Equalizer - Ozone 9 Help

Posted by Almeda Bohannan on Saturday, May 4, 2024

Table of Contents

Overview

Ozone’s versatile Equalizer allows you to add warmth and character with analog-matched filters, or precisely boost and cut frequencies with digital linear-phase filters.

The module interface includes the following sections:

EQ Module Interface

  • Module Header
  • Spectrum and EQ Curve
  • Controls
  • The module header includes the following controls:

    EQ Module Header

  • View Selector: See the Views section below for detailed descriptions of the different views.
  • Global Filter Mode: Selects the type of filter algorithm used to process all bands in the EQ module.
    • Analog: Selects minimum-phase IIR (infinite impulse response) filters.
    • Digital: Selects linear-phase FIR filter types for processing in the EQ module. FIR filters retain the phase of the original signal, but are more expensive in regard to CPU usage.

      Digital only features

      Phase and Surgical Filter Shapes are only available when Digital is selected.

  • Channel Processing Mode: Selects the Channel Processing Mode used in the Equalizer.
    • The Equalizer supports Stereo, Mid/Side, or Left/Right mode.
    • See the General Controls chapter for more information.
  • Reset: Returns all controls in the module to their factory default values.
  • Views

    You can switch between HUD View and All Bands View using the view selection buttons.

    EQ view selector

    HUD View

    This is the default view in the Equalizer module. In this view, a HUD panel will appear when you select a node.

    EQ HUD based view

    All Bands View

    When selected, band controls are displayed in a table format below the spectrum. The HUD panel is not displayed when nodes are selected in All Bands View.

    EQ All Bands View

    Spectrum and EQ Curve

    The main spectrum view of the Equalizer includes the following features:

    EQ Curve and Spectrum

  • Spectrum Analyzer: Displays the magnitude (amplitude, in decibels) of a signal across the frequency spectrum in real-time. The spectrum analyzer in the Equalizer module displays the output signal of Ozone.
  • Composite curve: The combined filter response of all enabled bands. Represented by a thick white line drawn across the spectrum. Each band contributes to the overall shape of this curve.
  • Filter response curve: The filter response of the currently selected node. Represented by a highlighted line and filled area under the band which appears when you select a node. If there are no nodes selected, the filter response curve is hidden and you will only see the composite curve.
  • Spectrum Scales:
    • Spectrum Magnitude Scale: (dB) Vertical scale displayed on the left side of the spectrum view.
    • Spectrum Frequency Scale: (Hz) Horizontal scale displayed along the bottom of the spectrum view.
  • Equalizer Gain Scale: (dB) The filter gain scale is located on the right side of the spectrum view. Range: +15 dB to -30 dB.
  • Spectrum scales

    • The scales for the filter gain and the spectrum magnitude are different, by design. If they were made to match, you wouldn’t see enough of the spectrum for it to be useful.
    • See the Options chapter for more information about spectrum scale options.

    When the Show Extra Curves option is enabled in the EQ options tab, three additional rulers appear on the right-hand side of the spectrum analyzer: Phase Response (degrees), Phase Delay (ms), Group Delay (ms).

    Extra Curves

    You can hide and show each curve individually by clicking on the buttons that appear in the legend along the top of the spectrum view.

    Extra Curves Close-up

    • Phase Delay: A calculation of phase response represented in time (ms).
    • Phase Response: A calculation of phase response represented in degrees. This curve is most useful when using analog or minimum phase equalization.
    • Group Delay: A calculation of the delay of amplitude envelopes in time (ms). This curve is most useful when working with transients.

    Alt-Solo

    You can use the alt/option key when clicking on a node or anywhere in the spectrum to momentarily solo a specific frequency region. When you release the mouse click, alt-solo will be disabled.

    • Band Solo: Hold the alt or option key and click on an EQ node. This is equivalent to pressing the Solo button in the HUD.
    • Alt-Solo in Spectrum: Hold the alt or option key and click anywhere on the frequency spectrum to solo frequencies surrounding the location of the cursor. You can adjust the bandwidth of the alt-solo filter in the Options window.

    Working with EQ Nodes

    The following sections describe how to add, adjust and remove EQ nodes.

    Adding Nodes

  • Hover your cursor over the composite curve, click the + button that appears to add a new band to that frequency position.
  • Press command+ return (Mac) or ctrl+ return (Windows) to add a new node to the center of the frequency spectrum.
  • Double-click anywhere in the spectrum to add a new node at the frequency location of your cursor.
  • Default Filter Shape Assignment Based on Frequency

    Default filter shapes are assigned to nodes depending on their initial frequency value.

    • From 20 Hz to 100 Hz: Baxandall Bass. If a Baxandall Bass filter already exists in the curve, the default filter shape will be Proportional Q.
    • From 100 Hz to 8 kHz: Proportional Q.
    • From 8 kHz to 20 kHz: Baxandall Treble. If a Baxandall Treble filter already exists in the curve, the default filter shape will be Proportional Q.

