Mastering The Mix EQ Excellence Bundle is a comprehensive package designed to streamline the EQ process for both mixing and mastering. This bundle includes two powerful plugins: Mixroom and Bassroom. Mixroom focuses on the mid and high frequencies, while Bassroom specializes in low-end control. Both plugins utilize an innovative vertical layout and intelligent analysis features to guide users towards optimal EQ settings. The bundle aims to simplify the often complex task of achieving balanced tonality across the frequency spectrum, making it accessible for beginners while offering advanced features for experienced producers. With over 100 presets and the ability to create custom target curves from reference tracks, the EQ Excellence Bundle provides a versatile toolset for shaping the tonal balance of individual tracks, busses, and full mixes.
Pros:
• Intuitive vertical layout for easy visualization of frequency adjustments
• Intelligent analysis and target curve suggestions streamline the EQ process
• Extensive preset library covering various instruments and genres
• Ability to create custom target curves from reference tracks
• Separate plugins for mid/high (Mixroom) and low (Bassroom) frequencies allow focused adjustments
Cons:
• Limited to 8 bands per plugin, which may be restrictive for some advanced users
• Lack of traditional low-shelf and high/low-pass filter options in Mixroom
The EQ Excellence Bundle combines two distinct plugins, each with its own specialized focus. Mixroom handles frequencies from 320 Hz to 20 kHz, while Bassroom tackles the low end from 20 Hz to 320 Hz. Both plugins share a similar interface design, featuring a vertical layout that presents frequency bands as movable, resizable boxes in a 3D space.
Mixroom offers 8 configurable EQ bands, each represented by a colored box. Users can adjust the frequency, bandwidth, and gain of each band by manipulating these boxes. The vertical position determines the frequency, the height represents bandwidth, and the perceived depth (size) indicates gain. This visual approach provides an intuitive way to understand and shape the frequency content of a signal.
One of the standout features of both plugins is their intelligent analysis capability. When playback begins, the plugins analyze the audio and generate a target EQ curve, displayed as a green line along the sides of the interface. Users can then manually adjust their EQ to match this curve or use the “Add Smart Bands” function, which automatically creates and positions EQ bands to achieve the target curve.
The bundle includes over 100 instrument and mastering presets, offering quick starting points for various mixing and mastering scenarios. Additionally, users can create custom target curves by analyzing reference tracks, allowing for precise tonal matching between different productions.
Both Mixroom and Bassroom offer two operational modes: mixing and mastering. The mixing mode provides more aggressive EQ capabilities with a maximum of +/-12 dB gain per band, while the mastering mode limits adjustments to +/-4 dB for more subtle tweaks. This dual-mode functionality makes the bundle versatile enough to handle both mixing and mastering tasks effectively.
Each EQ band in Mixroom includes solo and bypass options, as well as the ability to adjust the balance between mid and side components. This mid-side processing capability adds another layer of control for stereo enhancement and precise stereo image manipulation.
Bassroom shares many of Mixroom’s features but focuses exclusively on low-end frequencies. It provides specialized presets and analysis tools tailored for bass management, helping users achieve punchy, well-defined low end in their mixes and masters.
Both plugins incorporate a global bypass and output level control, which includes a suggested trim feature to help match pre and post-EQ levels. This attention to level matching is crucial for making accurate judgments about EQ adjustments without being influenced by volume differences.
The EQ Excellence Bundle also offers the choice between linear phase and minimum phase EQ modes, allowing users to select the most appropriate option based on their specific needs and the material being processed.
When compared to other intelligent EQ plugins on the market, the EQ Excellence Bundle holds its own with some unique features. Unlike iZotope Neutron, which offers a more comprehensive suite of mixing tools, the Mastering The Mix bundle focuses solely on EQ but provides a more specialized approach with separate plugins for different frequency ranges. The vertical layout and 3D visualization set it apart from traditional EQ interfaces found in plugins like FabFilter Pro-Q 3 or Waves Q10. While these plugins may offer more bands and surgical precision, the EQ Excellence Bundle’s intuitive design and intelligent suggestions make it more approachable for less experienced users. In terms of intelligent processing, the bundle’s analysis and target curve features are comparable to those found in plugins like Soundtheory’s Gullfoss. However, the EQ Excellence Bundle provides more direct user control over the resulting EQ curves, striking a balance between automated suggestions and manual adjustments.
This bundle is best for:
• Producers and engineers looking for an intuitive, visually-oriented approach to EQ
• Beginners seeking guidance in achieving professional-sounding tonal balance
• Experienced users who want to streamline their EQ workflow
• Anyone working on both mixing and mastering tasks who needs specialized tools for each stage
• Producers who frequently reference commercial tracks and want to match their tonal characteristics
Mastering The Mix EQ Excellence Bundle offers a fresh approach to equalization that combines intelligent analysis with user-friendly controls. Its unique vertical layout and 3D visualization provide an intuitive way to understand and shape frequency content, making it accessible to beginners while still offering depth for experienced users. The bundle’s ability to generate target curves from both presets and reference tracks is a powerful feature that can significantly speed up the EQ process and help achieve consistent results across different productions. While it may not offer the surgical precision of some more advanced EQ plugins, its focused approach to mid/high and low-frequency management makes it a valuable tool for quickly achieving balanced, professional-sounding mixes and masters. The dual mixing and mastering modes, along with mid-side processing capabilities, add versatility that extends the bundle’s usefulness across various stages of production. Despite some limitations in the number of bands and filter types, the EQ Excellence Bundle presents a compelling option for those seeking an efficient, intelligent approach to EQ that can adapt to both creative and technical requirements in modern music production.