EQ

PEQ/GEQ blocks: available on which products

• Axe-Fx III and FM3: 4 x PEQ, 4 x GEQ
• FM9: 4 x PEQ, 4 x GEQ
• FM3: 2 x PEQ, 2 x GEQ
• Axe-Fx II: 4 x PEQ, 4 x GEQ
• AX8: 2 x PEQ, 2 x GEQ
• FX8: 2 x PEQ, 2 x GEQ

PEQ/GEQ blocks: channels or X/Y

• Axe-Fx III and FM9 and FM3: 4 channels
• Axe-Fx II XL and XL+: X/Y. There are no MIDI CCs available for X/Y switching on the XL and XL+
• Axe-Fx II Mk I and II: no
• AX8: no
• FX8: no

About EQ-ing tools

The devices provide many EQ-ing tools:

• Parametric EQ blocks (PEQ)
  
• Graphic EQ blocks (GEQ)
  
• Filter blocks
  
• Global EQ
  
• GEQ in the Amp block
  
• GEQ in the Drive block
  
• GEQ in the Wah block
  
• Input EQ and Output EQ in the Amp block (firmware Ares and later)
  
• Low Cut and High Cut in several blocks
  
• Dynamic Distortion block

And more.

All tools are explained in the Owner's Manuals.

Global EQ

The Axe-Fx III, FM3 and FM9 have global EQs on each of the outputs, switchable between graphic / parametric / off. The OFF state saves CPU!

The Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8 have a graphic EQ (always active). The outermost bands are shelving EQ types.

The Global EQs provide a master gain control, which works across all presets. Use this as a quick fix when the output is clipping.

To reset the Global EQ:

• Axe-Fx III and FM9 and FM3 — use the soft knobs
• Axe-Fx II — press BYPASS twice fast
• AX8 — press ENTER to reset the selected slider
• FX8 — press ENTER to reset the selected slider. Press ENTER twice quickly to reset all bands and gain

Graphic EQ (GEQ)

Types:

1. 3 Band Console
2. 3 Band Passive
3. 4 Band Passive
4. 5 Band Constant Q
5. 5 Band Passive
6. 5 Band Variable Q
7. 7 Band Constant Q
8. 7 Band Variable Q
9. 8 Band Constant Q
10. 8 Band Variable Q
11. Band 2/3 Octave Constant Q
12. Band 2/3 Octave Variable Q
13. 10 Band Constant Q
14. 10 Band Variable Q
15. 5 Band Mark
16. 4 Band JM-PRE 1

More information:

• The outermost bands in all graphic EQs are shelving types.
• The 3 Band, 4 Band and 5 Band types in the Amp block and GEQ are passive EQs. These simulate the effect of analog EQs such as Pultec.
• The 7 Band and 8 Band types emulate popular graphic EQ pedals.
• The 10 Band, 2/3 octave types center the filter frequencies on a narrower range best suited to finely sculpting guitar tones.
• Many “classic” graphic equalizers use variable-Q designs which may be more familiar to some users as opposed to constant-Q filters.
• The various “Passive EQ” types are modeled after classic analog EQs and specifically tuned for guitar amp equalization.
• The 5 Band Mark type is the graphic EQ in the MESA Mark models but with better (non-authentic) sliders.

"The only remaining non-authentic controls are the Mesa Mark EQ sliders I believe." [1]

"The Mark series graphic EQ sucks. I know some people want authenticity but it's simply a bad design." [2]

• The 4 Band JMPRE-1 type was added at the request of Dave Murray of Iron Maiden. The upper two bands of this type have more boost/cut range than the version in the Amp block.[3]
• Engaging and bypassing the GEQ block happens with a gentle fade (firmware 21.02 for the Axe-Fx III and later).

The “Master Q” parameter adjusts the Q of all bands. A value of 1.0 sets the Q to the default value (typically one octave). Lower values increase the bandwidth and overlap of each band, higher values decrease the bandwidth.

"I call the Passive EQs "instant hit record tone". Something about the tone sounds like every hit record from the 70's and 80's to me." [4]

"The Graphic EQ are not lowpass/highpass like the filters in the cab block. No filter is a hard cutoff, it's mathematically impossible (infinite order)." [5]

(to simulate the boss ge7 or the mxr 10eq do I have to use a graphic equalizer with variable or constant Q?) "Variable." [6]

Forum member Moke measured some of the EQ types

Parametric EQ (PEQ)

Types:

1. Shelving
2. Peaking
3. Blocking
4. Shelving 2
5. Peaking 2

The Shelving type recreates the analog shelving filters found on classic mixing consoles. These filters are somewhat quirky and exhibit “overshoot” which gives them a certain musical quality. Set the Q between 0.5 and 0.707 to recreate those classic sounds or experiment with the Q for different amounts of overshoot. These filter types are great for getting that massive sound associated with passive equalization.

