MSManual
EQ4
Maag
Brainworx
Table of Contents
1. Welcome to Maag EQ4 MS ............................................................................................. 1
2. Key features ................................................................................................................ 2
3. Maag EQ4 MS overview ................................................................................................. 3
4. Equalizer ..................................................................................................................... 4
5. EQ options ................................................................................................................... 5
6. Non-linear response ...................................................................................................... 6
7. Plugin-only section ....................................................................................................... 7
8. Top toolbar .................................................................................................................. 8
9. Bottom toolbar ............................................................................................................. 9
10. Additional information ............................................................................................... 10
Modifier keys ........................................................................................................... 10
Usage data tracking .................................................................................................. 10
Online resources ....................................................................................................... 10
Credits .................................................................................................................... 10
WELCOME TO MAAG EQ4 MS 1
1. Welcome to Maag EQ4 MS
The Maag EQ4 MS is our latest take on Cliff Maag’s filter designs including the impressive Air Band®
in a two channel configuration. It offers much more options than ever before. The Brainworx team
has worked carefully to add unique options from the Maag product line to the EQ4 MS achieving
accurate stereo and m/s processing without losing the mojo of its predecessors.
The plugin allows you to pick from six Air Band® frequencies as in the EQ4M studio hardware. The
sweepable Air Band® has already set a standard for shiny and open hi-end in both, the analog and
digital domain. You can hear the Air Band® on countless top hits mixed by David Reitzas, Dylan
Dresdow, Dave Pensado, and many others.
In addition to the hardware functions, we have added useful features such as optional bandwith and
center-frequencies from EQ2 to change the tonal responsive behavior. Maag EQ4 MS combines the
features with Brainworx' patented Tolerance Modeling Technology as well as Mono-Maker and more
useful options.
Download and install your plugin using our Installation Manager: https://www.plugin-
alliance.com/en/installation-manager.html
Thank you for choosing Maag EQ4 MS. We hope you enjoy it!
KEY FEATURES 2
2. Key features
The following list gives you an overview of Maag EQ4 MS's key features:
• Modeled exactly after the original Maag Audio design, schematics and hardware in very close
cooperation with Maag Audio.
• Brainworx’s TMT inside: Tolerance Modeling Technology (US Patent No. 10,725,727) simulates 20
channel-to-channel variances in electronic components for the most realistic analog sound in
digital recreation of analog characteristics.
• Air Band®
• Interacting EQ-bands
• High and low pass filters in each channel
• Additional bandwidth and center frequencies for all bell filters
• Mono-Maker and Stereo Width
• Stereo and m/s processing
• Mono and multitrack support
• Variable THD
• Soft clipper
• Auto output gain
• I/O, correlation and balance-metering
• Parameter Link
• Scalable UI
• Foldable plugin-only section
MAAG EQ4 MS OVERVIEW 3
3. Maag EQ4 MS overview
Maag EQ4 MS is based on the Maag EQ4M and offers high flexibility with additional settings in the
EQ-Options and Plugin-Only Section.
Maag EQ4 MS consists of the following areas and main controls:
1. Top Toolbar: Additional global controls relevant to the plugin's processing. For more information,
refer to Top toolbar.
2. Equalizer: 6 band EQ with Air Band®. For more information, refer to Equalizer.
3. EQ options: Optional frequencies, slopes, filters and a soft limiter increase accuracy. For more
information, refer to EQ options
4. Plugin-only section: Our established tools including TMT, stereo tools and level settings. For
more information, refer to Plugin-only section
5. Bottom Toolbar: Preferences, license information, and documentation. For more information,
refer to Bottom toolbar.
EQUALIZER 4
4. Equalizer
Maag EQ4 MS provides unparalleled transparency and top end presence while maintaining the true
natural sound behind the signal or mix. EQ adjustments are obtained with minimal phase shift and
the Air Band® interacts with the other bands (during the ‘summing’ process). The EQ4’s band-passes
all interact with each other as well – turning the EQ or Air Band® gain up, also brings up the overall
gain. You can compensate this with the input/output gains.
Only one channel of this section is shown and consists of the following controls:
1. Input Gain: Adjusts the input level of the plugin.
2. Indicator LEDs:
• Peak indicates a signal at 0 dBFS and above.
• Signal indicates present signal above -54 dBFS.
3. Sub to Mid Gains: Boost/Cut the band pass filters between +15 and -4.5 dB resulting in
interacting values when changing frequency or bandwidth settings of the related filter or any
parameter of the other bands. The scale next to the knob from -5 to +5 can be used to
compensate for overall boost: simply turn down each of the band pass gains equal amounts
to reduce overall amplification.
