Eventide SplitEQ plug-in: features and spec-based rating

Eventide’s SplitEQ splits a sound into its “attack (transients)” and its “sustained sound (tonal)” and lets you apply a separate EQ to each. L/R and M/S (a method that separates the center and the sides) panning can be set for each as well.

An EQ (equalizer) adjusts the amount of low and high frequencies in a sound. You use it to clear up a muddy voice or reduce sounds that hurt the ears.

In this article we compare SplitEQ with 15 EQ plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Image: from the Eventide official press kit

Summary

Among the 15 EQ plug-ins, SplitEQ is rank A. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and A is second from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.5.

Strengths

• Handling problem bands (4 points): it has features that target problem sounds, so it is easy to fix them precisely.
• Stereo processing (4 points): you can adjust the center vocal and the backing track spread to the sides separately.

Things to keep in mind

• Speed (2 points): you have to decide the settings by ear.

Who it suits: people who want to do what an ordinary EQ cannot, such as reducing only sibilance or the attack (the start of a sound), or lifting only the sustain.

Main features of SplitEQ

Apply EQ separately to the “start” and the “sustain” of a sound

SplitEQ’s main feature: Eventide’s own technology (Structural Split, patented) splits a sound into a sharp “start” part (transients) and a lingering “sustained” part (tonal), and you can apply a different EQ to each. The start side holds plosives, sibilance and attack; the sustain side holds held notes, harmonics and reverb. For example, you can reduce only the “s” sounds of a vocal while keeping the brightness of the voice, or remove unwanted muddiness from a kick while keeping the power of the moment it is hit, which is hard to do with an ordinary EQ.

An eight-band EQ, and placement for each start and sustain

It is an eight-band parametric EQ, and you can choose filter shapes such as bell, notch, shelf, high-pass and low-pass. For each band you can also place the start sound and the sustained sound in separate positions, left/right or center/sides (Mid/Side), so you can, for example, widen a mono sound.

Audition and display the split sounds separately

The analyzer can show the start sound and the sustained sound separately, and you can listen to only the start or only one band. It makes it easier to find where a problem is by ear and by eye.

More than 150 presets, also for repairing failed recordings

More than 150 presets are provided by purpose: Enhance, Repair, Rebalance and Widen. According to the official page, some repair presets were made from material deliberately recorded under bad conditions. They are a starting point when you are not sure where to begin.

Where it is useful

• Reducing only the “s” sounds and plosives of a vocal while keeping its brightness
• Removing the muddy ring from a kick or snare while keeping the power of the moment it is hit
• Lifting the harmonics of an acoustic guitar while holding down string noise

Rating by criterion

Handling problem bands: 4 / 5

We check whether you can target and fix only the sounds that bother you, such as boominess or harshness.

Because you can apply EQ separately to the attack (transient) and the sustained sound (tonal), you can reduce only attack-side problems such as sibilance and plosives.

Speed: 2 / 5

We check whether it has features that get you to a good setting quickly, such as automatic settings and a function that matches a reference sound.

It has an analyzer that shows the two components separately. It has no automatic settings.

If “speed” matters most to you, smart:EQ 4 (5 points) is a better fit.

Stereo processing: 4 / 5

We check whether you can adjust the center sound (such as the vocal) and the sound spread to the sides separately.

It supports left/right and Mid/Side panning.

How we score (EQ plug-ins)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Handling problem bands	The power to target and reduce boomy or harsh sounds	Dynamic EQ, plus processing that reacts only to specific frequencies inside a band	Dynamic EQ (works only when the sound gets loud), or separate processing of the attack and the sustained sound	A static EQ with many bands, or with a choice of processing quality such as linear phase	A static EQ with few bands	—
Speed	Features that help you decide settings quickly	AI balances the sound automatically and can also reduce overlap between tracks	Automatic EQ settings or EQ match, plus other aids	One aid, such as EQ match	Analyzer (a visual display of the sound) only	No aids listed
Stereo processing	Whether the center and the sides can be processed separately	Supports M/S, separate left/right and surround	Supports M/S plus either separate left/right or surround	M/S only	—	Not mentioned on the official page

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: balancing the sound of vocals and backing tracks in a mix. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Handling problem bands" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

SplitEQ screens and images

Image: from the Eventide official press kit

Image: from the Eventide official press kit

Trade-magazine review (for reference, not part of the score)

We summarized the main points from a review in an overseas music-production magazine.

Sound On Sound (February 2022)

• Praised it as intuitive to use and good-sounding
• Praised the ability to set the boundary between the attack and the sustained sound to suit the material
• Concluded that it has more uses than you might expect, for both correction and sound shaping

Source: Sound On Sound review

SplitEQ system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows / Mac (macOS 10.14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel)
Plug-in formats	VST2, VST3, AAX (Windows); VST2, VST3, AU, AAX (Mac)
Other	An iLok account is required (no USB dongle needed)
Trial	14-day trial available
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026. How to use plug-ins in the OBS streaming software is explained in How to use VST3 plug-ins in OBS.

Compared with other EQ plug-ins

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• smart:EQ 4: features and rating (rank A)
• MAutoEqualizer: features and rating (rank A)
• Pro-Q 4: features and rating (rank S)
• MEqualizer: features and rating (rank B)