The Mercury EQ-H1, EQ-P1, EQ-H2 and EQ-P2 are all based on the original Pultec equalizers which were tools developed to deal with the limitations of recorded music. Limitations that most often manifest themselves in the highest and lowest frequencies of the program material. The Mercury Studio Program Equalizers, like the family of original Pultec EQs, are originally designed to bring back the life and musicality lost in a recording. Whether by accident or genius, nothing has been able to do this better in music production than a passive equalizer with tube gain make up amplifier (‘Pultec style’) equalizer. The interaction of the passive boosting and attenuating shelving EQs (not relying on negative feedback), as well as the transformers, tubes and other amplification circuitry all add to the incredibly musical character of the product. Working engineers try other types of equalizers, but always end up coming back to the Pultec style as the equalizer of choice for those final touches while tracking or mixing and even mastering at times.

 

Now in this modern age of digital recording, where the source you put into the DAW is exactly what you have on the track, with no rounded edges, no slight compression and none of the “pixie dust” that came with analog tape, the Mercury family of equalizers are needed more than ever to help add the musicality, warmth and tone to your tracks that we have all treasured.

 

I used the EQ-P1 and EQ-H1 extensively in mixing scenarios, and they performed like champs. I was able to dial in silky top-end on vocals and acoustic guitars and beefy lows on kick drums and mic'd bass cabinets with truly 'pro' results. There were many times when i hit upon a certain setting and found it was 'that sound' I had heard for years on 'that famous record' that didn't seem possible to get with 'other gear'. These EQs are so perfectly geared to music that - even with extreme settings - it's hard to get bad results with them.

 

Pete Weiss, TapeOp Magazine

 

Frequencies

Low Frequency Select (CPS; Cycles per second): 20, 30, 60, 100, 200 Hz

Low Frequency Boost Control: Shelf Boost, 0dB to +13dB

Low Frequency Attenuate Control: Shelf Atten. 0dB to -17dB

High Frequency Select (KCS; kilocycles per second ): 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16 kHz

High Frequency Boost Control: Shelf Boost, 0dB to +16dB

High Frequency Attenuate Control: 10k Shelf Attenuate, 0dB to -16dB

 

Tubes:   1x 12AX7 and 1x 12AU7

Rack Size:   3U

Weight:   22 lbs.

Shipping size:   25” x 19” x 10”

 

EQ-H1 vs EQ-P1:

Simply, the key to the tone of these two circuits is its amplifier, and Mercury EQ-H1 and EQ-P1 have different amplifiers to make up the gain lost by the passive equalizer circuit, thus it has a different tone. Meaning the EQ-H1 and EQ-P1 sound different on the same application, and have a different reaction to the same instrumentation or voice.

 

The EQ-H1 is more punchy and robust and has a slight push in the low end and lower midrange. The EQ-P1 is more open and silky, and equally adds warm to highs, mids and lows of your source. Although both sound amazing on any application and are both multi-purpose tools (equalizers) in the studio, if you had both you could then choose between applications.

 

The Mercury EQ-H1 is warm and fluid but a bit "thicker" than the EQ-P1, thus shines on thickening (and pushing forward in the mix) your Vocals, Bass, Kick, Snare, and Acoustic Guitar etc... The Mercury EQ-P1 is great for Shaping and adding ‘air’ to your vocals, Acoustic instruments, Guitar, Piano etc... and is magical strapped across your two buss to add musicality to you mix.