Since the frequencies of the bands are predefined, manufacturers often attempt to ensure that the selected frequencies and their filter shapes are based on human hearing. For example, if you decide to quickly boost a specific frequency in the middle of a concert, a hardware graphic EQ makes the job much easier. So, just like emulations of analog FET compressors or exciters, many graphic EQ software plugins also color your audio in unique ways, some of which are responsible for adding authenticity to the sound.Īlso, while it may not be as famous as it was in bygone days, it is still used in live performances and PA events. Most modern software graphic EQs are either hardware emulations or redesigned to fit the 21 st century needs. The 4 Best FREE Graphic EQ Plugins 2022.And those, of course, didn’t show what “shape” the EQ was in at a glance. Thus, the graphic EQ was preferred because the only alternative back then was to use an EQ unit with vague rotary knobs. Therefore, studios mostly used 31-band graphic EQs that divided the frequency spectrum by 1/3 octave per band.Īfter setting up, the sliders resembled the EQ curve that we are so used to nowadays in parametric EQs. A higher number of sliders gives a bigger “resolution,” so to speak. In a nushell, here are the best graphic EQ Plugins:Ī graphic EQ is a type of equalizer plugin that arrays a row of sliders, each representing the gain of predefined frequency bands. However, in this article, we will explain why they were well-regarded in the past, how they can still be of use for you, and enlist some recommendations. To a modern musician, a graphic EQ may seem counter-intuitive compared to presently available alternatives. While often publicly regarded as a thing of the past, many professionals still prefer graphic EQs for their simplicity and sound.

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