4. 2.5 kHz Gain: Boosts/Cuts the high shelving filter between +20 and -5 dB. The mentioned
interaction between the bands and their configuration should be taken into account.
5. Air Band®: Blend some shiny highs into your original signal and hear how almost any signal will
open up and benefit from this band.
a. Gain: Boosts the very high frequency range between 0 and +20 dB. To reduce harsh high
ranged frequencies, the 2.5 kHz shelving filter can be applied to attenuate while still being
able to regain frequencies above. The 0 to 10 scale is proportional to the other band gain
scales and helps lower the output level by reducing all band gains by the same amount.
b. In: Enables/Disables the Air Band® for comparison.
c. kHz [Frequency]: Select from six Air Band® frequencies between 2.5 to 40 kHz. The highest
frequency settings are responsible for the unique air-boost of the Maag EQ-series and their
lack of harshness.
6. Engage [Channel]: Dis-/Engages the hardware channel, acts like a true hardwired bypass found
in analog equipment.
The Maag EQs' parallel design leads to non-linear response curves when changing
a band's frequency or bandwidth without any applied gain change. Find details here
Non-linear response
EQ OPTIONS 5
5. EQ options
Additional frequencies, slopes, cut-filters and soft-clipping that achieve a wide variety of tonality can
be found here.
Only one channel of this section is shown and consists of the following controls:
1. [Alternative Frequency]: Selects higher center frequency of the bell (band pass) filter.
2. [Alternative Bandwidth]: Selects between wide and tight bandwidth of the related band pass
filter.
3. [HPF/LPF] In: Dis-/Engages the high/low pass filter.
4. [HPF/LPF] Slope: Changes the filter's slope from 6 db/oct to 12 dB/oct. Set to 12 dB/oct by
default.
5. HPF/LPF [Frequency]: Cutoff frequencies of the high and low pass filters.
6. Soft Clip: Dialling clockwise, the threshold of the soft clipper decreases while addition of
harmonic saturation increases. The red LED signals the amount of soft clipping. Deactivated
by default (set fully counter clockwise / off-position).
NON-LINEAR RESPONSE 6
6. Non-linear response
Maag EQs are known for their unique design which is based on a parallel structure with an almost
linear response from unity band gains. Based on this very special design, changing a band's center
frequency or slope will lead to a non-linear response even at ±0dB unity gain across all bands. It
is sometimes helpful to select a non-linear response by selecting bandwidth and frequency settings
before applying band related amplification.
We have prepared presets offering linear response settings which are named “All Qs Wide” or “All
Frequencies Up” to access some modded EQ4-versions.
The performed analysis below displays the “All Q's Wide” setting, and a typical overlap with the
resulting boost by changing just one frequency (Lo-Mid) in its options:
PLUGIN-ONLY SECTION 7
7. Plugin-only section
Increase the functionality of the hardware equalizer with additional Brainworx tools.
This section consists of the following controls:
1. Input Meter: Shows the level of the incoming audio between -72 and +4 dBFS and is tapped
behind the m/s-matrix to read out incoming mid and side levels when working in m/s-mode.
2. Stereo Mode*: Toggles between using the same TMT channel for both units (D=digital) and using
two adjacent, differing TMT channels (A=analog).
3. TMT Channel: Switches between 20 different channel strips. In a Stereo instance, two adjacent
Channel numbers will be displayed. Each channel has its own, different character.
4. Random Channel: Whenever a TMT-featured plugin on a channel gets inserted, it will start with
the default setup, which is channel 1 in a flat setting. You can randomize a channel by clicking
the Random Channel button. The plugin instance you click on will switch to any unused channel
number in that session randomly, until you reach 20 channels.
5. Channel Link*: Switches linking of parameters in a stereo instance on or off. When off, the
plugin operates in an independent two-channel (dual-mono) configuration. When switching on
Channel Link, differences between pairs of parameters are preserved until the controls are
adjusted.
6. M/S [processing]*: Toggles between dual mono and mid/side processing. When M/S is set
active, the left channel processes the mid/sum-signal, the right channel processes the side/
difference-signal of the passing audio. Channel labels dynamically switch to their configured
state.
7. Correlation Meter*: Displays the correlation / stereo-compatibility of the processed audio.
8. Balance Meter*: Displays the center-weighting of the stereo-signal.
9. Mono Maker In*: Dis-/Engages the Mono Maker
10. Mono Maker [frequency]*: Sweepable from 20 to 22 kHz, this parameter folds the processed
sound to mono below the selected frequency.
