> free software / kilohearts carve eq

From the makers of our popular parametric EQ giveaway last year, get to know this issue’s free plugin, this time a graphic EQ

> Free software PC MAC

When we talk about EQ, invariably it’s a parametric, and in issue cm289 we furnished you with possibly our greatest giveaway yet, a full copy of Swedish developer Kilohearts Slice EQ. This month, Kilohearts return for the next installment and we’re very excited to bring you a full version of their graphic EQ, Carve EQ.

Graphic EQs tend to get used for overall shaping of stems, submixes and master mixes. However, Carve EQ is no ordinary graphic. The 31-band design is very easy to use and the curve-based interface is highly intuitive. In fact, with plenty of mouse tools to help you create the shape you want, it’s easy to forget you’re using a graphic EQ at all. Throw into the mix both stereo and mid/sides modes, and a handy mix blend that allows you to scale the overall gain, and you have a powerful, flexible EQ.

But Carve gets a whole further layer of functionality via its EQ reference and EQ matching capabilities. Basic options include simply referencing a curve from either source audio or over 50 categorised presets. More powerful features include full-blown match EQ of your current audio to the reference curves. And of course you can easily tweak the resulting curves to taste. Awesome stuff.

In this tutorial we’ll pull together these various aspects and show you how easy it is to do it, and there’s a bunch of tutorial files to follow step-by-step. All told, we think you’ll be impressed and ultimately it’s free, so what have you got to lose? Finally, if you like what you see, head over to www.kilohearts.com and check some of their other fantastic plugins.

> Step by step 1. Getting started

1 > To get your own personal copy of Carve EQ you need to register and log in at www.filesilo.co.uk/computermusic. Unlock the content for this issue (295), download and open the file, ‘Free Kilohearts Plugin instructions’. Click on the link and provide your email address. A code will then be sent to you.

2 > The next step is to redeem the code on the Kilohearts website. Visit www. kilohearts.com/redeem and enter your email address and redeem code. You will then receive an email with your personal installers. Select either Mac or PC and your installer will start downloading.