Slate Digital’s Virtual Mix Rack presents users with a 500-series-style ‘rack’ of plug-ins, and offers a wide variety of virtual modules that can be freely arranged in any order to form custom processing chains. The latest plug-in to join the ranks is SD-PE1, which brings the sound of the Pultec’s famed passive equaliser to the table.
Each of SD-PE1's bands offers an extended set of frequency choices, as well as switchable continuous operation.First up is a high-frequency shelf control that offer fixed-slope attenuation at five selectable frequencies, with the original unit’s 5, 10 and 20 kHz options joined by new 3 and 30 kHz settings. High and Low Frequency parameters follow, both of which are joined by the individual Atten(uation) and Boost parameters that allow for the Pultec’s unique EQ curves. Slate Digital have added a pair of new frequencies to each of these bands, too, with the high band offering a choice of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 or 16 kHz, and the low band providing 20, 30, 40, 60, 70 and 100 Hz options. There’s also a Bandwidth parameter that alters the Q of the high-frequency band.
If the fixed bands prove to be too restrictive even with the additional options, all is not lost: the company have included a setting to configure the controls as incremental rather than stepped, allowing for finer control. Another option unique to the plug-in resides at the top of the GUI in the form of a Tube On/Off switch. Due to its passive design, the original hardware employed a valve-based amplifier stage to bring the output level back in line with the input, adding some additional ‘colour’ to the sound in the process — an effect which has been modelled in the plug-in. Using the Tube control, it is possible to bypass the effect for a cleaner, less saturated sound while still maintaining the same output level.
Compatibility
SD-PE1 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or 11, and Macs running macOS 10.15 and above. VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available. It is authorised using PACE’s iLok system, and requires a USB dongle.
Pricing & Availability
SD-PE1 is available now, with a perpetual license priced at $149. It is also available in the company's All Access Pass and Complete Access subscription bundles.