Setting the outer bands to "Blocking" is an effective way to cut annoying low and high frequencies with a steep curve.

The gain range of the PEQ has been increased to +/-20 dB in firmware Cygnus 16 and later.

In firmware 21.02 for the Axe-Fx III and later, engaging and bypassing the GEQ block happens with a gentle fade.

Realtime Analyzer

The Realtime Analyzer block lets you see the effect of EQ-ing in real time.

Filter block

Read this: Filter block

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

PEQ or GEQ as a Global block

If you want to adjust PEQ settings across multiple presets in one go, add a PEQ or GEQ to these presets and save it as a Global block (Axe-Fx only).

Dynamic EQ

Looking for dynamic EQ-ing? That's not available, currently.

Pre-EQ in Amp block

The Amp block in firmware Ares and later has pre-EQ controls and provides several EQ types.

"This was a common technique in the 80's when tracking. If you have an Axe-Fx or other modeler with EQ options you can try it yourself. Put an EQ or Filter block before the amp. A parametric is best. Set the type to Peaking, Frequency to 1 kHz and Q to around 1 and gain to around 6 dB to start. Experiment with the parameters."

Klon-like EQ boost

Use a PEQ to get a Klon-like EQ boost (without the gain):

• Level: 6 dB
• Band 1: Shelving2, Q 0.707, 150 Hz, Gain -12
• Band 5: Shelving2, Q 0.707, 2253 Hz, Gain -12

Smiley frown EQ

The "smiley frown" EQ technique employs two EQs, where one resembles a frown and the other a smiley. Check the DIRTY SHIRLEY factory preset for the FM3.

Dial out fizzy amp tones

Jay Mitchell:

"There are no "magic" frequencies, but there are frequency ranges where certain types of problematic sounds lie. The range where "fizzy"sounds from distortion-generating devices generally lie is ca. 3.5-4.5kHz. This is true regardless of the type of source: tube amp, stompbox, or digital model thereof. It may seem more obvious when you play a modeler, because you can generate much higher levels of distortion at modest volumes than you can with a tube amp, but it's there with tube amps nonetheless.

There is no single frequency you can cut to reliably address this - every device and model will be different - but there is a simple procedure to identify the frequencies you need to attenuate.

1. Place a parametric equalizer in the signal chain after the distortion-generating components. If you're using a tube amp, you'll need to do this to the mic'ed/recorded signal from the amp.
2. Set Q to a modest value, say 4, frequency to something just above 3kHz, and level to substantial boost (ca. 6dB or more).
3. Sweep the frequency range upward until you've maximized the effect and gone past the peak, then set it back to the frequency where it is at a maximum.
4. Increase Q to ca. 6 and fine-tune frequency to narrow down the location of the peak.
5. Bring the level down past zero, and increase cut just enough to clean up the effect. Don't overdo this."

How should you EQ

From the Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual:

HOW SHOULD I EQ?

Equalization can be as intricate an art as musicianship itself. Engineers, producers and artists use EQs to compliment, correct, and even create. The following simple tips will help you use EQ blocks to their fullest.

1. EQ works completely differently before distortion vs. after distortion. Try it each way. Try both at once!
2. If you hear something you don’t like (such as “boom” “honk” or “fizz”) use EQ to cut it. If you need help finding the frequency to cut, try boosting first, then sweep around until you find the objectionable area. Turn your boost into a cut and fine tune. Experiment with shelving, blocking or peaking types for this application.
3. If a sound seems to be missing something, try adding it in with an EQ boost. You can use the same “sweeping” technique described above, but remember, “you can’t put back what isn’t there,” meaning that a change to some other aspect of the tone (amp? cab?) may be needed to achieve what you’re after...
4. EQ in context and at appropriate volume levels.

Introduction to guitar EQ

Forum member Clarky:

• Graphic EQ – This has multiple frequency bands where the central frequency of each is fixed. Example: If your guitar amp has 4 tone controls - bass, mid, treble, presence - you can think of this as being a 4 band GEQ. Each 'band' [tone control] effects a pretty wide range of frequencies. The 'width' [the frequencies it effects from lowest to highest] of the band is called the Q. In a GEQ you can't change this, you can simply adjust the level of each band by boosting or cutting - using +ve or -ve gain values respectively. An 8 band GEQ is more of the same but by having more bands you have more detailed control and each band's Q is therefore narrower. Try thinking of an 8 band GEQ as having something like - low bass, mid bass, high bass, low mid, mid, high mid, treble, presence. Likewise a 16 band GEQ would have even more controls with narrower Q values that sit in between the bands described above. This being the case a GEQ is pretty straight forward to use. You simply boost / cut the various frequency bands to taste.

