Mixing with EQ is necessary for giving each mix element room to breathe and properly blend. Without proper equalization, instruments may bleed into one another, overpower each other, and ultimately coalesce into a muddy mix. By boosting or cutting specific frequencies from each track (or the mix as a whole), you’ll get the most out of each part of your mix, and ensure that everything that’s meant to be heard is heard. Before Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), EQing was done on analog mixing units, where audio was fed back to itself at certain frequencies in order to boost or cut said frequencies. While some studios still implement analog EQ, most utilize digital equalizers, which replicate the same process. While every DAW now comes equipped with at least one native EQ plugin, there are thousands of external EQ plugins on the market. To save you some time, we compiled 11 of the best EQ plugins for Windows and/or Mac, some free and some paid. Have a look:

1. Eqmac Big Sur
2. Mac Accessibility Features
3. Eqmac For Windows

Best Free EQ Plugins for Windows Only

I'm a bit sorry I didn't actually play on Al'Kabor when it existed, because this community really seems tight. It makes me wish someone would create an 'original server' cluster of EMUs just like this one, containing all of the original non-merged servers as independent EMUs.

We’ll start with three of the best EQ plugins exclusively for Windows, all free. Side note: you’ll find that most new plugins are built for both Windows and Mac. However, because developers have an easier time coding for Windows, there are more plugins just for Windows than there are just for Mac.

Modern Console EQ by Antress

Antress has developed a host of free plugins in its Modern series, including an exciter, compressor, and expander. As its name suggests, the Modern Console EQ replicates analog EQ consoles. It features an EQ In/Out and Phase switch, highpass and lowpass filters, and four frequency bands for parametric EQ. The plugin also offers gain knobs for each of its bands. For those used to working with analog consoles, its controls are straightforward. This is a simple but useful free EQ plugin.

ReaEQ by Cockos

It might not look flashy, but the ReaEQ plugin gives you full intuitive control of the frequency spectrum. This free parametric EQ plugin is fully featured, offering unlimited bands a large number of filter types, including notch, bandpass, and allpass filters. The plugin’s display shows a spectral graph, which you can easily manipulate with your mouse. Bandwidth, gain, and frequency for each band can be adjusted with dedicated sliders. There is also a master gain slider on the right-hand side.

Eq31 by Piotr Pyrzanowski

“It's a good approximation of AK. Accurate and with lots of attention to detail and passion from the devs. I'm happy to play here and really wouldn't want to play elsewhere as none could come as close to the game state, community, or spirit that AK had.”. EqMac is a System-Wide Audio Equalizer for macOS. EqMac is Open-Source and is absolutely free for everyone.

The “31” in the Eq31 plugin refers to the number of bands in this free digital graphic equalizer. From 20 Hz to 19k Hz, you can boost or subtract each band and adjust the Q factor, as well as the input and output gain. There isn’t much else to the plugin. Its simplicity and low CPU usage mean you shouldn’t run into any latency using it. This is a nice free tool to have in any DAW.

Best EQ Plugins for Both Windows and Mac

The vast majority of EQ plugins, free or paid, work on both Mac and Windows. Each plugin listed below works well for different scenarios. You might find that a graphic EQ serves an aspect of your mix better than a visual parametric EQ plugin, or vice versa. As such, these aren’t listed in any kind of order. They’re simply some of the best EQ plugins you can download or buy.

Free

We’ll start with the freebies. All four of these free EQ plugins are wildly different in presentation and functionality. Each one is best used in certain situations, be it tone shaping, mastering, or precision mixing. But they’re all worth looking into. Plus, they’re free!

TrackS Classic Equalizer

After examining its applications, depth of features, and sleek design, it’s hard to believe that TrackS Classic EQ is a free plugin. It was developed with mastering in mind, but this 6-band EQ plugin works well for general purpose EQing as well. Each band is designed with precision in mind, making it a powerful subtractive EQ tool, allowing you to cut out noisy, sharp frequencies. The plugin’s presentation is a bit dense, which might overwhelm new users. Still, once you get over the learning curve and tinker with it enough, you’ll find the TrackS EQ useful in many situations.

