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Solid State Logic UltraViolet EQ 500 Series Equalizer

500 Series Stereo 4-band Equalizer Module
$549.99

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Solid State Logic UltraViolet EQ 500 Series Equalizer
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$549.99
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Fusion-derived EQ in a 500 Series Module

Derived from the Violet EQ section of SSL's much-admired Fusion processor, the UltraViolet gives you two bands of minimum-phase shelving equalization. This 500 Series module takes things a bit further than Fusion, however, with two additional fully parametric mid bands and a Focus control for surgical tone sculpting. You also get a 5-frequency selectable highpass filter, along with a ±12dB output trim and a bypass switch. Simply stated, the Solid State Logic UltraViolet is a stellar-sounding EQ with eminently musical curves. And here's a quick tip for an instant radio-ready sound: pair the UltraViolet with the 500 Series SSL Bus Compressor module, and every mix will sound like a finished record.

Four bands of flexible SSL-style sound shaping

The UltraViolet puts four flexible bands of legendary SSL tone sculpting right at your fingertips. For starters, you get minimum-phase high shelving and low shelving bands, which were culled from SSL's acclaimed Fusion processor. You also get two fully parametric midbands. The high band gives you a frequency selection of 8kHz, 12kHz, 16kHz, and 20kHz; the low band offers choices of 30Hz, 50Hz, 70Hz, and 90Hz. The high midband ranges from 400Hz to 6kHz, while the low midband ranges from 100Hz to 1.1kHz. You also get a switchable highpass filter with Off, 30Hz, 40Hz, and 50Hz settings. Here at Sweetwater, our favorite feature on the UV is Focus mode, which is available on each individual midband. Pressing the Focus button narrows the corresponding band's Q setting and increases its gain range beyond the normal ±9dB for laser-precise, surgical sonic sculpting.

Solid State Logic UltraViolet EQ Features:

  • Packs 4 bands of SSL console-style sound shaping into a 500 Series module
  • Fusion-derived high/low shelving bands and 2 fully parametric midbands with ±9dB of gain
  • High band gives you a frequency selection of 8kHz, 12kHz, 16kHz, and 20kHz
  • Low band gives you a frequency selection of 30Hz, 50Hz, 70Hz, and 90Hz
  • High midband ranges from 400Hz–6kHz with a continuously variable Q
  • Low midband ranges from 100Hz–1.1kHz with a continuously variable Q
  • Highpass filter includes Off, 30Hz, 40Hz, and 50Hz settings
  • Focus narrows the corresponding band's Q setting and increases its gain range for surgical sonic sculpting
  • ±12dB output trim makes achieving proper gain staging a breeze
  • Bypass switch makes A/B comparisons a piece of cake

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Tech Specs

  • Type: 500 Series EQ
  • Number of Channels: 1 (stereo)
  • High Pass Filter: Yes
  • Number of Bands: 4
  • Boost/Cut Range: ±9dB (per band), ±12dB (trim)
  • Q Type: Selectable
  • Freq Range High: 8kHz-20kHz
  • Freq Range Hi-Mid: 600Hz-9kHz
  • Freq Range Lo-Mid: 100Hz-1100Hz
  • Freq Range Low: 30Hz-90Hz
  • Bypass: Yes
  • Power Usage: ±16V DC
  • Module Slot Size: Double
  • Depth: 5.25"
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 729734X1

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Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

Awesomeness!!!!

My new go to 2-bus eq!!
Very powerful!!
Rated 5/5

Better Than Expected

Pros:
- Unbelievable Price For What You Get
- Stereo EQ That Can Be Used On Tracks, Mix Bus, Or An Insert
- Multiple Frequency Bands To Tweak The Sound
- Focus Mode Is Nice To Help Find A Specific Frequency
- Trim Knob Is Nice To reduce or drive harder into a compressor after this

Cons:
- Only Low Cut & High Shelf Are Stepped, however recall is not bad given dotted markers
- Sounds Best When Cutting Frequencies, Unlike A Very High End EQ that sounds good boosting or cutting like a pultec or Maag EQ

Conclusion: I was very skeptical going into this, but decided to buy because of the price and I wanted a stereo eq for my mix bus to address specific mid frequencies and gently cutting out a bit of mud. I already have a SSL bus +, Gainlabs Empress, & Maag Mastering EQ. I figured I could use this on the SSL Bus + side chain insert if it didn't sound good, but I was pleasantly surprised. The person who said this is best for touching things up before all your other gear is correct. It doesn't have transformers or tubes, so it's not going to provide a lot of mojo, just super clean. It does not affect the stereo image. Helps clean up a mix slightly before it goes into the other analog gear. There are people online who rant about SSL products being made in China, but way I look at it is they are more affordable this way and I've never been disappointed in SSL. I appreciate them making things affordable for the average audio enthusiast or professional. My feeling is if anyone doesn't like this EQ it is because they wanted it to do extreme things like boosting a lot or adding mojo or they don't have great converters or monitors to hear it as all analog gear is highly dependent on that. Can't beat this for the price.
Music background: Working Mix & Mastering Engineer
Rated 5/5

wonderful tool

I'm using this tool with my SSL bus compressor and it's simply amazing, it's worth investing in this incredible equalizer
Rated 5/5

You have to know what your doing with this EQ

This eq is an incredible eq! Simply amazing! Please just buy it! I have a signal chain that includes this eq early. I use it just to tighten things up, the pultecs do the rest. This eq will definitely clean up your mix so that it's ready for the rest of your mojo! Go SSL!
Music background: Producer/ Engineer
Rated 5/5

A very pleasant surprise!

I didn't actually buy this at Sweetwater, but I'm a regular customer and figured I'd share my experience.

This Eq wasn't even on my radar, but the sale was so insane I figured I'd give it a shot and I am extremely impressed by it- I'm definitely keeping it.

I had a pretty difficult mix that just wasn't recorded very well and figured I might as well try out the new Eq and this EQ just basically fixed everything!
It sucked out all the horrible resonance frequencies around 500hz without making the mix sound too thin, which was what all my other eqs were doing. I just put it in focus mode, found the awful frequencies and ZAP! All better. Then I did the same with the harsh frequencies around 3K, brought out a little air with 20K and a little extra low end with 50hz shelf and all the sudden I had an amazing sounding mix on my hands.
Truly impressed and I've never been big on SSL, I'm more of a Neve guy, but now I might try out some more of their stuff!

The highs are very smooth and airy on this thing by the way, I saw someone on another forum saying that it's harsh and there is absolutely nothing harsh about this unit. Everything sounds really nice and smooth.

I would highly recommend at any price, but with this sale right now you should jump at this deal!
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