ACQ 560 – The American Classic EQ for Nebula Pro – Manual

Under this category, there are the sub-categories “PRE” and “EQ”.

The ACQ 560 is a 10 Band Graphic Equalizer originally designed in 1967 for use as a console EQ. It has since become a favorite for multiple mixing and even mastering tasks over the years. It has a perfectly weighted “proportional” EQ which is very wide “Q” at lower volumes and standard narrow at its highest peak. The positive and negative gain shapes at lower volumes are matched so that you can perform mixing tasks like correcting previous boost or cut or removing some Frequencies from one track and adding them to another at the same shape.

Using the Nebula Pro engine structure, I have created this collection to provide you with each individual band on its own to gain maximum flexibility and minimal CPU for multiple track use.

I have created the “ALL” program for the most common use, allowing you to choose from the entire range of Frequencies from a single controller. This gives the EQ the feel of a classic console band with added CPU flexibility.

I have also created “preamp” Electronics In to Electronies Out with the EQ engaged and bypassed, and a full set of “Clean” programs that remove the harmonic content for reduced CPU and for the best of all worlds; the accurate sound of the ACQ 560 with perfect specs if desired (but we all know the glorious thing about analog is the harmonic content!)

ACQ-PRE-EQ
ACQ-PRE-EQ C
ACQ-PRE-NEQ
ACQ-PRE-NEQ C
ACQ560-31
ACQ560-31 C
ACQ560-63
ACQ560-63 C
ACQ560-125
ACQ560-125 C
ACQ560-250
ACQ560-250 C
ACQ560-500
ACQ560-500 C
ACQ560-1kHz
ACQ560-1kHz C
ACQ560-2kHz
ACQ560-2kHz C
ACQ560-4kHz
ACQ560-4kHz C
ACQ560-8kHz
ACQ560-8kHz C
ACQ560-16kHz
ACQ560-16kHz C
ACQ560-EQ-ALL
ACQ560-EQ-ALL C

ACQ-PRE-EQ
This program provides you with the electronics of the ACQ 560 EQ with 8 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion “electronics to electronics” from the input through the famous 2520 op-amps and through the entire EQ circuit, set to flat, and leaving the output.

ACQ-PRE-EQ C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ-PRE-NEQ

This program provides you with the electronics of the ACQ 560 EQ with 8 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion “electronics to electronics” from the input through the famous 2520 op-amps with the EQ circuit bypassed, and leaving the output.

ACQ-PRE-NEQ C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-31
This program provides you with the 31Hz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-31 C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-63
This program provides you with the 63Hz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-63 C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-125
This program provides you with the 125Hz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-125 C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-250
This program provides you with the 250Hz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-250 C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-500
This program provides you with the 500Hz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-500 C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-1kHz
This program provides you with the 1kHz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-1kHz C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-2kHz
This program provides you with the 2kHz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-2kHz C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-4kHz
This program provides you with the 4kHz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-4kHz C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-8kHz
This program provides you with the 8kHz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-8kHz C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-16kHz
This program provides you with the 16Hz Band of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program when you want to apply this Frequency and reserve CPU for only one setting.

ACQ560-16kHz C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

ACQ560-EQ-ALL
This program provides you with all 10 Bands of the 560 with 3 Kernels of Harmonic Distortion from -12dB to +12dB. Use this program so that you can choose, listen, audition all 10 bands selected from a single Frequency controller.

ACQ560-EQ-ALL C

This program is the same as above without any harmonic distortion. The “C” stands for “Clean” mode.

Return To Index

About the “ACQ 560 – The American Classic EQ” for Nebula Pro

“ACQ 560 – The American Classic EQ” was first introduced in 1967 as a design to be used in a console. It was decided to make it widely available for multiple tasks in the famous outboard racks and side cars. It is used for individual instruments, buss pairs, and main mix buss on countless hit recordings.

The “proportional” EQ quality makes it useful on multiple levels. At lower gain settings you can use the wide “Q” shape for full mix mastering, smoothing out parts of the mix while applying the shape elsewhere, accurately correcting a boost or cut with precision, and it helps the EQ to act as a dual role as a parametric with a built in “Q” width and a fixed setting on a single knob.

The 560 is known for having essentially two unique sectors in the boost and cut; from 0dB gain to +/- 4dB and around +/-8dB to Peak at +/-12dB. There is minimal movement in these two regions making it ideal for fine tuning. At larger boosts, the high gain centers closer to +/-8dB to +/-12dB until it reaches full gain. The smoothness in the shape of the “Q” is something that has been perfected over the years, presenting the ideal version of the 560 found in this collection.

The sound is unmatched by any EQ no matter what the cost, partly due to the famous 2520 op-amps that lend a clean but recognizable coloration.