EQ SITRAL-295 by Arturia EQ plugin interface

EQ SITRAL-295: Transistor-Style EQ Plugin by Arturia Free Download

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (14 ratings)

EQ SITRAL-295 is an equalizer plugin by Arturia, based on 1970s Siemens Sitral broadcast console modules. It combines high pass, low pass, shelf and bell filters with a warm transistor character for mixing and mastering.

VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

EQ SITRAL-295 is built around the transistor-based equalizer modules that Siemens developed in 1970s Germany for its Sitral broadcast consoles. Arturia recreates several of these modules in one plugin. It covers high pass and low pass filtering, shelf filters, a semi-parametric Presence bell, and a spectrum analyzer. The plugin is intended for stems, bus tracks and final mixes, where a colored, musical EQ is useful. Arturia says the design goes beyond the original hardware with extra features.

Best for

Mix bus EQ
Vocal presence boost
Stereo master processing
Drum bus weight
Guitar crispness
Mid-side mixing

Developer: Arturia
Category: EQ
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Recreation of 1970s German Siemens Sitral EQ modules
Variable high pass and low pass filters
Three-position high and low shelf filters
Semi-parametric Presence bell filter
Mid-side mode via the M/S button
Auto-gain compensation and range factor control
Stepped controls with optional continuous mode
Spectrum analyzer, resizable window and integrated tutorials

03In depth

Vintage Transistor Sound and Stepped Controls

The EQ is modeled on Siemens Sitral W293, W294 and W295b modules. Arturia describes the sound as warm and slightly crunchy, with transistor distortion that becomes more noticeable when the low pass filter removes high end.

By default the controls are stepped, which the developer presents as a faster way to make bold moves. Continuous controls can be switched on for finer adjustments.

An Alternative character mode adds more crunch and compression for a more contemporary sound, and a Range knob scales the overall effect from full power down to 25 percent.

Stereo Modes and Workflow

Two channels can be assigned to left and right, or the plugin can run in mid-side mode with the M/S button. In mid-side mode you can process the center and sides of a mix separately, for example to add presence to a lead vocal without changing a double-tracked guitar pair.

The resizable window includes a spectrum analyzer that shows EQ curves in real time, color-coded to your settings. Integrated tutorials and a preset library for mixing and mastering are included.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Arturia
Type	Plugin
Category	EQ
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does EQ SITRAL-295 support?

EQ SITRAL-295 is available in VST2, AU and AAX formats, plus a Standalone version. It is a 64-bit plugin for Windows and macOS.

What do I need to run EQ SITRAL-295?

You need a 64-bit DAW that supports VST2, AU or AAX, or the Standalone version. On macOS, 10.13 or later is required; on Windows, Windows 10 or later (64-bit). Both need 4 GB RAM, a quad-core CPU and an OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU. ARM processors are not supported on Windows.

Does EQ SITRAL-295 have a trial?

Yes, a trial version is available.

What is mid-side mode used for?

Mid-side mode lets you process the center (mid) and the sides of a stereo mix separately. Clicking the M/S button switches the plugin from left/right to mid-side processing.