• Parametric EQ – Far more flexible but there are a few things you need to understand to get the best out of it. Each band has a Q control. This means that you can change the width of the band - and therefore the spread of frequencies that a given band effects. Low Q values create a wide EQ range and high values create very narrow range. This means that you can have very general EQ control with values from 1.0 or lower [not unlike a bass control on an amp], or have precise control [usually corrective] with narrow values such as 1.8 and above. The 'frequency' control in a PEQ allows you to change 'where' in the frequency spectrum the PEQ band is centred [and therefore the frequencies that it acts upon]. So unlike a GEQ with its fixed bands, a PEQ band can effectively be moved up and down the frequency spectrum and made wide or narrow. In addition, the first and last PEQ bands can also have their filter type altered. Whereas the inner bands use a 'bell shaped curve' to effect the frequency band, the outer bands can be set to bell curves, hi-pass filters [let hi freq pass], low-pass filter [let low freqs pass] and more. This allows yet more EQ refinement.

Frequencies important for guitar:

Note: A guitar is actually a tenor instrument [despite all our music being written with a treble clef] so in general terms we can get pretty low [concert tuned]. Our low E is just a little higher than the low C of a cello [which is a bass instrument]. The numbers below are just a rough guide.

• Sub bass – This is below 80Hz - guitars actually produce sounds lower than their lowest notes via sub-harmonics etc. This area of the frequency specrum generates a sense of power and energy in a mix. It's the 'shock and awe' area of the mix. However too much can cause a loss of clarity. Many produces will cut everything below 50Hz to tighten the tone.

• Bass – 100Hz to 400Hz - This is where all the power is in guitar terms. Too much will destroy your definition and make you sound woolly.

• Low mids – 400Hz to 800Hz - This is where your thump is. Low mids and bass beth generate a lot of energy [electrically and in terms of moving air] and at times can get in each other's way. If you want deep bass then scoop these out a little. But beware, a lack of low-mids will get you lost in the mix. The relationship between bass and low mids is critical. Tip - Never lose sight of the fact that your bassist provides most of the the deep bass. So often you can get away with using less bass and more low-mid in the mix. and between the two of you there will be plenty of low stuff in the mix. It's not unusual for tones that sound killer in isolation to not sit well in a mix, and in contrast, tones that sound a little lacking in the low stuff to sound great in the mix. It's all about the different instruments leaving space for each other and inter-acting with each other.

• Mids – centred around 1KHz - This is what cuts you through the mix. Too much and you'll sound nasal, not enough and you'll vanish in the mix.

• High mids – Centred around 2.5KHz to 3KHz - this is where you get your definition. Too much and you sound shrill, not enough and the leading edges of your notes will vanish. And it's for this reason that legato centric players [in the Satriani mould] tend to like to roll off this band a little to 'warm up' and 'soften' the tone. Whereas full-on riffers, alt-picking shredders and percussive players [like funk] like this band to be a little stronger to add attack and definition.

• Treble – Centred around the 5KHz area - this adds all the sparkling highs. Too much becomes piercing and brittle sounding. Too little make your tone sound confined and lifeless. For those of you that create presets in stereo, it's the upper frequency ranges [high-mids, treble and presence] that convey the sense of 'spread'. The general rule is that the higher the frequency, the narrower the beam [from the speaker cone] is and therefore the more directional it becomes.

• Presence ['air'] – From 7KHz or 8KHz and up - guitars don't do a great deal up there. Some effects though will generate harmonics up there [especially distortion centric effects]. In the studio you'd tend to use this on the mix overall or on cymbals / synths etc. Depending on the fx you have running in the chain it is worth experimenting with this band to see if it adds or fixes something, but don't be too surprised if you do not perceive a great deal happening. I tend to think that the general tonal impact is not be as strong as with the treble bands.

Reproducing the Sonic Maximizer effect

Read this

More information

• Online Tone Generator
• Wicked Wiki article
• The recording guitarist - The abcs of EQ
• Wikipedia
• Translation of musical notes to frequencies
• Instrument frequencies
• Teach me audio
• 7 crucial EQ bands
• Seven Indispensable EQ Moves for Guitarists
• A guitarist's guide to EQ: how to make your guitar tone bigger and better than ever before

Videos

Click here for more videos about EQ-ing