TDR VOS SlickEQ

You might remember this EQ plugin from our list of the 25 best free Mac plugins. Like the TrackS Classic EQ, the TDR VOS SlickEQ is great for both mixing and mastering purposes. The SlickEQ, however, takes a more simplistic approach in its presentation, making it the perfect EQ plugin for newcomers. There are just 3 bands to work with: low, mid, and high, each one with a frequency and gain knob. The low and high settings also feature two shaping/filter buttons. This semi-parametric plugin includes an auto-makeup gain feature which recognizes major changes in volume and compensates for them. The SlickEQ also features 4 output saturation modes. These replicate the tones of different types of analog EQ consoles. Overall, the TDR VOS SlickEQ offers more than meets the eye, and it’s become the trusty free EQ of choice for many. Those who enjoy the plugin can upgrade to the paid big brother version, the “Gentleman’s Edition,” which features a spectral analyzer, tilt filter, and more.

Voxengo Overtone GEQ

The Overtone GEQ is hands downs one of the best free graphic equalizers out there. It also doubles as an aural exciter, as it can enhance harmonic overtones for each of its 7 frequency bands. If you want to adjust the coloration of your mix, this is your tool. In terms of presentation, the plugin couldn’t be easier to use. Each band, from 64 Hz to 12k Hz, has a large gain slider from -12 dB to +12 dB. You can use the Overtone GEQ for mid-side processing to better shape the stereo image of your mix. For such a simple looking free plugin, the Overtone GEQ ins incredibly versatile and useful in both mixing and mastering scenarios.

4U+ DynamicTiltEQ by Hofa

The 4U+ DynamicTiltEQ also made our list of the 25 best Mac free plugins (it’s compatible with Windows as well). This unique plugin is a conglomerate of a filter, equalizer, and dynamic compressor. You’re presented with a straight line overlayed on a spectral analyzer. You can then move this line up or down (gain control) or tilt it to use as a high- or low-pass filter. You can then turn the line into a curve and adjust bandwidth for more precise parametric EQing. But the features don’t stop there. It’s named “Dynamic” for a reason. You can dynamically boost or filter out the lower and higher frequencies with this free plugin. Overall, this one is fun to play with and can add a lot of musicality to a mix if used properly.

Paid

Now let’s get into the stuff that isn’t free. The four plugins listed below are designed for professional use. If you lack experience with in-depth EQ tools, you’re best off downloading the aforementioned free plugins and figuring those out first. Once you gain some confidence, you can check out these ones. Some of the plugins below also offer free trials or demo versions. It’s always a good idea to start with those before opening your wallet.

EQuilibrium by DMG Audio ($274)

This is the EQ you want for serious professional use. The EQuilibrium by DMG Audio offers all the control, functionality, versatility, customization, and compatibility you could possibly want, and more. Its sheer breadth of features is too much to get into here, so we’ll just note a few key ones: low or high CPU usage options, customizable user interface, 32 EQ bands with several filters and a +/-36 dB range, several vintage EQ circuit models, plugin presets, and so much more. The list goes on and on. In short, DMG Audio’s EQuilibrium simply offers more functionality than most of its competition. It doesn’t come cheap, but there’s a reason. This is an all-purpose EQ tool for those who know what they want and know what they’re doing.

FabFilter Pro-Q 2 ($179)

Many producers swear by the FabFilter Pro-Q 2 EQ plugin. This award-winning EQ makes our list not only for its number of features but for its ease of use. This might be one of the advantages the FabFilter Pro-Q 2 has over the EQuilibrium. Its presentation is so sleek, simple, and brilliantly designed. New users should be able to get the hang of it in little time. In terms of its features, this software has it all: 24 possible EQ bands, extremely high sound quality, zero latency mode option, a number of filter shapes, auto gain and scaling, phase inversion,mid-side stereo processing, and more. It can be purchased on its own or as part of one of FabFilters several bundles. Or, if you want to try it for yourself at no charge you can download a 30-day trial.

