The Maag EQ4 lists at $115. RysUpAir costs $0. If you are hunting for a Maag EQ4 alternative, you want one thing from it: that open, expensive top end on a vocal without the harsh S's that a normal high shelf drags up with it. RysUpAir is built for exactly that job, it is free, and it takes about ten seconds to dial in.
Verdict: for vocal air, RysUpAir is the smarter buy because the price is zero and its air lanes react to the level of the top end instead of boosting everything the same amount.
Disclosure: Rys Up Audio makes RysUpAir and RysUpSuite. Maag EQ4 facts come from the official Plugin Alliance product page, checked October 20, 2026. This is a design, workflow and price comparison. We did not run a blind listening test, so nothing here claims a sound quality winner.
What the Maag EQ4 does
The EQ4 is the plugin version of the Maag Audio hardware EQ, modeled by Brainworx and sold through Plugin Alliance. Its reputation comes from one control: the AIR BAND.
The AIR BAND is a boost only high shelf. You pick a corner at 2.5, 5, 10, 20 or 40 kHz, then turn up AIR GAIN. Around it sit fixed bands at SUB (10 Hz), 40 Hz, 160 Hz, 650 Hz and 2.5 kHz, plus a level trim.
It is a static EQ. Whatever you set is the boost the vocal gets on every word, whether the singer whispers or belts.
What RysUpAir does differently
RysUpAir is a dedicated air processor, not a channel EQ. It has two knobs that matter: Mid Air and High Air. Each one feeds its own lane.
- Mid Air high passes the signal around 3 kHz, runs that band through its own compressor, and blends it back with the clean dry signal. That is presence and diction.
- High Air does the same job higher up, starting around 9 kHz, for sheen and breath.
- Trim gives you ±12 dB of output so your A/B is level matched.
- Link moves both lanes together when you want one knob control.
The dry path stays frequency flat. Nothing gets scooped or colored underneath. You are only adding top end on top of the original vocal.
Static shelf vs dynamic air
This is the whole decision, so here is the plain version.
A static shelf adds the same dB everywhere above its corner. Turn the AIR BAND up enough to hear shine on soft words and the loud S's, T's and cymbal bleed get the exact same lift. Then you reach for a de esser to undo half of what you just did.
RysUpAir runs each boosted band through a compressor before it hits the mix. When the top end gets loud, the added band gets pulled back. Soft, airy moments get the full lift. Hot sibilant moments get less. That is why you can push it harder on a bright vocal before it turns brittle.
The result: one plugin doing the job a shelf EQ plus a de esser usually does together. If your vocal is still spitting after that, put RysUpDS before it and read how to de ess vocals.
Feature table
| Feature | Maag EQ4 | RysUpAir |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked Oct 20, 2026 | $115 list on Plugin Alliance | Free |
| Air control | Boost only shelf, 2.5 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40 kHz corners | Two air lanes, Mid Air from about 3 kHz and High Air from about 9 kHz |
| Reacts to vocal level | No, static boost | Yes, each lane has its own compressor |
| Low and mid bands | SUB, 40 Hz, 160 Hz, 650 Hz, 2.5 kHz | None. Pair with RysUpEQ for tone shaping |
| Output trim | Yes | Yes, ±12 dB |
| One knob mode | No | Link toggle |
| Formats | AU, VST2, VST3, AAX | AU, VST3, AAX on Mac and Windows |
| Install path | Plugin Alliance installer and license | RysUpHub, no iLok |
Honest note: the EQ4 does more than air. If you want its low band shaping, that is a different tool for a different job. For the top end on a vocal, the table speaks for itself.
The price gap
Plugin Alliance also bundles the EQ4 into its subscription tiers, so you can rent it monthly. But then you are paying forever for one air knob.
RysUpAir is free to own. No trial clock, no subscription, no hardware key. If you want the rest of the Rys Up chain, RysUpSuite covers every current and future paid Rys Up plugin for $9.99 a month billed yearly.
Air settings for vocals
Start here, then trust your ears. Bypass often and keep the level matched with Trim.
- Put it late in the chain. After EQ, compression and de essing. Air added before a compressor gets squashed and changes how the compressor reacts. See the full vocal chain order guide.
- Rap and spoken vocals: Mid Air 30 to 45%, High Air 15 to 25%. Diction comes forward without hiss.
- Pop and R&B leads: Mid Air 20 to 35%, High Air 35 to 55%. That glossy, breathy top end.
- Dark mic or dull room: push both to 50% or more, then pull Trim down until the bypass jump disappears.
- Background stacks: High Air only, low amount, so the lead keeps the brightest spot.
Want the full clarity workflow? Read how to make vocals sound crisp and clear.
Questions producers ask
Is RysUpAir really free? Yes. It costs $0 and installs through the free RysUpHub on Mac and Windows.
Can RysUpAir replace the Maag EQ4 AIR BAND? For adding air to vocals, yes. It goes further because its lanes respond to level instead of applying one static boost. It does not copy the EQ4's low bands.
Will it make my vocal harsh? Less than a static shelf at the same perceived brightness, because each lane is compressed. A really sibilant take still needs a de esser first.
Does it need an iLok? No. RysUpHub handles install and activation.
Does it work on the master bus? It is built and tuned for vocals, but nothing stops you using it on a bus. Start with low settings.
Get the air for free
The Maag EQ4 is a classic. RysUpAir gives you level aware vocal air for nothing. Grab it, drop it last on your vocal, and hear the difference in a minute.
RysUpSuite bills $119.88 a year and covers every current and future paid Rys Up plugin while it stays active. Prefer no commitment? Suite is $14.99 month to month.
Keep comparing: RysUpAir vs Waves Vitamin, our Fresh Air alternative guide, the best free exciter plugins and the vocal EQ roundup. Learn the basics in how to EQ vocals. The whole catalog lives on the Rys Up plugin lineup.
Sources. Maag EQ4 price, bands, AIR BAND corners and formats were read from the official Plugin Alliance product page on October 20, 2026. Sale prices move often, so treat the competitor price as a dated snapshot. RysUpAir details come from the shipping 1.4.26 build.