FabFilter Pro-Q4

[Piet De Ridder]

FabFilter have updated what is probably the most widely used software EQ to version 4 of their professional mastering-grade EQ plug-in with up to 24 bands, a huge range of filter types, 6-96 dB/oct slopes for all filter types, plus Brickwall slopes for the High Cut and Low Cut filters.

Key features:
• New: Draw response curves directly into the display with EQ Sketch
• New: Target problem frequencies with Spectral Dynamics
• New: Control all Pro-Q 4 instances in a session from a single interface with the Instance List
• New: Bring analog-modelled color and warmth to sounds with Character modes
• New: Copy and Paste EQ curves between plug-in instances
• New: Full-featured preset browser, with tags, favorites, search and filter functions, plus new factory presets
• New: Fractional filter slope settings, so, for example, 3 dB/oct Low Cut or 14.2 dB/oct Bell filters can now be created
• New: Apply phase adjustments with the All Pass filter type
• New: Parameter editing directly in the EQ parameter value display via dragging or mouse wheel scrolling
• Improved: Fresh new design, with resizable GPU-accelerated graphical interface and full-screen mode
• Improved: Context-sensitive curve creation previews
• Improved: Attack and Release controls for Dynamic EQ curves
• Improved: Fine-tune Dynamic EQ response with sidechain filtering
• Improved: Greater precision for Linear Phase mode
• Improved: Better analog matching in Zero Latency and Natural Phase modes
• Dynamic EQ option for every band
• Natural, Zero Latency, and Linear Phase processing modes
• Per-band Stereo, Left, Right, Mid, or Side mode
• Surround support, supporting up to Dolby Atmos 9.1.6 with flexible surround channel linking
• EQ Match for imposing the tonal characteristics of one signal on another
• Spectrum Grab: grab and adjust filters directly in the spectrum analyzer
• Intelligent multiband selection and editing, and band solo mode
• Powerful real-time spectrum analyzer with separate mastering (3/6 dB) and mixing (12/30 dB) display ranges
• Piano Display switches the frequency scale to musical note values
• Plus: All the usual FabFilter features: perfectly fine-tuned knobs and controllers, interactive MIDI Learn, undo/redo and A/B switch, Smart Parameter Interpolation for smooth parameter transitions, an extensive help file with interactive help hints, sample accurate automation, NEON and SSE optimization, and more

Spectral Dynamics
Taking problem-solving EQ to new heights, Spectral Dynamics extends Pro-Q’s existing Dynamic EQ mode with the ability to apply expansion or compression to only those frequencies within a specified band that exceed the threshold, leaving all other frequencies unaffected. Making light work of suppressing harshness and unwanted resonances, this form of processing has always required a dedicated plug-in, but Pro-Q 4 simply integrates it
as another per-band option alongside the conventional dynamic and static EQ modes users already rely on every day.

Instance List
The new Instance List button at the bottom center of any Pro-Q 4 running in a project opens an overview of all Pro-Q 4 instances, zoomable from a rack of miniaturized spectrum displays all the way up to fully-interactive displays in which curves can be created and edited as usual — including with EQ Sketch. Activate the Auto-Zoom option to automatically focus on the instance currently under the mouse pointer, and use the Filter, Quick Jump, Search, and Minimap features to easily navigate between all Pro-Q 4 instances, no matter how numerous. The Instance List will save a ton of time when mixing, and is a feast for the eyes in Full Screen mode.

EQ Sketch
Pro-Q 4 further improves on the user experience with a whole new way to create broad-strokes filter response curves: EQ Sketch. Simply drag the mouse across the main display to instantiate a series of filters set up to match any curve drawn, with slopes defined by the steepness of the user’s mouse movements. Ideal for quickly establishing general frequency-shaping starting points to be tweaked and honed using Pro-Q 4’s regular controls, EQ Sketch is a serious workflow booster — particularly when used in conjunction with the new Instance List.

Character modes
Pro-Q 4’s new Character modes bring the authentic circuit-modelled distortion for which FabFilter has long been known to Pro-Q, imbuing tracks and mixes with ear-pleasing analog flavor. Switch to the Subtle mode for gentle program- and frequency-dependent, transformer-style saturation, or the Warm mode when more obvious tube-style saturation is called for. The default Clean mode, meanwhile, retains Pro-Q’s original transparent, uncolored sound.

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FabFilter Pro-Q 4 is now available for EUR 169, USD 179, or GBP 144, supporting both Windows and macOS in VST and VST 3, Audio Units, AAX, AudioSuite, and CLAP plug-in formats. Bundles with FabFilter Pro-Q 4 and other FabFilter plug-ins are also available at: www.fabfilter.com/shop
Existing FabFilter customers can purchase or upgrade to FabFilter Pro-Q 4 with very attractive discounts by logging into their online user account at: www.fabfilter.com/myaccount

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[Tanuj Tiku]

This looks like a monster update and I am very happy to see a number of fantastic new features.

A very exciting upgrade to an already powerful EQ.

Looking forward to Dan’s walkthrough video!

[Geoff Grace]

Yeah, it looks great. I’ll be upgrading, although I may wait to see if there’s a Christmas sale in about a week so I can get a slightly better deal. In the meantime, I can always download the trial version if I’m eager.

Best,

Geoff

[tack]

Upgrade price was $62.65 USD based on the number of existing FF plugins I own (which is a lot), so it fell well below impulse buy territory for me. The instance list feature alone is worth that to me, let alone all the other new features (probably most of which I will never/hardly use, but a part of me just appreciates knowing they're there if I ever do want them).

