Kiive Audio’s latest plug-in models a renowned hardware equaliser, and promises to bring mixes to life with its combination of musical-sounding EQ and three distinct types of saturation. M5133 Mastering Equalizer brings together the best features of three different revisions of Focusrite’s Blue 315, and enhances the classic device’s sound with a range of handy extra features.

The plug-in can be operated in mono, stereo or Mid-Sides modes, with each of its two sections housing a four-band parametric EQ, a Saturation section, and variable high- and low-pass filters. Each of its four bands offer frequency, gain and Q controls along with a listen function, and both the high and low bands can be switched between shelf or peak filter modes. The Saturation section is equipped with a pair of controls that determine the level of second and third harmonics, and also features a mix control for blending the effect to taste.

A row of controls along the top of the GUI offer features such as a global stereo width control, three types of saturation modelling, and some oversampling options. You also get a built-in preset system, as well as onboard A/B setting comparison and undo/redo functions.