![parametric eq vs graphic eq parametric eq vs graphic eq](https://www.minidsp.com/images/appnotes/parametric-eq-setting.png)
The simplest EQ type in this article is probably Graphic EQ. It’s the best all rounder, I use it on everything as standard. The flexibility of Parametric EQs allows you to use it on single tracks or on the master chain sculpting the entire mix. You can widen a bandwidth to cover multiple bands, boosting or cutting through the lows, mids and highs at the same time. You can narrow the bandwidth into a single frequency then boost or cut. Parametric EQs are useful for everything because you can be as broad or as surgical as you need to be. Some prime examples of Parametric EQs are: The frequency spectrum is usually divided into 3-7 bands, depending on which Parametric EQ you are using. Parametric EQs allow you to boost or cut the amplitude, move this boost or cut up or down the frequency spectrum, and widen or narrow the bandwidth of each band. It is a multi-band variable EQ, which in short means your frequency spectrum is split up into bands, and you have control of each band’s frequency, amplitude and Q value (also known as bandwidth). The most common and arguably most useful of the EQs is Parametric. If you want to understand more about the basics of EQing, read our Beginners EQ Advice first. We’ll answer all these questions and help to provide you with a better understanding of EQ and its intricacies. Get a parametric equalizer and fiddle around with it, you may be surprised at the kind of music quality you can achieve.In the top drawer of every producer and mix engineer’s toolbox is a plugin seemingly sent from the gods.ĮQ's are a gorgeous feat of engineering used to sculpt the frequencies in your recordings and sounds.īut what are the differences between Parametric, Graphic, and Dynamic EQs? What is Linear Phase EQ and when should you use it? To wrap it up, a graphic EQ gives you the quick and dirty frequency adjustments while a parametric EQ lets you go in with surgical precision and finish the job. So, from 300Hz to 330Hz all of those frequencies will be cut in a sloping pattern, with the 300Hz and 330Hz receiving the least amount of cut. It still sounds bad however, so you decide to up the bandwidth (Q) and bring a few other frequencies near 315HZ down as well. This won’t affect the surrounding frequencies like the graphic EQ does. 315Hz is your culprit and seems too loud giving you a weird musical response so you cut the 315Hz fixed frequency and only that frequency. Think of Parametric EQs as the surgical work when it comes to frequencies. The objective of this EQ is to shape the sound very precisely at each frequency by adjusting the level (boost/cut), the center (fixed) frequency and the bandwidth (Q) of each frequency. The Parametric EQ is technically a different tool all together and best used after tweaking your graphic equalizer. What if you want to cut 100Hz and ONLY 100Hz? Say hello to the Parametric EQ. Essentially, graphic EQs have fixed center frequencies (ex 125Hz), fixed bandwidth (frequency range the boost/cut will effect), and adjustable level (boost/cut in dB).
![parametric eq vs graphic eq parametric eq vs graphic eq](https://audiouniversityonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Graphic-EQ-1-900.jpg)
This might seem preposterous to some, but with 20,000 frequencies available, a 20,000 band EQ is not practical. The farther the frequency is away from the frequency being cut, the less it is cut. So, what about all of the other frequencies, are they left out from getting a boost or cut? The Graphic EQ drags frequencies along with it, for example if you take 125Hz and cut it, the surrounding frequencies will cut with it in a slope pattern. The frequency can be boosted or cut by a range of +/- 12dB for this EQ but could be different for other equalizers. For example, a seven band graphic EQ like the Clarion EQS746 can boost or cut 7 fixed frequencies which are 50Hz (bass), 125Hz (mid-bass), 315Hz (upper midbass), 750Hz (lower midrange), 2.2kHz (midrange), 6kHz (upper midrange) and 16kHz (treble or high-frequency). Graphic equalizers will have a number of bands, or frequencies, that it can boost or cut.
![parametric eq vs graphic eq parametric eq vs graphic eq](https://wealthysound.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/image-3-4-1024x458.jpg)
You will find these equalizers as physical sliders, knobs or in a digital format found on most aftermarket car stereos. The most common type of equalizer is the graphic EQ which is composed of a row of sliders that are pushed up or down to boost (raise dB) or cut (lower dB) bands of frequencies. The two main equalizers are known as Parametric and Graphic and they both have different ways of functioning and tweaking your sounds.
#PARAMETRIC EQ VS GRAPHIC EQ FULL#
These are simple equalizers and in no way unleash the full potential of your music. Most individuals are familiar with bass and treble controls from stock car stereo systems. They both serve the same function to adjust and enhance the strength of the frequencies in the signal running through it.
![parametric eq vs graphic eq parametric eq vs graphic eq](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uIPvMc9bu6M/maxresdefault.jpg)
Equalizers have been seen a lot in car audio headunits and home audio setups.