Waves API 550 ($249)

Waves has no shortage of incredible EQ plugins and analog emulations. Of course, we couldn’t list them all here. If you’re into EQ plugins that replicate analog consoles, you can’t go wrong with the Waves API 550. You’ll have a hard time finding the real deal API 550 consoles anymore (unless you’re willing to dish out a few grand or more). So, this plugin is great for achieving that early rock and roll sound popularized in the ’60s and ’70s. The plugin is divided into two sections, the 550A and 550B. The former features 3 bands with 5 frequency each. The latter has 4 overlapping EQ bands with 7 frequency centers each. If you’re thinking about grabbing this one, there’s no better time than Black Friday. It’s currently marked down from $249 to just $29 on Waves’ site! Hurry up!

Oxford SuprEsser by Sonnox ($122)

Lastly, we have the Oxford SuprEsser by Sonnox. If it wasn’t clear by its cheeky name, this plugin doubles as a DeEsser and Dynamic EQ. Its main purpose is to suppress harsh sounds and overtones in a mix. Admittedly, its user interface looks a bit outdated compared to the flash of the EQuilibrium and elegance of the FabFilter Pro-Q 2. But what this plugin lacks in aesthetic appeal it makes up for in functionality. This is the perfect tool for shaping vocals and cutting out hissing sibilant sounds or violent plosives. It’s also effective at smoothing out harsh cymbal hits and removing clicks, pops, and crackles. You have more control here than with a typical DeEsser. In short, if it sticks out like a sore thumb, the SuprEsser can shut it down easily.

Conclusion

Truth be told, there are many more fantastic EQ plugins for Windows and Mac out there. These are just 11 of the best. You can spend a long time with any of these free or paid programs and get a lot out of them. Whether you’re just starting out or you have years of experience and want to add more tools to your arsenal, take your pick. Getting good at EQing takes time, practice, and a lot of experimentation. The more you practice with plugins like these, the better you’ll get. So, what are you waiting for?

EverQuest has branched out over the years, providing many different servers and even versions of the game to play.

'Live' EverQuest refers to the main set of servers that follow the regular rules of the game, are accessed via the Windows client, and are under SOE's subscription / Free to Play program. Even still, some servers have special rules in place or certain other conditions make them stand out.

As the game grew back in the day, more and more servers were added. As the population count started going the other way, certain servers were merged to keep the per-server population high. In March 2005, a merge combined the four PvP servers Rallos Zek, Sullon Zek, Tallon Zek and Vallon Zek into one - Zek. A second round of merges in 2005 combined 40 servers into 20, and in 2010, a merge combined 20 servers into 10.

In the old days, the population of each server was showns on the server selection screen, but this was hidden on September 11, 2001.

A rough cencus taken by me on April 5, 2013, indicates that with the exception of a few servers, the population across the board for established servers appears to be roughly equal. A few statistics:

• The Tutorial zone (Mines of Gloomingdeep) had 5-15 players in it.
• The 'general' chat channel had 350-450 players in it.
• Plane of Knowledge had 40-70 players.
• The Bazaar had 200-300 traders, with a total of 12000-17000 items.

Only a few servers really stand out on certain accounts:

• Firiona Via had a larger Bazaar, with over 350 traders and 22000 items for sale.
• Trakanon had an extremely low population. A /who all returned a total of 32 players. The Bazaar had one single trader.
• Vox had a healthy and vocal population, but mostly in the low end, i.e. more low-levels than high-levels. The 'NewPlayers' chat channel had over 160 players in it. The Bazaar was also rather small, only 95 traders.
• Zek appeared to have the second-lowest population, judged on chat channel population and /who all, although the latter is unprecise because many people are anonymous on Zek. The Bazaar only had 50 traders, and Plane of Knowledge had 27 players.

Test refers to a single, special server, appropriately named 'Test'. Bluestacks torrent for mac. Test is different from Live in many ways:

• Everyone gets free Gold status accounts, as many as they wish, and all expansions come free of charge.
• There is a permanent 100% experience bonus.
• All characters get all veteran rewards regardless of account age.
• Test gets patches around a week before Live does. It is in theory a 'playground' for the developers to test changes on.
• From a Live server, you can type /testcopy and your character will be copied to Test (read more below).
• Players can use the /resetaa command to get all AA points refunded.
• Players can use the /testbuff command to instantly boost a character to level 25, with all spells, all skills maxed and a set of starting gear.
• Players can spawn practice NPCs in The Arena to raise skills and do parses on.

