MIXING & EFFECTS

Fruity Parametric EQ 2

Fruity Parametric EQ 2 is an advanced 7-Band parametric equalizer plugin with spectral analysis. Equalizing is the process of increasing or decreasing the loudness of specific frequencies. The Band type (shape), center frequency and width of each Band are fully adjustable. You can choose from High Shelf, Low Shelf, Peaking, Band Pass, Notch, Low Pass, High Pass or Band Pass filters for each Band independently. There is also a global gain slider to adjust the overall volume.

When to use: Parametric EQ 2 is a good choice whenever precise control over EQ is required (e.g. Mastering and controlling or enhancing specific frequencies at an instrument level). Alternatively, if screen space is tight use Fruity Parametric EQ, or for a graphic EQ, try EQUO. NOTE: If you require even more precise control over EQ, the off-line Equalize Tool in Edison provides the greatest precision of all the EQ plugins.

Parameters

1. Band Type & Filter Slope Selectors - Note that the upper section shows different shapes (Band Type) with dots below each shape (Filter Slope). Band Type: Left-click and drag up/down to change the filter type between OFF, Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass, Notch, Low Shelf, Peaking, High Shelf. Filter Slope: Left-click and drag up/down on the dot/s below each band shape to select filter slope. Down = Steep 4, 6 & 8, Up = Gentle 2, 6 & 8 (the steep filters give more precision in EQ isolation). NOTE: The Band Tokens can also be Right-clicked to show menus for both filter and slope types.
2. EQ Sliders - Adjust the equalization level by sliding up/down. The Band Tokens can also be directly clicked & dragged. Note that Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass and Notch filters don't use this parameter (so the slider is disabled).
3. FREQ / BW - Controls the center frequency and bandwidth of the EQ Band.
4. Band Token - Most Band EQ manipulations can be made by clicking on a Band Token and dragging with the mouse. Mouse wheel controls band-width.
   • Bandwidth - Several methods. 1. Shift+Click and move mouse left/right on Bands; 2. Click the mouse-wheel and do the same, OR 3. Scroll the mouse-wheel while hovering over the token.
   • Reset Band - Alt+Click a Band to reset a Band.
   • Fine Adjustment - Ctrl+Click a Band to make fine adjustments (same for all knobs and sliders).
   • Main Level - Left-click outside the Bands to adjust the main level control (the cursor will change from pointer to a cross).
   • Filter Type & Order - Right-click on the token to open a menu of filter types and filter orders.
5. Options and Settings - From left to right:
   • Options:
     • High precision monitor - Increases the resolution of the background frequency spectrum monitoring at the expense of display latency (plugin audio latency remains unaffected).
     • About - Shows version details and credits.
   • HQ - Uses oversampling to improve audio quality, particularly in the region above 15 kHz. NOTE: HQ mode increases CPU load.
   • View Band tokens - Turns the tokens ON/OFF.
   • Monitor - Turns the spectral monitoring ON/OFF or shows the spectrum of the plugin output.
   • Compare - Click the first down-arrow to save the current EQ settings to a spare bank. Click the up/down arrow control to swap between the saved bank and the main bank. Tweaking any parameter in the spare bank will cause it to become the main bank again. Use this to compare EQ settings. Note that the comparison bank is saved along with the main bank, so keep this in mind if you are creating presets.

Notes

Disabled Bands - When the filter type is set to 'off', peaking/shelf Bands that are not amplified will not use CPU resources.

Need more Bands? - You can stack more than one instance of Parametric EQ 2 in a Mixer track to gain more EQ channels - two instances provide 14 Bands of Parametric EQ!

Plugin Credits

Code & GUI: Didier Dambrin.

Thanks to: Robert Bristow-Johnson for his EQ Cookbook.