FabFilter Pro-Q

This is run on a Mac Pro Duo running Snow Leopard and Logic 9. No need for a manual if you have ever use a GUI based EQ plugin, which most DAW's these days include. The interface is like all FabFilter plugins, easy to read and navigate. This one is particularly lush and vibrant with the different amount of colors that represent the frequencies. All controls are easily accessed directly or through little sub menus.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

So far the Pro Q has worked great. No crashes and no glitches. I love this plugin. It performs wonderfully and is quite nice to look at and use. The ease of adding more EQ nodes via double clicking is a real convenience. You can pretty much add as many as you want and make some strange EQ curves. Even when you make some hairy ones, it's not as big of a pain to decipher each EQ node's affect thanks to the colors and the vivid separation. The Analyzer is very convenient as well and seems to be quite accurate. I have been using this plugin for 5 months.

OVERALL OPINION

It's hard to say what I love best about this particular EQ. For one, its very easy to read as it is decently large and very clean. It also gets points for the wonderful colors. The EQ in itself is very quality and accurate. And it has the FabFilter Standard Undo/Redo as well as A/B which is a blessing. Because of these reasons it has replaced almost completely the use of the built in Logic EQ. Nothing to hate on for this plugin. The sound quality is as good if not better than any other virtual EQ I have ever used. I have used the built in Logic and Ableton EQ's and also Presonus' Eye Q which was okay but not as good as this one graphically. Yes, I would recommend this plug in as I use it often and enjoy it thoroughly.

The FabFilter Pro-Q is an in depth equalizer/filter plug-in. It's available for both Mac and PC operating systems and in VST, AU, or RTAS formats. I don't own this plug-in, so I wasn't the one to install it. I work as an assistant engineer for a producer on a freelance basis and he's got this plug-in at his home studio, which he swears by and has really turned me on to it. I love the interface of the Pro-Q as beyond just looking awesome it's super easy to use and provides as much or more control over what you can do as any EQ plug-in out there. The graph is extremely helpful to plot your points, and you can have up to 24 bands of EQ, so you're never going to run out of options here. It also has a zero latency mode, which is always nice. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily hard to use this plug-in, but there's a ton that you can do with it and it certainly took me a number of uses to learn everything about it, and I'm still learning little things here and there. A manual or a general overview of the plug-in would be a good idea for a new user.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

The system that I've used the FabFilter Pro-Q on is Pro Tools HD based. I don't know all the specs for the system that he's running, but it's an Apple G5 computer and Pro Tools HD, so not too many plug-ins are going to lag here. Even while this may take up more processing power than most EQ's out there, you still should be able to run a good amount of them once if you're currently able to run plug-ins without issues.

OVERALL OPINION

The FabFilter Pro-Q is probably my favorite EQ plug-in. It's just so in depth that it trumps most other EQ's out there based on flexibility alone. It also has a number of features like zero latency monitoring that you're just not going to find on most EQ's. However, the crystal clear sound of the Pro-Q makes it what it is. This is the perfect one stop shop for equalization and filtering, whether you're looking to remove a certain frequency or bring out certain colors in your sound. The price of the Pro-Q isn't too bad considering what you're getting here. If you're looking for something really cheap to get started with, the Micro plug-in is a one band EQ and is good place to start. If you're looking for a top of the line EQ, the FabFilter Pro-Q is the one I'd recommend.

The installation is no problem, and very valuable, the software is provided in all versions required: VST2, VST3, AU, 32 or 64 bit on Mac or PC. As usual FabFilter with the manual is interesting and well done even if it is not, alas, translated into French.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I use the plug in Cubase 6.5 and Studio One 2, 32 and 64 bit on a Dell XPS 8500. No crash to report or any oddity.

OVERALL OPINION

It is almost two years since my basic EQ. It sounds like all other digital EQ, but its strong point is the ergonomics: ultra clear interface, waveform viewer, keyboard shortcuts damn well ... In short, it does not equate better or worse than Sonnox, but it is just 1000 times more convenient and fast to use.

If I had to find a fault, it is rather a feature I adore the Voxengo GlissEQ: the ability to display the curve of another or several other tracks overlaid.

Finally, know this: it is not here a vintage EQ PSP NobleQ. That's not the point.

In any case, for me, is almost perfect for a quite reasonable price, especially bundle or enjoying discounts that accumulate from FabFilter.

Easy installation. For basic functionality of Eq, we can do without documentation but to exploit the innovative features of the product, there is no need to consult the online help, very clear (but in my English version).

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

This is Eq, treatment is very greedy, even by pressing the "linear phase" or spectrum analyzer.

OVERALL OPINION

There is now a slew of Eq Vst format excluding Daw integrated Eq. Why this one rather than another?
Well, because the Fab Filter Pro Q is the most comprehensive, most ergonomic and smartest Eq.
* The most complete: 24 bands!, Treatment M / S, spectrum analyzer, linear phase, + /-30db per band, all possible type of filter, Peak meter, Gain general, Frequency 10Hz-30kHz working
* The most ergonomic High visibility, window dedicated to the curves and their drawing, display contextual parameters to avoid overloading the interface, the spectrum analyzer superimposed very complete and efficient (fast), gain / frequency / Q simultaneously adjustable with one hand (with the mouse).
* The smartest: The scale automatically adjusts gain the opportunity to listen to the band selected, the processing of a stereo source, treatment M / S

Eq is not as complete as in the possibilities of treatment than visual feedback. Everything is perfectly designed, a true work of art. Unable to return to something else after trying it.
With this type of product as well developed, measuring the best path through the digital analog EQ The most valuable are completely dropped.