5
I. Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the
Addicted to Music
Bettermaker Equalizer -
all analog sound with
the flexibility of digital control!
Welcome to the family! The hybrid audio equalizer now in your possession is the result of years of research
and development in emerging digital control technologies. The final hand-built result is currently glowing happily
in your rack (Lucky you). The EQ542 brings the flexibility, ease of use, and instant recall-ability of software
plugins to the realm of high fidelity analog processing like no other analog EQ on the market.
Company
Addicted to Music
began in 2004 in Warsaw, Poland as a recording and mixing studio. Long before it was
a hardware company we were deeply involved in the international music and recording scene. This is not a
company run by scientists who crunch numbers all day, we are a company run by engineers who live, eat, and
breathe music (like you do). We know good sound, and know first-hand what it takes on both sides of the glass to
capture the perfect take. We developed the EQ542 to go from the perfect take, and make it even
better!
Unit
The
Bettermaker EQ542
was designed to have the greatest flexibility of any analog EQ, while still allowing
absolute recall and repeatability. We often found the strengths of software plug-ins wasn’t their sound, but the
ability to quickly audition different settings. This allowed us to make faster, better informed musical choices. The
ability to jump back and forth between (sometimes vastly different) settings allowed us to keep a clear vision of
the sonic goal in mind, while quickly making decisions on the best setting to use.
However, we recognized the sonic superiority of our analog gear compared to their digital counterparts. In
countless shoot-outs, the analog versions always won. Since we’re a company that cares about better sound over
processing speed, our engineers would take the extra time to use a full analog chain because it simply sounds
better. We developed the Bettermaker EQ542 to give us the speed of plugins, but the fidelity of analog.
In the traditional analog world the time spent in the act of having to set and reset knobs and buttons to audition
between settings often skewed our choices. More time was spent tweaking knobs trying to recover an earlier
setting than was spent listening. The limited resolution of the mechanical parts often meant only very coarse
adjustments were possible (previously only solvable by very expensive mechanical switches). A difficult situation
to say the least, but the greater fidelity, openness, and depth of the analog gear was always worth it to our ears.
Even after years of advancement in digital algorithms, the older analog versions always sounded better. With these
goals in mind, we strove to create a hybrid EQ that was the best of both worlds: A true analog EQ based on classic
designs, but with the repeatability, fine resolution, and consistency of digital plug-ins. Enter the inspiration for the
Bettermaker EQ542!
Design History
The EQ542 is a natural evolution of its older brother the Bettermaker EQ232P with our quality parametric
circuit. The circuits of the parametric sections are identical in both models.
We began with the analog sections. Choosing modern components and design practices over older traditional
methods helped maintain the transient response and low noise-floor necessary for today’s recording practices.
Wherever possible we choose over-spec’ed components to ensure trouble free operation and a long product life.
Where feasible we increased the gain resolution and frequency range to ensure the greatest flexibility no matter
what source (from tracking to 2-bus and mastering applications). Most importantly we listened first, tested, and
then listened again. We hope you enjoy your Addicted to Music EQ542.
Now go
make some music Better!
