Nolvra has released RIDGE, a new dynamic equalizer plugin for macOS and Windows. The company also launched IMAGER, a stereo imager, and updated PRISM MINI. RIDGE aims to speed up the tedious process of finding and fixing resonances in audio tracks.

What is RIDGE?

RIDGE is a 24-band dynamic EQ. Its key feature is a resonance scan. Instead of manually sweeping a bell filter to find ringing frequencies, RIDGE does it automatically. You press SCAN, and the plugin listens to the track. It then marks up to eight resonances on a time axis. This shows not just the frequency of the ring, but also when it occurred.

The plugin distinguishes resonances from musical notes by analyzing time, not loudness. A sung note is also a narrow peak above its surroundings. However, music moves, while a resonance stays constant. RIDGE watches a five-second window and only reports frequencies that remain present through enough of that window. This approach helps avoid false positives on musical content.

Key Features of the EQ

Beyond the scan, RIDGE functions as a full-featured EQ. It offers 24 bands, each with six filter shapes. These include bell, low shelf, high shelf, low cut, high cut, and notch. You also get ten slope options, ranging from 6 dB per octave up to a 192 dB per octave brickwall filter.

The plugin supports five stereo placements, including mid and side. Each band has its own dynamics section. The threshold is a level in dBFS, not a running average. This means it stays put under a loud passage for as long as the passage lasts. The plugin also features zero latency processing in this release.

RIDGE includes an analyzer with three smoothing steps. It has 453 parameters, which are published and locked from the first release. This ensures automation written today reads the same in future versions. There are 27 factory presets.

Features

• 24 dynamic EQ bands
• Automatic resonance scan with time axis
• Six filter shapes per band
• Mid/side processing
• Per-band dynamics with level-based threshold
• Zero latency processing
• 453 locked parameters

Pricing and Availability

RIDGE is normally priced at $99. There is a launch price of $89 on the KVR Marketplace until 20 September. IMAGER costs $79. Both plugins are included in the Nolvra All-Access subscription, which costs $19.99 per month or $199 per year.

The plugin runs on macOS 11 or later with Apple Silicon, and on 64-bit Windows. It supports VST3 and AU formats on Mac, and VST3 on Windows. A standalone app is also available. Installation and activation go through the free Nolvra Hub. A 7-day trial is available without a credit card.

RIDGE does lack some features found in competitors. There is no spectral dynamics, surround routing, vintage models, or saturation stage. These omissions are listed in a comparison table on the Nolvra website. The company also notes that RIDGE’s Q values differ from Pro-Q 4’s, as it uses the textbook definition of Q.

More info: Nolvra | RIDGE