Heritage Audio Motorcity EQ

Occasionally, something so special arrives, it turns the music industry Upside down (and inside out). That is why Heritage Audio is incredibly pleased to offer the world’s first reproduction (and a dead on one at that) of the “Holy Grail” of classic EQ’s. The “MOTORCITY EQualiser”.

Recreated from Motown units owned by Eight-time Grammy winning producer, mixdown artist, and innovative engineering genius Michael Brauer, Heritage Audio has left no stone unturned, recreating the unmistakably huge, punchy, and warm signature sound that makes this EQ as classic as the hits it helped create. From the 10-gauge hand brushed aluminium face plate, historically accurate control layout including custom moulded bakelite knobs, the MOTORCITY Equaliser looks the part. More importantly, the unique passive equalisation circuit is identical and fully faithful to the original design. The MOTORCITY EQualiser is so precise, it stands as the only EQ available that can rival, or even “best” the popular Pultec EQ.

It was no simple task to make a 100% accurate reincarnation. Peter Rodriguez and his team from Heritage Audio worked for weeks with their friends at Black Lion Audio. Seth Berman from Black Lion Audio’s NY facility took the lead in getting the info together for Heritage to work their magic. Everything was complicated by the 2020 summer lockdowns in Europe and the US, but they got it done! The exceptionally tight mil-spec 1960’S tone capacitors and inductors are simply no longer available. Replace with an alternate? Not on your life. Heritage Audio had custom recreations built from scratch. Each with exact materials, values, and tolerances: A perfect interchangeable clone of the very few originals remaining. Just add 60 years of dust, and you’ve got twins

Description

The MOTORCITY EQualiser is a completely analog, passive EQ design with seven accessible frequency points across the tonal spectrum. Each frequency has a stepped rotary switch capable of a flat response, or up or down up 8db in 1dB increments. Frequency points graduate from 50hz, 130hz, 320hz and 800hz before jumping to 2000hz, 5000hz, peaking at 12,500hz. The front panel also features a simple in/out/off toggle switch with top hat knob and jewel light power indicator. All rotary switches have easy to read from a distance “General Radio” bakelite style knobs recreated to look exactly like the originals (remember, this is not a slider-style graphic EQ). Finally, it features a master gain control (-8db/+8db) , again in 1dB increments. The incredibly simple 1960’s accurate back panel features a power supply jack, and an XLR input and output. The sound itself is exactly what you’d expect. It packs a punch without sounding harsh or distorted. While something as simple as an analog seven band EQ might sound more like hype than hyper goodness, hearing is believing. Why has Heritage audio gone through the seemingly impossible task of bringing them back to life? Michael Brauer will tell you this: It simply got that sound! The Heritage audio MOTORCITY EQ is not a digital equivalent, not a respectfully close replica and not a more compatible modernised “improvement.” The MOTORCITY EQualiser is nothing more or less than the genuine article finally made available for the general public.. For the very first time in history, you can integrate this true spec to spec carbon copy of both form and function into your own studio.