How It Was Recorded

Gear · equaliser

Pultec EQ (model not stated)

Records it appears on · 18

  • Rolling in the Deep

    Adele · 21, 2011

    • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedOn the lead vocal insert (desk channel 25), giving gentle colour with a boost in the low and high ends.Settings: Boost around 100 Hz and 12 kHz, not much gain
  • Someone Like You

    Adele · 21, 2011

    • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedOn the lead vocal insert, as on his 'Rolling In The Deep' mix.
  • Walk This Way

    Aerosmith · Toys in the Attic, 1975

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedEngineer believes this equaliser was on the lead vocal, with a low cut and a high boost he is unsure of.Settings: Possibly about 30 Hz taken out and a boost at 10 kHz (engineer unsure)
    • Guitar solo · Input chainVerifiedFollowed the compressor on the solo with a boost.Settings: Boost at 5 kHz
  • Rehab

    Amy Winehouse · Back to Black, 2006

    • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedFirst unit in the outboard vocal chain; adds airSettings: Boost at around 12 kHz (Elmhirst says 'probably')
  • Plastic Letters

    Blondie · Album, 1978

    • Outboard used while tracking · Input chainVerifiedEngineer used several Pultec tube EQs heavily during tracking; the parts are not stated.
  • Surrender

    Cheap Trick · Heaven Tonight, 1978

    • Drums · Mix effectsReportedEqualised the snare at the mix, according to Ladinsky's mix notes.
  • Eddie Money

    Eddie Money · Album, 1977

    • Studio chain and mix · Input chainVerifiedBotnick says Andy Johns had some of these equalisers alongside the limiters and the console.
  • Power Trip

    J. Cole · Born Sinner, 2013

    • Guest vocal (Miguel) · Mix effectsVerifiedUsed on Miguel's vocal to warm it and make him sound somewhat older.
  • All of Me

    John Legend · Love in the Future, 2013

    • Piano · Input chainVerifiedThe piano chain then passed through Pultec equalisers.
  • Double Fantasy

    John Lennon · Album, 1980

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedFollowed the compressor on the vocal to restore some low end that the compressor tended to remove.Settings: Around 100 Hz
  • Like a Virgin

    Madonna · Album, 1984

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedA Pultec EQ was used alongside the C24 for Madonna's lead vocals.
    • Recording medium, console and effects · Input chainReportedA rack of 24 supplemented the console's EQ in the control room.
  • Love Is a Battlefield

    Pat Benatar · Live from Earth, 1983

    • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedUsed lightly, though the passage does not say which part it was applied to.
  • Rock 'n' Roll High School

    Ramones · Rock 'n' Roll High School and End of the Century, 1979

    • Lead vocal · Input chainInferredEqualiser in Stasium's usual overdub vocal chain for Joey.
    • Guitars · Input chainReportedStasium thinks he probably put a Pultec equaliser on the guitars at Cherokee.
  • Unlimited Love

    Red Hot Chili Peppers · Album, 2022

    • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedVocal EQ placed after the compressors in the lead vocal chain.
  • Cosmic Thing

    The B-52's · Album, 1989

    • Drums · Input chainVerifiedCook says a couple of Pultec equalisers were used on the drums.
  • The Band

    The Band · Album, 1969

    • Studio and effects · Input chainVerifiedOld Pultec outrigger equalisers were among the gear used on the album sessions; the text does not say on which parts.
  • Don't Get Me Wrong

    The Pretenders · Get Close, 1986

    • Drums (Steve Jordan) · Input chainReportedUsed on many of the drums.
  • The Hills

    The Weeknd · Beauty Behind the Madness, 2015

    • Backing vocals and outro chant · Mix effectsVerifiedFirst insert on the All Back group, attenuating low end; a second Pultec later boosts the high end.

Sources for each use are on the record’s own page.

Get the sound

First choice · Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Pultec Passive EQ Collection

equaliser

Models the Pultec EQP-1A, MEQ-5 and HLF-3C. The source does not say which Pultec was used.

Get the plugin ↗

Alternative · Emulation of this unit

Waves PuigTec EQs (EQP-1A and MEQ-5)

equaliser

Models the Pultec EQP-1A and MEQ-5.

Get the plugin ↗

Disclosure: plugin links currently go straight to the maker and earn us nothing. If that changes, affiliate links will be marked here. Suggestions are chosen on fit, never on commission, and are kept separate from the recording facts. More.