The original design behind RUST has often been considered one of the “Holy Grails” of classic equalization: an ultra-rare 1960s passive 7-band equalizer developed by Motown engineers and associated with the timeless Soul and R&B sound of that era.
With seven fixed frequency points, its design delivers a punchy, warm, and highly musical response, with proportional behavior and natural interaction between bands.
RUST 2 preserves that legacy while extending it through a new generation of dynamic processing and control.
The main addition is our NOVA engine, now powering an integrated preamp stage with two tonal modes. In RUST 2, the preamp is directly driven by the input level, so gain is not only a level control: it also shapes the plugin’s harmonic response, allowing the sound to move smoothly from cleaner tonal shaping to richer saturation.
Compared to the original RUST, all EQ models in RUST 2 have been reworked with new captures and updated through our Hyper technology, while the preamp stage has been redesigned around NOVA.
Key Features
- 7 fixed passive EQ bands: 50 Hz, 130 Hz, 320 Hz, 800 Hz, 2 kHz, 5 kHz, and 12.5 kHz
- Reworked EQ models with new captures and updated Hyper technology
- NOVA-powered preamp stage with input-driven harmonic behavior
- Two preamp modes: Vintage and Modern
- Two dedicated plugins: RUST 2 and RUST 2 STEREO, with Left/Right and Mid/Side workflows
- Advanced workflow tools: quality modes, Extended view with EQ/scope visualization, and listening modes
A Complete Tone System
RUST 2 is available as two dedicated plugins, designed for different workflows while sharing the same sonic engine.
RUST 2 GUI
RUST 2 offers detailed control over Left, Right, Mid, and Side components, along with an Extended view that includes real-time EQ visualization and an input signal scope.
RUST 2 STEREO GUI
The new dedicated RUST 2 STEREO plugin provides independent control over Left/Right or Mid/Side channels, with flexible linking for faster operation.
Dual Preamp Behavior
At the core of the system is an integrated preamp stage with two distinct tonal behaviors.
- Vintage mode delivers richer harmonic coloration and a more pronounced, old-school saturation.
- Modern mode provides a cleaner and more controlled response, ideal for precise tonal shaping.
Note: RUST 2 follows the standard Acustica calibration: -18 dBFS = 0 VU. Operating near this level ensures the most accurate analog-style behavior, while higher levels increase saturation and nonlinear response.
About NOVA
NOVA, short for Neural Optimized Volterra Audio, is Acustica’s hybrid architecture combining our Vectorial Volterra Kernels-based technology with advanced neural audio modeling.
In RUST 2, NOVA powers the integrated dual preamp stage. It allows the plugin to preserve the tonal structure, frequency response, and phase behavior of the original hardware while reacting more naturally as the input level increases.
Rather than switching between separate models, NOVA combines both approaches simultaneously: the Volterra component helps maintain structural accuracy and tonal stability, while the neural component captures the more complex nonlinear behavior that emerges when the circuit is driven harder.
The result is an input-dependent harmonic response that moves smoothly from cleaner tonal shaping to richer saturation, while maintaining the musical balance of the original passive EQ design.
Technical Information
- Supported formats: VST3, AAX, and AU
- Available sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz
- Windows compatibility: Windows 10 and 11
- macOS compatibility: macOS 10.15 Catalina to macOS Sonoma 14.x
- Apple Silicon: Native support. Rosetta is not supported
Price and Availability
RUST 2 is available now with a limited-time introductory offer of €59 instead of €149 — save 60%.
The introductory offer is valid until June 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET.
Get RUST 2
Existing owners of the original RUST are eligible for a personalized upgrade discount code.
Users who already own one of our NOVA-powered products (Yellow, Ruby 3, or Salt 2) are eligible for a personalized crossgrade discount code.
To access your personalized offer, log in to your Acustica Audio account and check the My coupon codes section under My Account.
Please note: personalized offers already include the applicable Loyal Customer discount and cannot be combined with additional discounts.
How to redeem your upgrade code
Try our FREE 30-Day Trial
Note: The RUST 2 trial version supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz sample rates.
Please remember that trials expire 30 days after authorization, so we do not recommend using trial products in commercial sessions or important projects.
RUST 2 user's manual
RUST 2 webpage: https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/RUST2