[Piet De Ridder]

Dan Worrall meanwhile released his Introduction to Pro-Q 4:



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[Jaap]

Dan Worrall meanwhile released his Introduction to Pro-Q 4:



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Listening to Dan is like having David Attenburough narrating Planet Earth but then for music stuff

[Tanuj Tiku]

A fantastic update for me personally. The two most important features from a composer/producer perspective is the addition of saturation which can really change what Pro-Q has always been about at the click of a button and the new spectral mode - for targeting pesky frequencies in samples, recordings and even synths. It is a great tool for targeting build ups and/or enhancing important frequencies while removing others.

What is also important here is that we are dealing with a high quality EQ developed by a company that is dedicated. It is not the same as Plugin alliance who sometimes introduce features that make less sense and/or the quality of which can be occasionally questionable.

The multiple instance view is probably a huge welcome in more mixing specific workflows.

I have no real thoughts about the paint brush but look forward to seeing whether it will be useful for me. I have never thought of EQ's in that way.

[Erik]

Yes, I concur, Jaap ! ;-)

[Markus K]

Listening to Dan is like having David Attenburough narrating Planet Earth but then for music stuff

Ha ha- well said. I always wondered why he sounds somehow familiar. Now I know.

Pro Q4 seems to be very good. Got the upgrade but no real life use till now. But seems to make Kirchhoff obsolete. We'll see. Lot's of useful updates recently. CB14, Dorico now FF.

[Lawrence]

Do you folks mostly tend to use the Pro-Q4 as a mastering EQ or on individual channels?

[Blake Ewing]

Do you folks mostly tend to use the Pro-Q4 as a mastering EQ or on individual channels?

Yes.

Haha, Pro-Q3 really is the single most used plugin I own. I will definitely be updating to v4 soon.

[Piet De Ridder]

I don’t have Pro-Q, but a powerful, high-quality EQ like that can be used equally well on individual tracks as on the StereoOut (if that is what you mean by ‘mastering’, Larry). Experienced people usually advice to restrict EQ’ing on the StereoOut to subtle broad-stroke settings and small wideband adjustments — if you find you still need to do extensive surgical work on the StereoOut, it means there’s a problem earlier on in the mixing chain that should be addressed first — and Pro-Q is perfectly capable of doing that type of thing just as well as more drastic tonal shaping, so you can use it anywhere you like. No problem. (You can use any EQ anywhere you like if it does what you feel needs to be done at that spot.)

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[Ashermusic]

— if you find you still need to do extensive surgical work on the StereoOut, it means there’s a problem earlier on in the mixing chain that should be addressed

This.

[Lawrence]

I don’t have Pro-Q, but a powerful, high-quality EQ like that can be used equally well on individual tracks as on the StereoOut (if that is what you mean by ‘mastering’, Larry). Experienced people usually advice to restrict EQ’ing on the StereoOut to subtle broad-stroke settings and small wideband adjustments — if you find you still need to do extensive surgical work on the StereoOut, it means there’s a problem earlier on in the mixing chain that should be addressed first — and Pro-Q is perfectly capable of doing that type of thing just as well as more drastic tonal shaping, so you can use it anywhere you like. No problem. (You can use any EQ anywhere you like if it does what you feel needs to be done at that spot.)

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Thank you, Piet. Yes, I meant on the stereo out. The company calls it a “mastering EQ”, hence my curiosity.

[Ashermusic]

I don’t have Pro-Q, but a powerful, high-quality EQ like that can be used equally well on individual tracks as on the StereoOut (if that is what you mean by ‘mastering’, Larry). Experienced people usually advice to restrict EQ’ing on the StereoOut to subtle broad-stroke settings and small wideband adjustments — if you find you still need to do extensive surgical work on the StereoOut, it means there’s a problem earlier on in the mixing chain that should be addressed first — and Pro-Q is perfectly capable of doing that type of thing just as well as more drastic tonal shaping, so you can use it anywhere you like. No problem. (You can use any EQ anywhere you like if it does what you feel needs to be done at that spot.)

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Thank you, Piet. Yes, I meant on the stereo out. The company calls it a “mastering EQ”, hence my curiosity.

In my experience “Mastering EQ” are for more subtle rather than surgical adjustments. I often use the UAD Manley Massive Passive” and it does nice things, or their Precision EQ.

When I am really fucking up the mix, the UAD Precision Multiband has a “Punch and Clarity” preset that saves me from my ineptitude.

[Lawrence]

I don’t have Pro-Q, but a powerful, high-quality EQ like that can be used equally well on individual tracks as on the StereoOut (if that is what you mean by ‘mastering’, Larry). Experienced people usually advice to restrict EQ’ing on the StereoOut to subtle broad-stroke settings and small wideband adjustments — if you find you still need to do extensive surgical work on the StereoOut, it means there’s a problem earlier on in the mixing chain that should be addressed first — and Pro-Q is perfectly capable of doing that type of thing just as well as more drastic tonal shaping, so you can use it anywhere you like. No problem. (You can use any EQ anywhere you like if it does what you feel needs to be done at that spot.)

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Thank you, Piet. Yes, I meant on the stereo out. The company calls it a “mastering EQ”, hence my curiosity.

In my experience “Mastering EQ” are for more subtle rather than surgical adjustments. I often use the UAD Manley Massive Passive” and it does nice things, or their Precision EQ.

When I am really fucking up the mix, the UAD Precision Multiband has a “Punch and Clarity” preset that saves me from my ineptitude.

Nothing saves me!

However, I’m a bit curious about high end eqs. I generally use stock Cubase eqs and a few others that I’ve picked up over the years, including the plugs included in Ozone. I occasionally strap an eq across the stereo out for mild adjustment. I know some people who have a good number of plugs on the stereo out, to good results.

I’ll probably trial a few eqs.