FabFilter Pro-Q Explained

Join studio master Eli Krantzberg as he takes you through Fab Filter Pro-Q 2, 3 & 4, some of the most highly regarded equalizer plug-ins available. In this in-depth video tutorial series, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to navigate and utilize this creative EQ in sound design, mixing, and even mastering.

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

• Welcome to the Neighborhood (04:28) - Jump right in, take a look around, and see where the main functions are.

• Workflow Functions You Need to Know (06:55) - Become a power user with these band creation, selection, editing, soloing, and display shortcuts.

• Spectrum Analyzer, Keyboard, & EQ Match (07:49) - See the new keyboard quantize, spectrum analyzer & grab, and EQ Match functions in action.

• New EQ Shapes (06:30) - Explore the new Tilt and Band Pass shapes, variable slope functions, Mid/Side processing, Auto Gain function, and the Natural Phase processing mode.

• Presets & Options (03:18) - See how to manage presets and set a couple of final interface display options.

FabFilter Pro-Q 3

• Dynamic EQ (07:29) - See how the ability to change the gain of an EQ band dynamically, depending on the level of the input signal, works in the new Pro Q-3 update.

• New Filter Features (02:44) - Learn about the new brickwall slope available for high pass and low pass filters, the new flat tilt filter shape, and the ability to split individual bands into mid and side signals.

• New Spectrum Features (04:44) - See how the most important peaks now show a label displaying either their frequency or note value in the spectrum display, how to visualize an external spectrum in the main EQ track, including possible areas of collision; and how to adjust the response of the spectrum display.

• Miscellaneous Improvements (03:21) - Discover the improved Match EQ ability to use an external instance of Pro Q-3 as a reference, the new invert gain option in the EQ band menu, and the new ability to monitor the mid/side signals from the Output Options panel.

FabFilter Pro-Q 4

• EQ Sketch (03:18) - Discover how to sculpt the broad tone of your track by drawing in a freehand curve to get started with a handful of usable EQ bands.

• Fractional Slopes (01:51) - See three different ways to set fractional slope values in between the fixed slope choices.

• Instance List (05:33) - Learn how to use this new feature to control any Pro-Q 4 instance in your session/project from a single plug-in interface.

• Spectral Dynamics (06:02) - Explore this new variation of Dynamic EQ where resonance suppression (or expansion) is triggered on specific frequencies within a dynamic band when it exceeds the threshold, leaving the other frequencies untouched.

• Character Modes (02:50) - New Subtle and Moderate character modes add subtle vintage-style and tube-like saturation to the processed signal. Hear them in action and then see how to set your default preset to include one of these new saturation modes.

• Other New Features (05:20) - See how external side-chaining on a dynamic band works, how to use the new Free mode to have a band react to the level in a different area of the frequency range, how to use the new All Pass Filter mode, copy and paste individual bands between Pro-Q 4 instances, and more.

• Enhancements in the 4.0.2 Update (04:44) - Hear the new spectral tilt parameter in action and learn about some other under the hood improvements.