ that you can… Read More
  • eq 200

    ★★★★★
    by Prm
    like a gem and it's my go to tools. can't go wrong with it
  • Great EQ

    ★★★★★
    by Saturn Voyager
    Great for sweetening in the mastering process
  • Probably the best plugin Plugin alliance have made

    ★★★★★
    by Governmentfun
    Easy to use and very warm sounding. I use this more than other big branded EQs on the market, perfect for homing in on those frequencies that need to be taken out for a clean warm sound.
  • Smooth

    ★★★★★
    by MiamiDude
    Super smooth eq that gets the job done. Nice!

Specification

Supported Plugin Formats
AAX DSP, AAX Native, AU, VST2, VST3

Supported Operating Systems
macOS 13 down to macOS 10.11
Windows 11 down to Windows 8

Mac
Intel, or Apple Silicon

PC
x64-compatible CPU

System Requirements
Display resolution: 1440 × 900px or 1280 × 960px or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM

Downloads

With the Installation Manager you can select, download & install all the Plugin Alliance products. Select any and all formats you need for your system! Mac & PC.

ChangeLog

EQ 200

AMEK EQ 200 - Changelog

Version 1.4.0 (Aug 15, 2023)
- General: added native Apple Silicon compatibility for AAX
- General: added macOS Ventura support
- General: improved plugin loading time in the DAW
- General: fixed issue causing Logic to crash when closing the plugin UI
- General: improved font drawing behavior

Version 1.3 (Mar 15, 2022)
- General: added native Apple Silicon compatibility for VST3, VST2 and AU
- General: added macOS Monterey support
- General: added Windows 11 and Windows 10 21H1 support
- General: discontinued Windows 7 support
- General: discontinued macOS 10.9 and 10.11 support
- General: fixed metering behavior in block sizes of 2048 samples and higher

Version 1.2 (Mar 22, 2021)
- General: Compatibility with Logic on Apple Silicon devices via the Rosetta-2 layer
- General: Fixed possible artefacts when freezing or bouncing tracks in Pro Tools
- General: Fixed automation highlighting disappearing in Studio One
- General: Improved license dialog visibility in dark mode

Version 1.1
- skipped

Version 1.0 (May 15, 2020)
- Initial release