Sie-Q: Analog-Style EQ Plugin by Soundtoys

Rated 4.7/5 on Plugin Boutique (288 ratings)

Sie-Q is an EQ plugin from Soundtoys, modeled on the Siemens W295b hardware EQ. It offers High, Mid and Low bands plus a Drive control for analog-style saturation, and runs as a 64-bit VST3, VST2, AU or AAX plugin.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Sie-Q is Soundtoys' first EQ, inspired by the Siemens W295b, a little-known hardware unit from the company's own gear collection. Soundtoys says it captures the hardware's smooth curves, airy highs and straightforward controls, so you can dial in a tone quickly. The plugin also models the original's saturation character, which you can push with the Drive control for a warmer, more analog feel.

Best for

Vocal air and presence
Master bus polish
Acoustic guitar tone shaping
Drum and percussion EQ
Analog-style saturation
Sub-mix tone shaping

Developer: Soundtoys
Category: EQ
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Super-smooth High band for an airy top end
Switched Mid band to accentuate or tame midrange
Low band to carve space or add bass weight
Drive control that recreates the original EQ's color
Modeled on the Siemens W295b hardware EQ
Available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats
64-bit plugin for Windows and macOS

03In depth

Sound and Character of the Sie-Q EQ

The High band is the centerpiece of Sie-Q. Soundtoys describes its top end as airy and smooth, and says it stays pleasant even at large boosts. Raising the High band can add air to vocals, while pulling it back can soften bright acoustic guitars and cymbals.

The Mid band is a switched design that lets you accentuate or tame midrange detail, and the Low band can carve out space or add fuller bass. The Drive control recreates the coloration of the original hardware, so pushing it adds saturation to the signal.

Soundtoys also suggests Sie-Q works well on a master bus, where a light touch of the High band can add openness to a mix.

Workflow and Key Controls

Sie-Q is built around a small set of controls: High, Mid, Low and Drive. The developer describes the design as forgiving, with curves and frequencies chosen to keep material sounding good across a range of settings.

The plugin is aimed at tracking and mixing, from full mixes and sub-mixes to vocals, guitars, drums and percussion. Soundtoys notes it can be combined with its Decapitator saturation plugin inside the Soundtoys Effect Rack when a mix sounds too digital.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Soundtoys
Type	Plugin
Category	EQ
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Sie-Q?

Sie-Q is an EQ plugin from Soundtoys, modeled on the Siemens W295b hardware EQ. It has High, Mid and Low bands and a Drive control for saturation.

What plugin formats does Sie-Q support?

Sie-Q is listed in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It is a 64-bit plugin for Windows and macOS.

What do I need to use Sie-Q?

A free account at ilok.com is required to use Sie-Q. A physical USB iLok is not required. The plugin supports sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz.

Which DAWs are supported?

Soundtoys lists support for Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, Studio One, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper and Bitwig, with the required version and format depending on the host.