11. Stereo Width In*: Dis-/Engages the Stereo Width.
12. Stereo Width*: Decrease or increase the stereo width of the processed signal.
13. THD: Adds colorful saturation and density. The default setting is -100.9 dB. Use higher settings
(up to -30 dB) for almost screaming distortion or dial off the THD below -120 dB for a clean
result.
14. Auto [Output Gain]: When activated, a performed analysis compares RMS levels of input and
output signal over a 3 sec. timespan to set the Output Gain to a position matching the processed
signal to the input loudness. This leads to more accurate comparisons when bypassing the EQ.
15. Output Gain: Adjusts the output level of the plugin.
16. Output Meter: Shows the level of the processed audio from -72 to +4 dBFS.
* This is a pure stereo parameter and is only available in the stereo version of the plugin.
TOP TOOLBAR 8
8. Top toolbar
Additional global controls related to plugin settings and processing are available in the top toolbar.
1. Power: Bypasses the processor when disengaged.
2. UI Size: Sets the size of the plugin‘s user interface.
3. ↩︎ ↪︎: Undo and redo changes made to controls up to 32 steps.
4. Bank A B C D: Each preset allows you to switch between four banks (A, B, C, D) of controls.
5. Copy: Copy the active settings to memory.
6. Paste: Paste the copied settings to the active bank.
7. Reset: Reset the current bank.
8. Solo M: Isolates to audit the mid (sum) signal being processed by the plugin.
9. Solo S: Isolates to audit the side (difference) signal processed by the plugin.
10. View Mode: Toggles between different view modes, with smaller UI views containing fewer
controls. This allows you to hide settings that you’re not using.
Clicking the company logo or the plugin name will open a splash screen containing
team credits and the UI default setting.
BOTTOM TOOLBAR 9
9. Bottom toolbar
Preferences, license information, and documentation are available in the bottom toolbar.
1. Plugin Alliance Logo: If your computer is online, clicking the Plugin Alliance logo will take you to
the Plugin Alliance website via your web browser.
2. License Info: The toolbar displays information about the type of license you’re running. Trial
licenses are displayed along with the number of days until expiration; there is no note for full
licenses, as these are unlimited.
3. Dollar Icon: If you are using a demo/trial version of a Brainworx product, you can click this icon
to open a browser that redirects you to the respective product page in the Plugin Alliance store.
Here, you can purchase a product without searching for it on the Plugin Alliance website.
4. Key Icon: Clicking on the key icon brings up the activation dialog, allowing you to manually
reauthorize a device in the event of a license upgrade or addition. You can also use this feature
to activate additional computers or USB flash drives.
5. Help Icon: Clicking the help icon opens a context menu that links to the product manual PDF and
other helpful links, such as checking for product updates online. You must have a PDF reader
installed on your computer to read the manual.
• Open Manual… with your operation system's preferred PDF reader. You must have a PDF
reader installed on your computer to read the manual.
• Product Info… will take you to the product page of Maag EQ4 MS if your computer is online.
• Download Updates… leads you to the product page's Downloads-Section.
• Legal Info… opens a pop-up window declaring legal usage of third party technology.
• Plugin Alliance Website… will take you to the Plugin Alliance website via your web browser.
• Usage Data Tracking… will open a pop-up window to activate or deactivate Usage Data
Tracking.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 10
10. Additional information
Modifier keys
You can use the following keyboard commands to control Maag EQ4 MS.
Function AU VST / VST3 AAX
• Mac: [command]
Fine Control [shift] [shift]
• Win: [Ctrl]
Jump between default and • Mac: [command] • Mac: [option]
[option]
last setting • Win: [Ctrl] • Win: [Alt]
• Mac: [option]
Output Link [command] [shift]
• Win: [Alt]
Usage data tracking
Help us improve your experience.
Plugin Alliance by Native Instruments is using data tracking to improve the user experience and
usability of our products. Data tracking can be deactivated at any time in the help menu. This data is
collected according to our Privacy Policy.
Online resources
Mäag Audio Homepage:
https://maag.audio/
System requirements & supported platforms:
https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/systemrequirements.html
Details about your product:
https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/maag_eq4_ms.html
Installation, activation, authorisation and FAQ:
https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/support.html
Credits
Concept: Cliff Maag Sr.
Programming and Algorithms: Jan Stickelbruck, Michael Massberg
UI-Design: Goran Lizdek
Product Management: Christoph Tkocz, Albert Gabriel
