FABFILTER PRO-Q 3

The next stage in the ongoing evolution of this justifiably popular EQ plugin introduces a dynamic mode, surround sound and more

FabFilter’s Pro-Q has been one of our go-to EQ plugins ever since its launch at the end of 2009 (9/10, 148), thanks to its smooth, accessible interface and endless versatility. The latest version, Pro-Q 3 (VST/AU/AAX), adds a dynamic EQ mode, enabling compression and expansion of discrete frequency bands, alongside a number of other enhancements . Before we get into all that, though, let’s run through the fundamentals for the uninitiated.

Pro-Q is a highly configurable EQ plugin that does everything it can to make designing your ideal response curve as easy as possible. Up to 24 bands are added and adjusted directly in the main display through a cleverly conceived combination of mouse movements and modifier keys, although a pop-up control panel also lays out Frequency, Q, Gain, etc, as knobs, should you prefer that way of working. Every band offers the same choice of filter types (Bell, Low Shelf, High Cut, etc) within its Band (right-click) menu and the control panel, as well as six roll-off slopes from 12 to 96dB/octave. Introduced in Pro-Q 2 (10/10, 211), the ingenious Spectrum Grab feature lets you drag any point on the postEQ spectrum itself up and down to adjust the volume level at that frequency, automatically setting up the requisite EQ filter in the background. V2 also added EQ Match to Pro-Q’s arsenal, via which the spectral profile of an external signal is imposed on the source signal to put it in the same sonic ballpark. Throw in the Piano display mode (showing filter frequencies as musical notes), a choice of processing modes (Linear Phase, Zero Latency and the unique Natural Phase) a full screen option and more, and you have an EQ that already takes some beating. Say hello, nonetheless, to Pro-Q 3…

“Dynamic EQ isn’t a new concept by any means, but Pro-Q 3’s implementation of it is supremely elegant”

Expanding horizons

Dynamic EQ isn’t a new concept by any means, but Pro-Q 3’s implementation of it is supremely elegant. Any bell or shelf can be switched to Dynamic EQ mode, The Dynamic Range (ie, ratio) is set by adjusting the collar that appears around the Gain knob, dragging the up/down arrows that appear in the band’s coloured gain curve, or Alt-mousewheeling over the node. When it’s below the gain setting, compression is applied, lowering the volume of the louder parts