parametric vs graphic EQ

[dobro]

I'm getting into EQ these days. Here's what I find - parametric is good for dealing with a particular frequency that's making the sound ugly - find the problem by sweeping, experiment with the Q a bit, and cut it anywhere up to 6 dB. Graphic is for dealing with broader frequency issues, like lower end shelving, for example, or bumping up the whole midrange 1 dB or so.

Comments?

[Blue Bear Sound]

The only time I use a graphic at all (so far!) is to alter the signal pre-reverb. Cutting low-end to thin out the sound but improve clarity, or boosting low-end to thicken it...

Other than that, parametric's it for me!

Bruce

[Prism]

A graphic EQ just has too many options... like say a 31 band EQ. I mean gosh, that gives you a lot of options ...which isn't necessarily "bad," but you can only adjust one or two frequencies at a time.. it just seems too meticulous... On the other hand, the parametric EQ has quicker results.

Isaiah

[Tom Hicks]

I can't add to Bruce and Ed's comments,and I do agree parametric is way more versatile cause you zero in on the specific freq. without affecting nearby notes.

Tom

[elbenj]

What might even be a better option is the Paragraphic..

You select the Q type for each band...meaning on Band 1 you could have a High Pass...Band 2 could be a notch...etc etc...a good example of this would be the Q10 by Waves...

[Tekker]

On the EQs (like in CW) where it has a line above (or on the side) of the controls that gives you a visual of what the EQ frequencies look like and you can adjust the Q, Freq, and volume; is that a paragraphic? Because I was under the impression that a parametric is where you just move the knobs but don't get a visual of what it's going to look like, and that a paragraphic combines the visual of the graphic and the flexibility of the parametric. Or is a paragraphic just a graphic with a variable Q control on each band?


Oooooooo look at all dem purty colors, coooooooooool!!!

[elbenj]

Hey Tekker,

The EQ in Cakewalk is not considered paragraphic.

The simplest meaning of paragraphic would be a a graphic
eq with parametric features.

Graphic eq is normally the frequency spectrum from 0 to 20k
divided into 6 or more equally divided bands with a fixed bell curve.

Parametric normally 3 Bands whereas you can vary the freq
and with some vary the Q or bell curve.

Paragrahic you have your 6 or more bands as standard frequnecies but you can change the frequency of each band and you can als0 change the Q or Bell curve or even filter type..Notch, High pass Low pass, etc..

Check out the Waves Q10 and the XFX plug in from Sonic Foundry
these are very flexible and versatile. I would give the edge to the
Waves Q10 as far as sound goes..

[dobro]

"A graphic EQ just has too many options... like say a 31 band EQ. I mean gosh, that gives you a lot of options ...which isn't necessarily "bad," but you can only adjust one or two frequencies at a time.."

Prism - in my software, I have a 31-band graphic EQ, but I can adjust as many as I like, which is what I've been playing around with, boosting 20 bands in a row by one or two dB, for instance, to bring out mids and highs in a case where cutting the lows just isn't quite enough. I've played around with cutting everything below 60 Hz to zero, as another example. I use it to create a frequency response? like the charts you see of a mic's frequency response, which will be flat for a long while, and then suddenly boost somewhere along the spectrum. I mean, why not?