Reference 1998 Equalizer
The deal
$79 at Plugin Boutique (down from $99), 20% off. Sale runs through September 12, 2026.
What it is
The Reference 1998 Equalizer is Softube's circuit-modeled take on a vintage passive tube equalizer. It's built around four passive parallel EQ bands driven into a tube gain stage with generous headroom, and its shelving filters are voiced wide and smooth rather than surgical. The result is a plugin built for tonal shaping and character, not precise notch cuts - the kind of coloration mix and mastering engineers reach for when a track needs to feel bigger or warmer without sounding processed.
Who it's for
Mixing and mastering engineers who want analog-style warmth and broad tonal shaping on a mix bus, vocal chain, or master, plus Console 1 users who want their hardware-style workflow to extend into a box-friendly plugin.
Key features
- Four passive parallel EQ bands modeled after a classic tube equalizer circuit
- A dedicated tube stage adds harmonic warmth and subtle saturation while preserving headroom
- Wide, musical shelving filters built for broad-stroke tonal shaping rather than surgical precision
- Console 1 Ready, with full support for AU, VST, VST3, and AAX formats across major DAWs