    Adjusting Nodes

    The following methods can be used to move/adjust filter nodes:

    • Click and drag a node up and down to adjust gain. Click and drag a node left and right to adjust frequency.
    • Hold the shift key while clicking and dragging a node to lock the movement to the horizontal axis (for frequency) or vertical axis (for gain).
    • Click and drag the handles that appear on the left/right side of a selected node to adjust the Q/Slope value.
    • Press the up/down arrow keys to adjust the gain of a selected node. Press the left/right arrow keys to adjust the frequency of a selected node.
    • Hold shift while using the arrow keys to make coarse value adjustments.
    • Hold command (Mac) or ctrl (Windows) while using the arrow keys to make fine value adjustments.
    • Double-click on a node to reset all band parameters to their default values.

    Removing Nodes

    The following methods can be used to remove filter nodes:

    • In the HUD view: Select a node and click the X button in the HUD to remove it.
    • In All Bands View: Click the power button associated with the band you want to remove in the controls section.
    • Click & drag to select multiple nodes. Press delete or backspace key to remove all selected nodes.
    • Hold Shift and click on individual nodes to select multiple nodes. Use the delete or backspace key to remove all selected nodes.

    Controls

    The following sections detail the EQ filter controls in the context of the HUD View. Any All Bands View differences or exceptions are noted in the control descriptions below.

    EQ HUD

    The HUD panel is divided into the folowing sections:

    General Controls

    You can enable/disable, solo, or remove a band with the buttons along the left edge of the HUD.

    HUD general

    • Power: Click the power button to enable or disable processing for the selected band.

      Power button behavior in All Bands View

      When All Bands View is selected, clicking on a band power button will remove the associated band, rather than disable it.

    • Solo: Click the S button to isolate playback of the selected band.
    • Remove: Click the X button to remove the associated band.

    Filter Controls

    You can adjust filter shape, frequency, gain, and Q/bandwidth in this section of the HUD.

    HUD filter controls

    Filter Shape

    Selects the filter shape for the associated band. The filter shapes are organized into sub-menus based on filter type and usage.

    • BELL menu: These filters can be used to boost or cut a specific center frequency level (Peak type filters). The following filter shapes are included in this menu:
      • Bell: Smoothly boosts or cuts an adjustable region around a specific frequency.
      • Proportional Q: Unique filter that varies shape in proportion to the amount of boost or cut applied. As a cut or boost is increased further away from center of the EQ curve, the shape tightens for more precision.
      • Band Shelf: Bell filter with wide, flat top. Useful for boosting or attenuating a block of frequencies.
    • LOW SHELF and HIGH SHELF menus: These filters can be used to boost or cut the frequency content above or below a specified frequency (Shelf type filters). The following filter shapes are included in the sub-menu:
      • Analog: Efficient shelf filter for simple boosts and cuts.
      • Baxandall: Gentle shelf filters. Modeled after the Baxandall EQ, with the addition of adjustable frequency.
      • Vintage: Inspired by the renowned Pultec analog equalizer. Exhibits a complementary frequency dip, creating a complex slope with one node.
      • Resonant: Exhibits a complimentary resonance at both ends of the filter slope creating a complex shape with one node.
    • LOWPASS and HIGHPASS menus: These filters can be used to attenuate frequency content that is below (for highpass) or above (for lowpass) a specified cutoff frequency (Pass type filters). The following filter shapes are included in this sub-menu:
      • Flat: Butterworth filter; optimized for maximum flatness without ripple or resonance in the passband or stopband (stability).
      • Resonant: Filter equipped with a resonance control to emphasize the cutoff frequency with positive gain. Boosts content at the cutoff frequency to add character and emphasize the lowest or highest part of the signal.
      • Brickwall: Elliptic filters. Optimized for steepness with minimal ripple in the passband and stopband.
    • SURGICAL:(Digital mode only) Precise digital filter shape available in all filter shape sub-menus when Digital Filter Mode is selected in the module header.

    Frequency

    Determines the center or cutoff frequency of the selected band. Units: Hz (Hertz); Range: 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

    Gain

    Determines the amount of gain applied to the selected filter. Units: dB (decibels); Range: -30 dB to +15 dB.

    Q/Slope

    • Q: Determines the bandwidth (cF) of the selected filter.
    • Slope: Determines the Slope of the filter below or above the set cutoff frequency. Slope is measured in decibels per octave (dB/oct).

      Fixed Q/Slope

      The Baxandall Bass, Baxandall Treble, HP Brickwall and LP Brickwall filter shapes do not have adjustable Q/Slope values.

    Advanced Controls

    You can access the Advanced panel by clicking the arrow button on the right hand side of the HUD. If the Global Filter Mode is set to Analog, the Advanced panel button will be disabled. You can only access the Advanced panel of the HUD when the Global Filter Mode is set to Digital.

    EQ Advanced Panel

    Phase

    Adjusts the phase response of the currently selected filter.

    • 0% Phase: the selected band will have a Linear phase response.
    • 100% Phase: the selected band will have a Minimum phase response.

    Phase Control Availability

    • Phase is only adjustable when Digital Global Filter Mode is selected.
    • Phase is not included in the controls table of the All Bands View. You can only access Phase from the Advanced panel of the HUD.

    Ozone 9.12.1

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