Why I use the WES Audio NgTubeEQ as a recallable analog mastering EQ

For most of my career I have worked almost entirely in the box. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve bought my fair share of analog compressors and EQs over the years. The problem was never the sound. I love what analog gear does. The issue was always workflow.

I tend to jump between projects every 15-20 minutes, and manually recalling hardware settings each time just made no sense. So I’d end up selling those pieces, even when I loved them.

Over the past few years, something exciting has started to happen: digitally recallable hardware. Companies have been developing units that give you the analog sound with instant recall inside your DAW. This summer I finally took the plunge, and now I work with a fully recallable chain made up of several of these devices.

Here I want to focus on my main analog EQ.

WES Audio NgTubeEQ

This is a 100% analog tube equalizer with a massive 26 dBu of headroom, so you get that lush, vintage warmth we all crave.

You can switch between modes:

• GREEN gives you a cleaner, punchier output.
• RED kicks in the tube amplification and transformer saturation.
• IRON PAD lets you drive the tube circuit harder while keeping the output level consistent.

Why it’s so flexible

It has three operational modes: DUAL, STEREO and MID-SIDE. Whether you’re working on vocals, full mixes or precise stereo imaging, it adapts.

But most importantly: RECALL. Recall gives me the freedom to enjoy analog without the stress of losing my mix moves.

• Full digital control via plugin: adjust everything from your DAW, automate, save and recall.
• Hardware A/B/C buttons let you instantly switch between three analog settings, which is super intuitive for quick comparisons or creative exploration.
• The internal memory holds up to 100 presets, so you can even work without the plugin if needed.

How I use it

I use it every day. It’s like having vintage analog soul with DAW-savvy brains.

• Want precision? Reach for Constant Q and GREEN mode.
• Need some analog romance? RED mode with THD and Iron Pad has your back.

Most of the time it works. The few times it doesn’t, it’s still worth the try.