EQ software

I've enjoyed my free trial of EQuilibrium, after see this interesting post "Linear phase EQ" in comments area by Bob Katz expains about EQ softwares are like MS Paint and some Adobe editor. This video show "side effects" in phase but honestly it's pretty hard to myself listen the differences for playback application.

 

I did a little shootout between Izotope RX4, Ozone, Fabfilter Pro-Q and DMG Equilibrium when I was looking for an EQ to use on my LP rips. DMG won. I hear a big gap in quality between the ones built into most software and the ones specifically designed for pro mastering work. Less of a gap between the pro ones but there are still audible differences.

I also did an RIAA EQ shootout between the one built into Pure Vinyl and the freeware one by Brian Davies (author of Click Repair). Pure Vinyl won that one.

 

Which mode on Fabfilter pro2 and equilibrium? I prefer linear phase max on pro-q 2 and am curious which style and phase mode you preferred on Equilibrium, so I can compare and see if it's worth buying a license.

 

I was using "Natural" phase in Pro-q 2. In Equilibrium I set the phase to "Analogue" and leave the rest as is.

 

I leave all eq settings at default and instead prefer a modus operandi substantially comprising having my nuts tickled while I listen. Currawong quit this duty due to ecstatic fatigue but I have since acquired a troupe of specially trained hamsters. When all else fails I use the little toe of my left foot (apologies extended to Daniel Day-Lewis, and all other appendages being otherwise engaged) to hit the Hardware Direct button and gain some much needed relief.

 

You can get 15% off Sonarworks Ref 3 with this code SW15HP10 (expires at the end of October)

http://store.sonarworks.com/collections/frontpage/products/sonarworks-reference-3-headphone-plugin

 

subtle product placement. I hardly even noticed it.

 

Here's an interesting comparison - a bunch of different filter phase responses from minimum to maximum phase. Minimum phase means all post-ringing; maximum phase would be all pre-ringing. The best sample seems to be closer to min than max phase, but not pure minimum and not right in the middle. The question is whether it's more important to have control over pre vs. post ringing (minimum and "analog" phase algorithms) or phase.

https://www.hydrogenaud.io/forums/index.php?showtopic=67619&st=25&p=604471&#entry604471

 

In this thread (http://www.innerfidelity.com/comment/500526#comment-500526) Bob Katz says it's important to use high quality dithering software between the output of DMG Equilibrium and the DAC.

Is this true of all DACs? I have a Gungnir Multibit and am wondering whether dithering the output of Equilibrium to 24 bits is needed?

 

Depends on the SW being used. A lot of players have what is known as "integer" mode where they pre-format the data at 32-bits for the DAC bypassing the OS audio stack. If not using one of these modes then you must dither which will be built into the software. This is where Bob is recommending that the algorithm used be a quality one like iZotope SRC for example.

 

Or, maybe, you need to change your ears!

Julian, maybe you're young, or maybe you're old and one of the luckier ones, but most ears change with age, and many were not perfect to begin with. And changing them is not an option.

I absolutely accept your point that the right 'phones is a better answer than the slightly-wrong-phones+EQ --- but compensating for the 'phones is not the only reason for EQ.

Also... I've tended to preach the law of hifi over the decades, which says something to the effect that high fidelity is hearing what's on the recording, But I'm easing up in old age: not everyone wants that! Some people want flavour, some people want extra bass, some people want extra treble. Fine: let there be tone controls; let there be EQ... let there be peace!

 

Using Ozone 7 now for EQ in JRIver

 

Instead of looking to specifically headphone focused options, I looked for a nice studio-oriented application. Check out the Nova-67P plugin: https://vladgsound.wordpress.com/plugins/nova67p/

It has a parametric EQ, active analyzer, and sounds nice and transparent. I use it in conjunction with Fidelia for Mac.

It's free, so why not try it out.

 

Just curious because I also use the DeaDBeef audio player, but I'm guessing you are having to use Jack then for the Calf equalizer? I believe DeaDBeeF uses its own plugin method, and its not capable of normal LV2 plugins correct? Also, how much better is the calf plugin? Or does it just provide more control because it has a 30 band equalizer? Does the Super EQ based internal equalizer introduce any audible artifacts that you have noticed?

 

Been using Equalizer APO thus far as I want a whole system solution. Not sure if there is really anything else better out there for that.

 

VB Cable + VSThost works nice if you want a free system solution for VST. Using it for Sonarworks.

https://nirklars.wordpress.com/2014...-vst-plugins-in-programs-without-vst-support/

 

After much time using the Dynamics module in Ozone 7, I am back to the Dynamic Equalizer. It allows for a focused slice of glare from my GS-X mk2 plus unmodded HD800 combo. With Wyrd and Gungnir Multibit in the mix, and running balanced, this is sounding very very good.

The godhead until further notice:

 

I like Equalizer APO but doesn't this force you to use DirectSound? There might be some other processing Windows performs that you cannot directly control

 

What is the EQ being overlayed on?

 

MEqualizer, a pretty good free one with quite a lot of features. The only bad thing is you need to download a ~200MB file in order to install the ~100kB EQ