PSP Audioware PSP E27 is a meticulously crafted digital emulation of the renowned Avedis Audio Electronics E27 equalizer and PA11 preamp hardware units. This plug-in brings the warmth, character, and musicality of its analog counterpart into the digital realm, offering users a powerful tool for shaping and enhancing their audio. The PSP E27 features three main EQ bands, each with nine selectable frequencies, providing a total of 27 fixed frequency points across the spectrum. Users can boost or cut up to 16dB at each of these carefully chosen frequencies, allowing for precise tonal adjustments. The plug-in also incorporates an emulation of the PA11 preamp, adding subtle harmonic coloration and saturation to the signal. With its intuitive interface and thoughtfully designed controls, the PSP E27 strikes a balance between simplicity and versatility, making it suitable for both mixing and mastering applications.
Pros:
• Faithful recreation of the Avedis Audio E27 EQ, capturing the hardware’s unique character and nonlinear behavior
• Musically chosen fixed frequencies that encourage creative decision-making
• Versatile PA11 preamp emulation adds warmth and subtle saturation
Cons:
• Limited frequency selection may not be suitable for surgical EQ tasks
• CPU-intensive when using multiple instances
The PSP E27’s feature set is designed to replicate the functionality and sonic characteristics of its hardware inspiration while adding some digital conveniences. At the heart of the plug-in are three EQ bands: low, mid, and high. Each band offers nine selectable frequencies, carefully chosen to provide the most musical results. The low band ranges from 33Hz to 550Hz, the mid band from 680Hz to 5.6kHz, and the high band from 6.8kHz to an impressive 28kHz. This extended high-frequency range allows for subtle air and presence adjustments that affect the audible spectrum without introducing harshness.
One of the standout features of the PSP E27 is its progressive Q design. As users increase the boost or cut, the bandwidth narrows, allowing for more precise adjustments at higher gain settings. This behavior contributes to the plug-in’s musical quality, making it easy to achieve pleasing results quickly. The low and high bands can be switched between bell and shelf modes, offering additional flexibility for broad tonal shaping.
The plug-in includes a high-pass filter with a range of 20Hz to 800Hz, useful for eliminating unwanted low-end rumble or tightening up bass-heavy sources. The PA11 preamp emulation adds another layer of analog-style processing, allowing users to drive the input for subtle saturation and harmonic enhancement. PSP E27 is its x2 mode, which effectively doubles the number of available EQ bands from three to six. This mode enables users to create more complex EQ curves and fine-tune their sound with greater precision. The plug-in also offers Mid-Side processing capabilities, allowing for stereo width adjustments and focused equalization of the center or sides of a stereo image.
Large, vintage-style knobs dominate the GUI, providing a tactile feel reminiscent of hardware units. The frequency selection buttons are clearly labeled and easy to navigate, while the gain controls offer smooth, precise adjustments. Visual feedback is provided through a real-time EQ curve display, allowing users to see the impact of their settings at a glance.
In terms of workflow enhancements, the PSP E27 includes A/B comparison functionality, allowing users to quickly switch between two different settings. A comprehensive preset library is also included, offering a range of starting points for various instruments and mixing scenarios. The ability to bypass individual EQ bands, as well as the PA11 preamp section, facilitates easy A/B testing and helps users identify the impact of each processing stage. PSP E27’s sound quality is often described as warm, smooth, and musical. It excels at broad tonal shaping and can add a pleasing thickness to sources without sounding harsh or brittle. However, its fixed frequency points may be limiting for users who require more precise control or prefer to sweep through the frequency spectrum to find problem areas.
When compared to similar plug-ins, the PSP E27 stands out for its faithful recreation of a specific piece of hardware. While many EQ plug-ins aim for a general “analog” sound, the E27 captures the unique characteristics of the Avedis Audio Electronics units. Its fixed frequency points and progressive Q design set it apart from more surgical EQs like FabFilter’s Pro-Q 3 or DMG Audio’s EQuilibrium. In terms of character and ease of use, it shares some similarities with plug-ins like the Waves PuigTec EQs or the Universal Audio Pultec emulations, but with its own distinct flavor.
This plugin is best for:
• Mix engineers seeking a characterful, analog-style EQ for broad tonal shaping
• Mastering engineers looking for a gentle, musical EQ for final polishing
• Producers wanting to add warmth and analog-style coloration to individual tracks or busses
• Users who appreciate the workflow of hardware EQs and prefer a limited set of musically chosen frequencies
PSP E27 is a highly capable and musical equalizer that successfully translates the charm of its hardware counterpart into the digital domain. Its carefully chosen fixed frequencies and progressive Q design encourage users to trust their ears rather than their eyes, often leading to faster, more pleasing results. The addition of the PA11 preamp emulation and the x2 mode extends the plug-in’s versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of mixing and mastering tasks. While it may not be the best choice for surgical EQ work, its ability to impart a subtle analog-like quality to audio makes it a valuable tool for adding warmth, depth, and character to digital productions. The PSP E27’s combination of simplicity, musicality, and analog-inspired sound quality makes it a worthy addition to any audio engineer’s plug-in collection, particularly for those who appreciate the nuances of classic hardware equalizers.