Helios Type 69 EQ and PreAmp

Universal Audio's Helios Type 69 plugin models the three-band preamp and equalizer from the legendary British mixing console, originally installed in studios including Olympic in London and the Rolling Stones' mobile unit. The emulation is based on meticulous circuit analysis of two original "golden units," capturing the console's characteristic warmth and assertiveness across the frequency spectrum.

The plugin's strength lies in its ability to apply aggressive EQ moves while maintaining musical results. The three-band design emphasizes midrange coloration, allowing producers to add presence and attitude to vocals, guitars, and drums without the harshness typical of clinical equalizers. The saturation behavior of the original hardware's transformer-based signal path is faithfully reproduced, which accounts for much of its tonal appeal on sources requiring bold shaping.

The low-frequency section offers four distinct boost filters that provide the thick, wide bass foundation heard on classic rock and reggae recordings from the 1960s and 1970s. A fixed 50 Hz high-pass filter option serves practical mixing duties for cleaning up overhead and room microphone sources. On Apollo hardware, Universal Audio's Unison technology enables realtime tracking through the plugin, emulating the original preamp's input impedance and gain stage characteristics.

The Helios Type 69 suits engineers pursuing vintage-inflected sonics on rock, pop, and alternative projects. It competes directly with hardware emulations of other classic British consoles, though its particular voice and aggressive EQ character make it best suited for sources benefiting from pronounced midrange manipulation rather than transparent processing. Its heritage and documented use on countless landmark recordings make it an essential reference point for understanding analog console tone.