From the course: Audio Foundations: EQ and Filters

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Parametric equalizers

Parametric equalizers

From the course: Audio Foundations: EQ and Filters

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Parametric equalizers

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Now that we have a grasp of frequency, gain, and Q, we can easily understand one of the most common types of EQ filters, known as parametric EQ. A parametric EQ, sometimes referred to as a peaking filter, uses all three controls to boost or cut a signal's frequency range. Generally broken into multiple bands where an EQ includes more than one parametric filter, the amplitude of each band can be controlled, the center frequency can be shifted, and the bandwidth or Q can be widened or narrowed. Think of a parametric filter as a mountain of boost or valley of cut across the frequency plane. The boost or cut is centered at the middle of the mountain or valley; therefore the center or target frequency receives the most change, while frequencies around the center taper off based on the Q value. George Massenburg developed and introduced the parametric EQ in 1972, and today parametric filtering is found in at least one band of most plug-in, console, and hardware equalizers on the market…

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