Waves Abbey Road RS56 Passive EQ

Even the most modern productions revere the classic sounds of the 50s and 60s—like those from the RS56, the very first parametric EQ. A silky smooth, powerful and musical stereo EQ, RS56 is perfect for loops, drums and synths, or the entire mix bus.

Created in the early 50s for mastering, the RS56 was used extensively in the vinyl cutting rooms. But before long, Abbey Road’s recording engineers realized it was superior to the basic tone controls found in that era’s consoles—and it quickly became a go-to option, famously heard on the Beatles’ recordings.

Harness the Creative Mixing Possibilities of the “Curve Bender”

Do the math—RS56’s 18 controls allow for 14 million (!) different control combinations. Yet, the parameters are arranged so simply and logically that dialing in the right sound is easy. This creativity earned the unit its “Curve Bender” nickname, due to its ability to mangle sound.

Not Just 3 Bands—the Right Bands

3 bands? Look again. Each band has 4 curated frequencies and 6 different filter characters, from “blunt” to “sharp.” These parameters were chosen for maximum musicality, and are valid to this day.

Digital Additions to the Original Classic

The original unit’s ±10 dB of gain has been increased to ±20 dB of gain in the plugin, to match current mixing standards. The plugin also adds Mid/Sides options in addition to mono and stereo. And a graphic display—not possible in the original hardware—provides insights into the frequency response settings.