Professional mixing and mastering tools
Since 2009, FabFilter Pro-Q has set the EQ standard. Version 4 adds Spectral Dynamics, EQ Sketch, Instance List, vintage saturation, and more.
Mixing and mastering features
FabFilter Pro-Q 4 offers every tool a demanding engineer could wish for: top-quality linear phase operation, zero latency, and unique Natural Phase modes, along with a refined Dynamic EQ that now includes attack and release settings for precise control. Its per-band stereo, mid/side, and left/right processing makes it versatile for any mix, while full surround support up to Dolby Atmos 9.1.6 ensures immersive audio workflows. The updated spectrum analyzer features customizable settings and collision detection, complemented by an intelligent solo function and optional Auto Gain for smooth operation.
Effortlessly sculpt your sound
Pro-Q 4’s workflow-enhancing features, such as Spectrum Grab, EQ Sketch, and Instance List, make achieving professional results faster than ever. The large interactive EQ display allows seamless band creation, dynamic EQ enablement for any band, and multi-band selection and editing. The Piano Display further enhances precision by letting users adjust band frequencies in musical note values.
FabFilter Pro-Q 4 is designed to help you achieve your sound in the quickest way possible. Via the large interactive EQ display, you can create bands where you need them, enable dynamic EQ for any band, and select and edit multiple bands at once.
FabFilter goodies
Pro-Q 4 retains all the beloved features of its predecessor, Pro-Q 3, while enhancing them with modern upgrades. With up to 24 EQ bands, Natural and Linear Phase processing, universal slope support for all EQ shapes, and dynamic EQ with external side-chain triggering, it delivers unparalleled flexibility. The interface remains as gorgeous and functional as ever, with GPU-powered acceleration, Full Screen mode, multiple display ranges, and intuitive parameter control. MIDI Learn, Pro Tools hardware support, undo/redo, A/B comparison, and an extensive help file round out the package, making Pro-Q 4 a comprehensive tool for every mixing and mastering need.
New in version 4
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EQ Sketch
Setting up initial EQ settings in your equalizer often involves adding a few bands to get started, like a low cut filter, a few
bell filters and a high shelf, creating a general starting point. Wouldn’t it be great if you could draw that curve in one
gesture? Well… now you can!
Of course, EQ Sketch is not about adding many or very precise bands with specific settings; it’s about sketching a global
curve to start with, adding a few initial LP/HP filters, bells and shelves to start with in a fast and easy way. It might even
take a bit of practice to get good at it, but once you do, it’s a real time saver, especially in combination with the Instance
list.
Dynamic EQ
One of Pro-Q 4’s standout features is dynamic EQ. Any of Pro-Q’s bands (with Bell or Shelf shapes) can be made
dynamic, at any slope, with perfect analog matching and in Linear Phase mode.
The dynamic behavior of Pro-Q 4 has been carefully tuned and is highly program dependent: attack, release and knee all
depend on the processed audio, the frequency range of the EQ band and the current dynamic range. This results in very
natural and smooth sounding compression and expansion, useful for a wide range of dynamic EQing applications.
Spectral dynamics
In Spectral dynamics mode, Pro-Q 4 doesn’t change the gain of the whole band, but triggers per specific frequency within a band when it exceeds the threshold, leaving other frequencies untouched. This is a great way of treating varying problem frequencies.
band depends on the level of the input signal. In Spectral mode, Pro-Q 4 doesn’t change the gain of the whole band, but
triggers on specific frequencies within that band when it exceeds the threshold, leaving other frequencies untouched.
Typically, you would need a separate and often complex plug-in for this type of processing, but Pro-Q 4 makes the process simple to use and easy to understand, as a natural extension of normal dynamic processing.
compared to using traditional dynamic EQing. Typically, you would need a separate, dedicated and often complex plugin for this type of processing, but Pro-Q 4 makes the process simple to use and easy to understand, as a logical extension
of normal dynamic processing.
Instance List
With Pro-Q 4, you can now control any other Pro-Q 4 instance in your session from a single plug-in interface. This is a
huge time-saver, making it much easier to setup initial EQing when starting a mix session.
Piano display
Using the Piano Display button at the bottom left of Pro-Q’s interface, just above the bottom bar, you can toggle between
the normal frequency scale and a piano keyboard display, via which band frequencies can be adjusted as well. The
highlighted keys correspond to an 88-keys grand piano layout, ranging from A0 (27.5 Hz) to C8 (4186.01 Hz).
