For many years I've been using standard EQ plugins like Waves, Fabfilter, Universal Audio etc. Fabfilter Q3 is a favorite because of the UI, it's so easy to get quick results, so it gets used a lot. UAD make a few good "Character or Color" EQs, but the good ones use a lot of Shark power. Recently though, after mixing a rather challenging song for a commercial project which had a lot of horns, hand percussion, and other acoustic instruments in it, I realized that the EQ plugins I was using were somehow not able to cope with the higher harmonics of the acoustic instruments well. The higher harmonics ended up being dulled by the EQ plugins I had. Adding boosts didn't work either, and just made the horns sound harsh. So I went on a search for some EQs which could handle the higher harmonics without dulling them or distorting them. I tried a whole lot of lesser known EQs. There were a few I found which were exceptional, but very expensive. Eventually I found the Hofa EQ. This thing is very transparent, especially on higher harmonics. the Horns all of a sudden became clear and dynamic, without the 'artificial' quality they had before when being EQ'd (especially trumpet and sax). The other area I found that the Hofa EQ excelled in was the low end, the bass instruments retained their tightness and punch, when using the 'Pultec Bass trick (cut and boost)" to add punch. The UI is not quite as easy to use as the Q3, but I prefer the ultra-tranparent sound of the Hofa when I'm working with Horns or Cymbals, or anything which has higher harmonics. The other brilliant thing about this EQ is that it is also a fantastic Dynamic EQ and more controllable interface than the Q3. All up, the Hofa is super-transparent, doesn't tax the CPU too much (depending on oversampling setting), is a great dynamic EQ, with excellent control and I didn't have to mortgage my house to pay for it. The only downside as I mentioned, is that the UI is not as intuitive and easy to use as the Q3, but has a very small learning curve. Well worth the money.
