McDSP AE600 Active EQ HD

What AE600 Active Equalizer HD v7 Is For

AE600 Active Equalizer HD v7 is a dynamic equalization plugin designed to intelligently refine the frequency balance of an audio source. Where a classic equalizer applies a fixed setting, AE600 can vary the action of certain bands depending on the signal, making it particularly effective for taming resonances, controlling aggressive areas, or stabilizing a track that changes a lot over time (vocals, guitars, cymbals, bass, drum bus, mix bus).

It is aimed at sound engineers, producers, and sound designers who want surgical control without sacrificing mix fluidity. Whether it's cleaning up a vocal, softening harshness in the mids, enhancing presence in a controlled way, or preventing a low-mid "bump" in certain passages, AE600 offers a modern approach to EQ focused on precision and quick decision-making.

Main Features

Six stackable bands: total freedom of placement

With six fully stackable EQ bands, AE600 allows concentrating multiple treatments on the same frequency area if needed (for example, a fixed band to set the tone, and an active band to control peaks). This architecture facilitates advanced mixing strategies, like layered processing, without multiplying plugins.

Fixed and active bands: two behaviors, one tool

Each band can include fixed and active settings with independent control of all parameters. In practice, you can define a "base" equalization that sets the sonic direction, then add dynamic action so the plugin only intervenes when useful. This separation improves setting clarity and helps maintain a natural sound, especially on expressive sources.

Selectable EQ modes and response control by ratio

AE600 offers a selectable EQ mode for both fixed and active sections, to adapt the curve and feel of the equalization to the context (cleaning, highlighting, fine correction). The plugin also includes a response control by ratio for the active EQ, an asset for adjusting the firmness of the dynamic behavior: subtle and transparent on a vocal, more incisive on a snare or bus.

Sidechain, double precision, and ultra-low latency

The sidechain opens the door to dynamic processing driven by an external source (for example, calming a frequency range on a pad when the vocal comes in, or controlling a mix area based on the kick drum). Double precision processing enhances calculation stability and quality, while the ultra-low latency algorithm integrates easily into demanding sessions, including real-time work.

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) (OS X 10.12.x (Sierra) may work but is not officially supported)

Windows

Windows 10