For every band in the display, there is a corresponding dot on the keyboard. You can interact with the dots in two ways:
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While the piano display is active, parameter value displays that show a band’s frequency will also show that frequency as
a musical note (including cents offset). Note that at any time, also if the piano display is not showing, you can enter
frequencies as musical notes. For example, you can double-click on the Frequency knob in the band selection controls
and type “D#5 +13”, or “A4”
Surround and Dolby Atmos
FabFilter Pro-Q 4 supports all important surround/immersive audio formats, up to 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos (depending on the
DAW and plug-in format). When you add Pro-Q 4 to a surround channel, the interface automatically adapts itself to the
used multi-channel format. The output level meter will show all channels, with appropriate labels to identify them.
In addition, the Stereo Placement button will now give access to a surround panel with more sophisticated options to
choose which speakers are affected by the selected EQ bands.
EQ Match
Lets you choose or record a reference spectrum, compares it to the
spectrum of the current input, and adds new EQ bands to make your audio sound like the reference signal. It gets you
‘that’ sound in less than a minute.
As the EQ Match process often involves comparing audio of different Pro-Q instances, it is available via the Instance list.
Just hover above an instance item, click the menu button that appears at the center right, and choose EQ Match.
Band Controls
When you select EQ bands in the interactive EQ display, the floating band controls will automatically appear, right under
the selected bands at the bottom of the display. The band controls show the current settings of the selected EQ bands and
enable you to adjust them precisely.
Full Screen mode, resizing and scaling
With just the click of a button, the Pro-Q 4 interface will fill up the whole computer screen for ultra-precise
adjustments and get the best view on the spectrum analyzer and filter display.
requirements:
mac:
cpu: Apple Silicon or Intel processor
version: macOS 10.13 or higher
internet required: no
support:
64_bit
plugins:
VST-2
VST-3
AU
AAX
OTHER
windows:
version: 11, 10, 8, 7 or Vista
internet required: no
support:
32_bit
64_bit
plugins:
VST-2
VST-3
AAX
OTHER
trial: no
notes: A top-quality EQ plug-in with perfect analog modeling, dynamic EQ, linear phase processing, and a gorgeous interface with unrivalled ease of use.
feature: Highest possible sound quality
Up to 24 EQ bands
Optional Dynamic EQ mode for all bands (Bell and Shelf shapes), with adjustable attack and release, optional side-chain filtering and external triggering
Advanced Spectral dynamics processing, to effectively and precisely treat problem frequencies in your audio
Full immersive / Dolby Atmos® functionality (up to 9.1.6), with intelligent speaker selection
EQ Sketch: just draw the desired EQ curve in one go to setup initial EQing
Continuous slope setting up to 96 dB/oct for all filter types and ultra-steep ‘Brickwall’ slope setting for LP and HP filters
Filter shapes: Bell, Notch, High/Low Shelf, High/Low Cut, Band Pass, Tilt Shelf, Flat Tilt and All Pass
EQ Match feature to automatically match the spectrum of another Pro-Q 4 instance or an external signal
Built-in spectrum analyzer with Pre-EQ, Post-EQ and external spectrum visualization, adjustable range, speed, resolution, tilt, freeze and collision detection
Work fast and efficiently: use the Instance list to view and control any other Pro-Q 4 instance in your session
Gorgeous Retina interface with large interactive EQ display, multi-band selection and editing for maximum ease of use and efficiency
Per-band mid/side or left/right processing, so you can EQ the mid, side, left or right signals separately
Operates in zero latency mode, high quality linear phase mode with adjustable latency or the unique Natural Phase mode
Use the Gentle and Warm Character modes to add analog warmth to your mixes
Spectrum Grab: just grab and adjust a peak in the real-time spectrum analyzer right away!
Resizable interface, full screen mode and customizable scaling
Extreme CPU optimization: Pro-Q 4 uses very little CPU and memory, so you can use hundreds of instances in a session
Copy and paste EQ bands or presets between plug-in instances
Auto Gain and Gain Scale
Optional piano roll display to quantize EQ frequencies to musical notes
Flat Tilt filter shape, a flat tilting correction curve over the whole audible frequency spectrum
Different display ranges: 3 dB and 6 dB ranges for mastering, 12 dB and 30 dB for mixing
Intelligent solo mode makes it easy to find problem frequencies and hear the effect of a band
Phase Invert option to change polarity
Supports common Pro Tools hardware control surfaces
Double-click text entry of parameter values
MIDI Learn with option to control the currently active band
GPU-powered graphics acceleration
Large output level meter with peak level readout
Undo/redo and A/B comparison
Smart Parameter Interpolation
Sample-accurate automation of all parameters
Extensive help file with interactive help hints
Available in VST, VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX Native and AudioSuite formats
licensing methods:
computer
platforms: mac
windows
1178-3627