Sound Radix has reinvented SurferEQ’s pitch-tracking equalizer but it’s backward compatible with the original version so all your saved presets will still load normally. SurferEQ2 tracks or “surfs” to the dominant pitch of monophonic music sources nearly instantaneously—basses, soloists, solo guitars, synthesizer melodies and applies a desired EQ setting. All conventional static EQ’s are set as compromises; the mixer applies a tonal change that works most of the time. SurferEQ2 has the same pitch-tracking accuracy as the original version for its seven EQ bands and adds controls for refining pitch tracking. Also new is the Spectral Gate feature that sets an input threshold level at which the surfing EQ sections start working.
The new Live mode switches to zero-latency monitoring for using SurferEQ in live sound but since pitch detection takes processing time, the surfing EQ sections will be 20-milliseconds late. But it usually works out well for taming nasty moments.
SurferEQ2 adds extensive MIDI control for using it as a musical instrument. You may over-rule automatic note detection at any time or surf EQ by MIDI note or use MIDI to control bypass of any band(s).
I’m just starting to utilize SurferEQ2 plug-in in my mixes and the improved pitch tracking, more musical interface, MIDI and intuitive operation make it a winner!
So big thumbs up for Sound Radix's SurferEQ2! It sells for $199 with upgrades from Version 2 for only $49.
soundradix.com/products/surfer-eq
BARRY RUDOLPH is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contribut- ing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
