W495 by Pulsar Audio EQ plugin interface with curve editor

W495: Analog-Style 3-Band EQ Plugin by Pulsar Audio Free Download

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (4,507 ratings)

W495 is a 3-band equalizer plugin from Pulsar Audio, a faithful emulation of the Neumann W495 EQ, with a low-shelf, a parametric bell and a high-shelf band.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

The original Neumann W495 was a hardware EQ with a long reputation in mastering, and Pulsar Audio's W495 plugin models it for use in a digital session. The developer describes it as a component-accurate model, with its output transformer and band saturation preserved. It works on individual tracks, buses and full mixes, and adds features expected from a modern plugin, such as an on-screen curve editor, auto gain and digital metering.

Best for

Mastering bus EQ
Drum bus tone shaping
Synth balancing in mixes
Stereo width adjustments
Track-level tone shaping

Developer: Pulsar Audio
Category: EQ
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Three-band EQ modeled on the Neumann W495
Visual curve editing linked to hardware-style knobs
Mid/Side selection for each band
Complex 6-pole tilt filter for overall tonal balance
RMS, peak and peak hold metering for both channels
Spectrum analyzer with Fast, Slow and Infinite modes
Auto gain for level-matched bypass comparisons
Interface resizable between 67% and 200%

03In depth

Sound and Character of the W495 EQ

The W495 is known for wide equalization curves that stay musical even at strong settings. The high-shelf band is described as adding clarity without harshness, while the low-shelf adds weight without sounding muddy. The mid band can add energy where a source lacks power.

The developer states that the output transformer (a Haufe RK 756) adds subtle coloration to the lower end of the spectrum, which is most noticeable on dynamic sources such as a drum bus.

Workflow, Mid/Side Processing and Metering

The plugin includes a curve editor whose points match the Gain, Frequency and Q values of the knobs below it. Each band can process the full stereo signal, the mid signal only, or the side signal only. This lets you, for example, add low-end weight to centered content only or brighten the stereo sides only.

Metering includes RMS, peak and peak hold for both channels, and a spectrum analyzer that runs in Fast, Slow or Infinite mode. Auto gain compensates for level changes between input and output. The interface can be resized from 67% to 200%.

04Specs

Will it run?

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

Developer	Pulsar Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	EQ
Formats	VST3, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats and operating systems does W495 support?

W495 is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats for macOS, and in VST3 and AAX formats for Windows. It is a 64-bit plugin.

What are the system requirements for W495?

On Mac, the listed requirement is macOS 10.9 or higher, with Apple Silicon supported. On Windows, Windows 7 SP1, 8.1 or 10 is listed. Both platforms require 64-bit hosts.