Drawmer - MQ-1

The Drawmer MQ-1 is a 500 Series format 7-band analogue equaliser, directly inspired by the famous Motown equaliser from Detroit studios in the 60s. Designed to deliver rich, natural and organic musical colour, it combines the precision of modern British design with the vintage character of a fully analogue circuit.

Each band of the MQ-1 is centred on the iconic frequencies of the original EQ, offering a ±10dB range of gain with a Proportional-Q curve. This means that the bandwidth adjusts automatically according to the level of correction applied, making each adjustment intuitive and musical. From 50 Hz to 12.5 kHz, each frequency point acts in a musical way: reinforcing presence, adding weight to the bass, opening up the air in the mix or sculpting the definition of the midrange becomes a precise and inspiring task.

The distinctive feature of the MQ-1 is the CRUSH function, inherited from the 1971 Drawmer. When activated, this section introduces gentle, progressive harmonic saturation, giving a typically analogue density and warmth. The more the signal is pushed, the more CRUSH enriches the sound texture: it thickens the bass, adds grit to the midrange and a natural brilliance to the treble. This subtle colouring transforms a simple EQ into a truly creative tool, capable of breathing new life into any mixing socket or bus.

The MQ-1 also features a hardware bypass for instant comparison of the processed and original signal, as well as a Harmonics LED indicator showing the intensity of harmonic processing. Its low-noise design (-93.5 dB) and minimal distortion (0.002% THD) guarantee a transparent, professional sound, even in CRUSH mode.

Manufactured in the UK in Drawmer's workshops, this module occupies a single 500 rack slot and fits perfectly into any modern studio environment. Whether you're mastering, colouring vocal tracks or processing stereo busses, the MQ-1 brings that vintage musical grain while retaining the precision of contemporary processing.

The Drawmer MQ-1 embodies both the heritage of Motown sound and modern technical rigour. It is aimed at sound engineers, producers and musicians looking for an expressive tonal palette capable of combining precision and sonic emotion.