The Black Box Analog Design HG-Q is a 3U boutique hardware EQ and saturator that offers digital plug-in control over its solid state and tube-driven circuitry. The HG-Q is a revolutionary creative powerhouse that reshapes and enhances your sound in ways traditional EQs could only dream of.

More than just an incredible EQ

The HG-Q combines unique topology, flexible tube saturation, and the ability to cut and boost simultaneously to create a totally new kind of audio enhancement tool.

This dual-mono, stereo, and M/S-capable EQ offers six fully independent and interactive bands for creative frequency shaping and sculpting, combined with acclaimed tube saturation circuitry that adds rich harmonic detail, depth and energy without compromising clarity — taking analog EQ and enhancement to a new level of integration and flexibility.

The saturation circuit in each boost band adds rich harmonic content without muddying transients or mix clarity. Unlike conventional saturation, the HG-Q’s circuit brings out lower-level details and enhances the mix’s density wherever you want it, all while leaving your transients, articulation and mix elements intact.

Get creative!

The heart of the HG-Q is a topology where the bands interact with each other in complex ways, allowing the HG-Q to deliver incredible sonic shaping well beyond the scope of traditional equalizers.

The 2X mode further expands the EQ’s range, allowing up to 16 dB boosts and cuts with intensified saturation that brings out every harmonic nuance. The result is a more cohesive, balanced, and musically engaging sound, achievable even at aggressive settings.

By boosting, cutting, adding saturation, and switching between series and parallel configurations, you will achieve wildly complex interactions and curves impossible on traditional EQs.

True analog processing with plugin control

Seamlessly linked with the hardware, the included HG-Q Control Plugin delivers plugin control over the hardware’s all-analog signal path. From creating, saving and recalling presets to automating parameters, the combination of hardware and Control Plugin gives you the best of both worlds!

The plugin even offers functionality beyond that of the hardware. The plugin only frequency curve display allows you to visualize boosts, cuts, saturation and the resulting combined response curves. An extended control view provides an expanded way of interacting with the controls with a dedicated knob for each function and control.