Ableton Forum

Hi,

I recently realised why I'm having such problems with my mix downs in Ableton. EQ Eight is a soft EQ and not fully cutting the frequencies I no longer want (I noticed this when using Spectrum analyser).

Why does Ableton not have a effective EQ + Visualiser as a combined unit, I'm considering using Logic for my mix downs as it seems to be far more functional but I would rather do everything in ableton.

What are other people using? Should I consider using an external EQ such as izotope ozone?

hey rubber,
ive noticed something similar when using the ableton EQ and have been wondering myself why ableton doesn't have a good spectral EQ.
I've been using the sonalksis MK2 EQ, has a built in spectral analyzer and seems to cut frequencies alot more effectively.

Nice one heuristics, i'll check sonalksis out. Do you rate this as much as logics spectral eq?

Considering bouncing all my stems and finalising in Logic, but that feels like a LOOONG process

You should always EQ by ear rather than looking at a spectrum analyzer. Analyzers are good for showing you if there are large peaks and valleys in the overall signal but if there are, they will be quite audible.

As far as being a "soft" EQ, that's what Q adjustments are for.

Sounds like you need to go back and study up on how EQ works.

The issue the OP is talking about is not related to Q.

Put an EQ 8 on a track and cut all the low end out, full Q. Now look at the output of a spectrum after it. You still see low end. That's what the questions about. Ala 3dot: This is because the slope in EQ8 is 12dB/octave.

EQ8 rules. if you want to "hard cut" as you say, just use a filter instead of an EQ. Ozone won't behave any different than EQ8 if you want to cut (i.e. filter) all the frequencies out of a band use a filter, not an EQ.

the slop in eq8 is 12dB/octave..
if you need a bigger slope / harsher filtering use more than 1 "band"
can be set up easily using racks!

3dot... wrote:the slop in eq8 is 12dB/octave..
if you need a bigger slope / harsher filtering use more than 1 "band"
can be set up easily using racks!

slop! I want more slop in my EQ damn it.

3dot... wrote:the slop in eq8 is 12dB/octave..
if you need a bigger slope / harsher filtering use more than 1 "band"
can be set up easily using racks!

You can set 2 of the same filter type in the same instance of EQ8 at the same frequency and it will cut at 24dB/octave.

I assume you stack 3 to get 48dB/octave cuts but I haven't tried that yet.

You can get the results using eq8 if you rack it up ( as mentioned above )

I find FabFilter Q does a very good job, and has a very good spectral analyzer, if you think this would help you making eq decisions.

( Your ears are your best analyzer )

It has a low cut/ high cut steepness ranging from 6db/12db/24db/48db per octave.

Pricey, but has a few other tricks that eq8 does not.

I like the workflow.....

tempus3r wrote:

3dot... wrote:the slop in eq8 is 12dB/octave..
if you need a bigger slope / harsher filtering use more than 1 "band"
can be set up easily using racks!

slop! I want more slop in my EQ damn it.

evolver has a "slop" knob..

HorusProject wrote:

3dot... wrote:the slop in eq8 is 12dB/octave..
if you need a bigger slope / harsher filtering use more than 1 "band"
can be set up easily using racks!

You can set 2 of the same filter type in the same instance of EQ8 at the same frequency and it will cut at 24dB/octave.

I assume you stack 3 to get 48dB/octave cuts but I haven't tried that yet.

yeah that's what I said..
if you use all 8 it's 96db/octave... beware of the Q..

there's nothing wrong with eq8. sure it would be nice for it to at least offer 12 & 24db slopes for hi/lopass but, as was said, you can rack one up.

i usually just rack an eq8 with the hi-pass freq all mapped to macro 1 and their respective q to macro 2. not that bad of a workaround.

you can then also save the rack template.

some audio racks I've made..

http://db.tt/TnAhQDgV

live eq 8 are fine ,great for drumsi use the DMG equality mostly

As others have said, there is nothing wrong with eq8. It is a well designed algo. 12db/oct is gentler and introduces less distortion. If you want 24db/octave high or low pass, eq3 works well. Multiband dynamics can also be used to do some (potentially very strange) eq things.

That said, it is nice to have another eq around. Izotope Alloy has good visualization and eq (among other things). I use Alloy when I want a full on channel strip. Usually on the drum group.


HTH