In spite of this being a test server, it is as stable as a Live server, and patches do not come at random, breaking the game or causing loss of characters nor items. There has not been a character wipe on the server in at least 11 years.

A few downsides of Test are:

• Platinum and items have no real worth as people can copy them endless from Live.
• The Bazaar is quirky. There is a much lower amount of items available, and prices fluctuate extremely. On one hand, there are nice people who have deliberately copied items from Live and sell them for pennies; on the other end of the spectrum are people who charge obscene amounts of platinum for items. A new player starting out on Test will not have access to endless platinum from Live, so you'll have to either beg for platinum or forego such items.
• The population is lower than most Live servers. A rough estimate is 50-60% of a typical Live server. Test has had a reputation of being very sparsely populated in past times, but this is no longer the case.
• The raiding scene is smaller and 'weaker' than on most Live servers.

To play on Test, follow these steps:

1. Run the executable TestEverQuest.exe in your EQ directory.
2. In the Launcher application, click the little gear icon in the lower left (Advanced tools).
3. In the menu that pops up, click 'Select Game Version'.
4. On the right, choose 'Test' in the combobox, then click Apply.

The launcher will now patch to the Test server. If you want to play on Live again, repeat the steps and choose 'Live' in the combobox, after which the launcher will patch back to Live. If you swap often, it's a good idea to make a copy of your EverQuest directory and dedicate one directory to Live and one to Test.

After having patched to Test via the launcher once, you can in the future run 'testeqgame.exe' with the parameter 'patchme' to bypass the launcher and speed up the login process. For example:

If the server has been patched and requires a client patch, you will get an error when attempting to log in with this method. Simply run the launcher to patch, and you can again run testeqgame.exe.

Eqmac Big Sur

While logged onto a Live server, type /testcopy. Click Yes in the prompt that appears and wait. Within between 5 and 40 seconds you should get a message in red text in your chat log saying Test copy: Copy Success.. If it fails, it is most likely because Live and Test are out of sync, meaning that Test has received a patch that Live has not yet received. Hang on and wait until Live has received the patch.

Note that when you trade items and platinum to another of your characters and immediately /testcopy, the items and platinum will most likely not be copied, as your character hasn't been saved on the server. Zone or camp, log back in, and then type /testcopy to ensure that your freshly traded stuff gets copied.

If you get a success message, you can now log onto test and see your copied character. All the items on the character will get the 'Copied' attribute, which indicates that it has been test copied. Platinum has no flag or trace of being copied. It doesn't take long to figure out that you can abuse this to copy endless amounts of platinum and items, provided you have access to them on Live. You can shuffle items and platinum around to other characters (even freshly made level 1's), copy them, and round up their item and platinum on Test.

Beware that existing characters on Test with the same name will be overwritten without chance of recovery. If you at first do a copy and start playing the character on Test, be very careful with future copies, so that you don't overwrite a character on Test that you would like to keep.

The /testcopy command has an 8-hour cooldown per character. A newly made character can immediately be copied.

A few other official and unofficial versions of EQ exist.

Mac Accessibility Features

In June 2003, EQ for the Apple Macintosh was released, along with a special server (Al'Kabor) solely for players using the Macintosh client. It was set up with all expansions up to and including Planes of Power, and then left virtually untouched, including the ancient client, which has only received technical updates for playing on modern computers and OSX.

EQMac provided a unique ability to play an EQ frozen in time, with rules and mechanics back from 2002, and even to use the ancient user interface that EQ launched with.

In Spring 2013, EQMac was made completely free to play. In Spring 2014, EQMac was shut down for good.

Links and Resources:

• EverQuest Mac Wiki - also has the old hand-drawn maps from EQAtlas
• Alla'Kabor - Database for EQMac

Project 1999 is an emulated EverQuest that attempts to stay as true as possible to how the game was back in the early days. It launched the Classic content, level 50 level cap and many restrictions that were in the game at the time. Since then, Kunark has been added and more is coming.

Links and Resources: Yosemite for mac 2009.

Previously active servers and their history.

Eqmac For Windows