EQ Filter Comparison

EQ Plugins Curve Comparison
For high frequencies and high Q-factors, the shape of the equalization curve is very important

EQ Plugin Curve Comparison

EQ plugins are based on different algorithms with different EQ curves characteristics. Some algorithms or products are supposed to be "analog modeled", but in fact if the EQ curves are analysed, it is easy to see that they do not match the analog curves for some settings. Particularly for high frequency settings, some algorithms have a warped curve which is not matched at all with the analog reference curve that they are supposed to reproduce.

Low Pass Sweep Comparison
With a standard digital filter, a Low Pass filter has not the same behaviour than an analog low pass filter.

The above comparison chart shows the curve behaviour of some EQs of the market. A warped curve corresponds to standard digital filters, a decramped curve to Orfanidis filters, and an analog like curve is very close to the analog reference curve.

We may also ask : "What is the analog reference curve ?". The analog reference curve is the response that would produce an equivalent electronic circuit.

Several digital EQs have decramped bell curves (standard Orfanidis curves), but most of them have warped Low Pass and Shelf curves. That is probably because many EQs of the market are based on exactly the same algorithms.

We do not say that one EQ is better or worse than another, or that one will sound better than another. This chart just compares the technical characteristics of some plugin EQs. Using one EQ or another is also a matter of taste.

An analog like Low Pass curve is very important to have a smooth high cut. With a warped curve, the more you get close from the Nyquist frequency (22.5kHz for 44.1 sampling frequency), the more the Low Pass cut is sharp. It is impossible to get a gentle cut at all frequencies with such Low Pass characteristics.

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