If you want a quick round-up of some of the hottest new software releases for use in music and post-production then at Production Expert we've created this summary. We tell you what the brand says and what we think, we also include links to help you find out more.

This week we take a look at:

UnderToneAudio's MPEQ-1

What Does UnderToneAudio Say About The MPEQ-1?

The MPEQ-1 is the amalgamation of the UTA EQ and our new custom mic pre.  It features the same flexible and musical Class A discrete circuitry, the uniquely powerful HP/LP filters, and an exciting new approach to a Class A mic pre.  You can use the equalizer and the mic pre separately or as a complete channel strip.  The mic pre has a custom input transformer and a carefully chosen output transformer. Both are optimized to accentuate the most flattering sonic qualities inherent in audio transformers.  The unique mic pre design makes both of these transformers bypass-able.  This offers users a choice between the detailed clarity of a Class-A transformer-less design or the vintage musicality of a dual transformer mic preamp.

What We Think About UnderToneAudio's MPEQ-1

What’s not to like? The EQ controls do take a little time to get used to and learn of by heart as the upper dual concentric pots are not labeled. Luckily, a cheat sheet is provided appropriately name “The EQ WTF Guide”. This diagram sat close by my rack throughout the duration of loaning this unit as, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t commit the control types to memory.

As a standalone single channel EQ this device provides a huge array of tonal possibilities. UnderToneAudio describes this as a very musical sounding EQ, they’re not wrong about that. The high & low pass filters are some of the best I’ve ever used. The filter shape control is a genius addition that extends the power of the filters. Great for cutting sub energy from a kick drum track while boosting a resonant peak above the cutoff frequency.

The manual is by far one of the most informative and useful manuals I’ve read in years for a studio outboard device. It shares in great detail UnderToneAudio’s thought process behind the design along with some extremely useful user tips & workflows as well as diagrams to help new users understand how the circuitry works to shape sound.

To hear a selection of uninterrupted MPEQ-1 audio examples read our full review of UnderToneAudio’s MPEQ-1.

Pros:

• Features the best set of filters I’ve ever heard

• Mic pre provides a huge variety of characteristics from ultra transparent through to down and dirty

• Includes one of the best and most informative product manuals I’ve read in years

Cons:

• Dual concentric pots through the EQ section may not be to everyone’s liking

• The device gets very hot very quickly. Venting space above and below the unit within a rack is highly recommended by UndertoneAudio.

Visit SX Pro for more information and to book a demo unit for testing in your studio.

Waves Sibilance Vocal De-esser Plug-in

What Does Waves Say About Sibilance?

Powered by Waves’ innovative Organic ReSynthesis technology, this transparent vocal de-esser removes harsh vocal ‘s’ sounds faster than ever before, with exceptional quality – allowing you to make your vocals brighter without harshness. 

What Do We Think About Waves Sibilance?

I’ve been a Waves plug-in user for many years. My go to Waves DeEsser plug-in has always been “DeEsser”, the white plug-in with a single reduction fader. Waves new DeEsser is a big step up from that previous generation plug-in as this new product includes a very useful sibilance detection graph that helps us to see the amount of reduction and a smart sibilance detector engine which makes for quick and easy application. Waves are currently giving this plug-in away for free. This is a time limited promo that ends soon.

Pros:

• Intuative GUI.

• Does exactly what it says on the tin.

• Sibilance detection is indeed very smart.

Cons:

• None.

Visit the Waves website to download your free copy of Sibilance today.

How To Get Your Download Of Waves Sibilance

• Visit the Sibilance product page

• Click GET FOR FREE

• Sign-up with your email

• Check your inbox for a serial code from Waves (This may take a couple of hours to deliver as their servers are busy processing all of the requests for this plug-in) - Also check your junk folder

Product Phil's Cascade From Elysia

What Does Elysia Say About Phil's Cascade

Phil's Cascade is based on highly esoteric vintage components combined in a truly unique circuitry. It is anything but your typical audio processor. Phil’s Cascade is an amazing toolbox which will open the world for creating the most interesting sound flavours.

Now you can spice up virtual and natural instruments at ease, transmuting standard sounds with all kinds of gritty, organic and aged flavours. There are no right or wrong settings: Saturation, harmonics, distortion, colouration, filtering, interaction, anything goes, and experimenting is as much encouraged as it is rewarding.

What Do We Think About Elysia’s Phil's Cascade?

Phil’s Cascade is, as far as we’re aware, unique in that it is based on hardware which was designed, from the ground up as something on which to model a plug-in from. Because of this it is free from the constraints which usually apply when designing a hardware product for commercial release. Interesting!

Pros:

• Very analogue sounding with all the idiosyncrasies and unpredictability of valves and transformers.

• Because the tubes are virtual they can be run very under or over biased without risking hardware failure, as would happen with a real valve.

• Useful controls available for taming the “damage” caused by the valve section. i.e. a mix control to reintroduce bass lost when under-biasing and a low pass filter to rein in additional harmonics.

Cons:

• Unfamiliar controls might be off-putting to some.

• Controls interact making results unpredictable (which is kind of a good thing too…).