Ableton Forum

Hi Olly, yes, indeed it has been a while. Mrs. Neb and Neb Jr. are both doing great. How're you?

Awesome thanks fella! as are MrsB1 and the littleB1s

ze2be wrote:

psyfi wrote:I do use EQ 8 for general broad EQ jobs but I find for things like high passing I need something with a steeper curve than 24 BD.

If you rack the EQ8, you can stack filters on the same macro. This gives you steeper curves.

But I hope you are aware that stacking two 24dB/oct Filters with the same cutoff is NOT the same as having a 48dB/oct from the start. This should already be clear when thinking about the cutoff-frequency:
All (or better most, because its a definition thing) have the cutoff-frequency (the one you will set up on the EQ panel or GUI) damped already by -3dB: You might have noticed by using EQ8 (EQuate), the filter already rolls of there. So what if you add 2 of them? You will have of course 48dB/oct steepness, but also 2 x -3dB = -6dB at the cutoff-frequency, right? But an REAL 48dB/oct cut filter you will have -3dB at the cutoff-frequency.
You could compensate with the Q-control oder another bell-shaped band maybe, but I am sure, phase is also acting different, but have no evidence, as I am no expert in filter design.

I ONLY use EQ8 atm, but also want more filter types (steeper ones) and spectrum.

Mentioned here:
http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php? ... 8&start=15

^ can't you just insert a spectrum right next to the EQ8 so that you can see your changes?

nebulae wrote:^ can't you just insert a spectrum right next to the EQ8 so that you can see your changes?

Yes you can but why do to things when you can do one will be some peoples attitude. Also the way that a GUI incorporates said analyser in to the EQ controls is a factor. being able to double click on a harmonic peak you want to deal with and have your EQ node appear right there is very user friendly.
Personally when it comes to spectrum analysers and EQs I want the best EQ for the job and the best resolution and speed analyser for the job and if the two aren't that same device that's really not an issue.

nebulae wrote:^ can't you just insert a spectrum right next to the EQ8 so that you can see your changes?

Of course, this is what I am doing atm. But including the spectrum into EQ8 should provide PRE and POST curves. Now I have to add one spectrum before and one after the EQ and comparison is hard as you cannot bring up both to fullscreen at the same time. Also, EQ8 will come with the same size as Sepctrum, so if you want to have it fullscreen, there you go .

It is not ONLY about having spectrum inside EQ8. Different (higher) slopes is much more important to me, of course.

So with all this said. Can anybody recommend a good EQ plugin with and analyser?
I just got the demo of the Fabfilter Pro-Q.

A built in analyzer is pointless for creative musical EQing. Use your EQ of choice & adjust while listening. It's really that simple. Just ask yourself "Does it sound good".
With that in mind http://www.meldaproduction.com/freevstp ... alizer.php or X-eq work well for surgical EQ/analyzer tasks.

This is a great EQ, its donation ware, it received 18 forum pages at gearslutz.com full of praise. It was mentioned here last year in a short message, but it seemed nobody was interested. Meanwhile its got a new Gui and a Mac version. Check it out, its fantastic:
http://sonimus.com/site/page/downloads/

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/product- ... eebie.html

If you use it pay that guy something, he really deserves it...

so what I'm getting at is that the only advantage of getting a third party eq is for a built in spectrum analyzer and perhaps (in some cases) a more unique tone (old hardware modelers). I'm trying to pick up third party plugins for my mixing tools but I'm finding that it isn't too worthwhile to get one for eq.

Ill Frequencies wrote:So with all this said. Can anybody recommend a good EQ plugin with and analyser?
I just got the demo of the Fabfilter Pro-Q.

Pro-Q is my all time favorite EQ. But it is a bit hungry on ram and cpu. So, I use it only where it is absolutely necessary. For the rest of the mixing part, I use EQ8. For creative DJ style EQ sweeps, EQ3 is great, and also UHEs Uhbik Q is really colorful.

DMG Audio's eQuality is pretty much my go to EQ for just about everything.

Theyre all great. CPU is the only thing that makes the decision these days. Not everyone can afford a 38 core machine.

Der_Makrophag wrote: I hope you are aware that stacking two 24dB/oct Filters with the same cutoff is NOT the same as having a 48dB/oct from the start. This should already be clear when thinking about the cutoff-frequency:
All (or better most, because its a definition thing) have the cutoff-frequency (the one you will set up on the EQ panel or GUI) damped already by -3dB: You might have noticed by using EQ8 (EQuate), the filter already rolls of there. So what if you add 2 of them? You will have of course 48dB/oct steepness, but also 2 x -3dB = -6dB at the cutoff-frequency, right? But an REAL 48dB/oct cut filter you will have -3dB at the cutoff-frequency.
You could compensate with the Q-control oder another bell-shaped band maybe, but I am sure, phase is also acting different, but have no evidence, as I am no expert in filter design.

I ONLY use EQ8 atm, but also want more filter types (steeper ones) and spectrum.

I wasnt aware of that. Until now I havent trusted it for special surgical work, judging by my ears. I tested your theory, and you are absolutely right! I always use Pro Q on kick and bass, for its precision. Now I know why: when doing the same with EQ8 (hipass at 30Hz with a double layered 48dB type filter, the dB droped by at least 1! Making up with resonance did help, but it also "colored" the sound a bit.

Some EQ are more transparent than others.
So yea if you want transparent EQ, Ableton Live one is fine I guess.

If you want to use an EQ with colour (SSL Waves EQ for example) use 3rd party.