McDSP AE400 Active EQ HD

What AE400 Active EQ HD Is For

AE400 Active EQ HD is an active equalization plugin designed to optimize the frequency balance of a source or bus, with an approach that is both surgical and musical. It naturally integrates into a music production workflow (cleaning, enhancement, resonance control), post-production (intelligibility, masking management, tonal coherence), and live sound thanks to its ultra-low latency. Whether you are working on vocals, guitars, synths, drums, or a full mix, AE400 helps you gain clarity, definition, and stability without weighing down the signal.

Main Features

4 stackable active bands for total control

The core of AE400 is based on four fixed and active EQ bands that fully overlap. This architecture facilitates complex corrections (for example, a congested midrange area) while maintaining a fast and coherent workflow. Since each band can operate on the same area, you can stack complementary actions, such as refining presence while taming harshness, without switching tools.

Independent settings per band and response ratio

Each band benefits from independent control of all active EQ parameters, allowing fine adaptation of the processing response according to the track. The response ratio control provides an additional lever to adjust the behavior of the active equalization, enabling you to go from a subtle and transparent action to a more pronounced correction, while maintaining musicality.

Side chain and digital precision

The side chain opens up modern uses, such as triggering a frequency correction based on another source (for example, controlling an instrument's congestion when the vocal enters). The double precision processing contributes to a clean and detailed rendering, particularly appreciated in cumulative processing, on buses, or in mastering contexts where the margin for error is minimal.

Smooth workflow, mono and stereo, for studio and stage

AE400 is available in mono and stereo versions to adapt to individual tracks as well as groups. Its ultra-low latency makes it a relevant choice for recording, monitoring, and live use, while remaining robust enough for plugin-heavy mixing sessions. The result: a versatile active equalizer, designed for speed and reliability.

Technical specifications

Type

Full software

Downloadable

Yes

Mac

OS X 10.13.x (High Sierra), 10.14.x (Mojave), 10.15.x (Catalina), 11.x (Big Sur), 12.x (Monterey), 13.x (Ventura), 14.x (Sonoma). (10.12.x (Sierra) may work but is not officially supported.)

Windows

Windows 10