Its simplicity and low CPU usage mean you shouldn’t run into any latency using it. 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. The “31” in the Eq31 plugin refers to the number of bands in this free digital graphic equalizer. However, because developers have an easier time coding for Windows, there are more plugins just for Windows than there are just for Mac. Side note: you’ll find that most new plugins are built for both Windows and Mac. We’ll start with three of the best EQ plugins exclusively for Windows, all free. Have a look: Best Free EQ Plugins for Windows Only To save you some time, we compiled 11 of the best EQ plugins for Windows and/or Mac, some free and some paid. While every DAW now comes equipped with at least one native EQ plugin, there are thousands of external EQ plugins on the market. While some studios still implement analog EQ, most utilize digital equalizers, which replicate the same process. 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. 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. Without proper equalization, instruments may bleed into one another, overpower each other, and ultimately coalesce into a muddy mix. Mixing with EQ is necessary for giving each mix element room to breathe and properly blend.

Imac equalizer settings