How to Sculpt the Mix Bus with the A-Designs HAMMER 2

The mix bus is where everything comes together—and a well-placed EQ can make the difference between a good mix and a great one. Enter the A-Designs HAMMER 2, a dual-mono tube equalizer that brings mastering-grade sweetness to your stereo bus, vocals, and stems.

What Makes the HAMMER 2 Ideal for the Mix Bus?

The HAMMER 2’s tube design adds a musical warmth and subtle compression that “glues” your mix together. But what sets it apart is the way it shapes frequencies—smoothly, musically, and without phase smear or harshness. It’s not about clinical correction; it’s about giving your mix depth, dimension, and polish.

Three Ways to Use the HAMMER 2 on the Mix Bus

• Add Top-End Sparkle: Gently boost at 10kHz or 15kHz to bring clarity and air without brittleness. The HAMMER 2’s top end is silky—perfect for modern pop and acoustic mixes alike.
• Warm Up the Lows: A small boost around 50–100Hz can add weight and power to your mix bus without clouding the low mids.
• Midrange Shaping: Dial in subtle boosts or cuts around 1–2.5kHz to help vocals sit better or tame boxiness across the whole mix.

Why Tubes Matter Here

On the mix bus, harsh EQs or poor phase response can collapse your stereo image or introduce artifacts. The HAMMER 2’s tube circuit naturally smooths out transients and adds harmonic richness that enhances the perception of depth. It’s subtle, but engineers often say it just “sounds finished.”

Settings to Try

• Pop/Rock: Boost 10kHz (+2dB), Cut 2.5kHz (–1dB), Boost 50Hz (+1.5dB)
• Acoustic: Boost 15kHz (+2dB), Cut 400Hz (–1.5dB), Boost 100Hz (+1dB)
• Mastering Polish: Subtle boost at 15kHz (+1dB) and 60Hz (+0.5dB)

Why the HAMMER 2 is So Easy to Dial In

One of the most underrated aspects of the HAMMER 2 is how forgiving it is. Unlike surgical EQs that require pinpoint precision, the HAMMER 2 invites you to turn knobs by ear—its wide, overlapping bell curves and smooth gain structure mean you won’t accidentally ruin a mix with one wrong move. It’s designed for intuitive adjustments that make everything sound better.

Analog EQ with a Digital Workflow

Many engineers are now working in hybrid studios—mixing in-the-box but finishing with analog gear. The HAMMER 2 fits seamlessly into this workflow. Whether you’re printing stems or running your stereo mix through it in real time, it responds beautifully to detail, movement, and harmonic content. It can make a harsh ITB mix feel like it came off 2" tape.

Pro Tip: Subtle is Powerful

The HAMMER 2 isn’t about dramatic changes—it’s about subtle shaping that enhances emotion and cohesion. You don’t need huge moves to hear the difference. Think of it as the final brushstroke on a nearly complete painting.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re mixing for clients or mastering your own work, the A-Designs HAMMER 2 brings that elusive “record-ready” sound with elegance and ease. Its intuitive layout, premium components, and tube-powered mojo make it a top-tier tool for sonic sculpting—especially when your mix needs a little love before heading out the door.