parametric equalizers

stupid m0nkey · 1st April 2004, 06:29 PM

is the 'Q' on all parametric equalizers a set amount (ie. a 'Q' of .5 is 2 octaves) or does each manufacturer set their own standards for 'Q'? i specifically am wondering about my Alpine 3402 (car audio)

haldor · 2nd April 2004, 03:19 AM

Q = 1 means the filter has a bandwidth of 1 octave. This is standard as far as I have ever seen

stupid m0nkey · 2nd April 2004, 03:23 AM

so then a Q of 10 would mean 1/10 of an octave?

FLZapped · 2nd April 2004, 12:52 PM

Yes, a Q of 10 means the filter's -3dB bandwidth points(half power) will be 0.1 octave. It's a simple mathmatical inversion.

-Bruce

macboy · 2nd April 2004, 01:15 PM

Q is defined as the bandwidth divided by the center frequency, both in Hz of course. So an EQ with a bandwidth of 5000 Hz centered at 10000 Hz has a Q of 0.5.

The problem is that "bandwidth" is not strictly defined. That is where the difference between manufacturers come. One common definition is where the EQ has half the boost or cut as at the center frequency.

For more information than you could ever want, try reading up on Constant-Q EQ's and Exposing Equalizer Mythology and Operator Adjustable Equalizers at Rane Audio's website.

JensRasmussen · 26th April 2004, 08:41 PM

I think it's like this

\Jens

Slab · 15th February 2005, 06:56 AM

I'm no expert but let me try to understand the question.
"Is the Q on all parametrics the same?"
I thought "parametric" meant adjustable parameter. Every equalizer has three basic parameters: Gain, Frequency, Bandwidth (Q). Every parametric I've seen had adjustable gain and freq and Q. Usually a Q from about .5 oct to 2 oct. The mathematical relationships between Q and freq can be seen in the other forum responses. I am not familiar with the Alpine EQ but if the Q is not adjustable it has very limited capability.

Enzo · 16th February 2005, 04:49 AM

Oh, I get it. Not all parametrics have adjustable Q, and if yours doesn't, then you want to know what they made it, yes? That would be up to them and what they wanted to achieve. There would be no particular standard, though it might well be that more than one maker might settle upon a similar figure as the best overall compromise.

1st April 2004, 06:29 PM	#1
stupid m0nkey diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: kelowna, BC	parametric equalizers is the 'Q' on all parametric equalizers a set amount (ie. a 'Q' of .5 is 2 octaves) or does each manufacturer set their own standards for 'Q'? i specifically am wondering about my Alpine 3402 (car audio)

15th February 2005, 06:56 AM	#7
Slab diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Westfield, NJ	I'm no expert but let me try to understand the question. "Is the Q on all parametrics the same?" I thought "parametric" meant adjustable parameter. Every equalizer has three basic parameters: Gain, Frequency, Bandwidth (Q). Every parametric I've seen had adjustable gain and freq and Q. Usually a Q from about .5 oct to 2 oct. The mathematical relationships between Q and freq can be seen in the other forum responses. I am not familiar with the Alpine EQ but if the Q is not adjustable it has very limited capability. __________________ Don B gone fishin

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2nd April 2004, 03:19 AM	#2
haldor diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Columbus, Ohio	Q = 1 means the filter has a bandwidth of 1 octave. This is standard as far as I have ever seen

2nd April 2004, 03:23 AM	#3
stupid m0nkey diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: kelowna, BC	so then a Q of 10 would mean 1/10 of an octave?

2nd April 2004, 12:52 PM	#4
FLZapped diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Florida	Yes, a Q of 10 means the filter's -3dB bandwidth points(half power) will be 0.1 octave. It's a simple mathmatical inversion. -Bruce

2nd April 2004, 01:15 PM	#5
macboy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada	Q is defined as the bandwidth divided by the center frequency, both in Hz of course. So an EQ with a bandwidth of 5000 Hz centered at 10000 Hz has a Q of 0.5. The problem is that "bandwidth" is not strictly defined. That is where the difference between manufacturers come. One common definition is where the EQ has half the boost or cut as at the center frequency. For more information than you could ever want, try reading up on Constant-Q EQ's and Exposing Equalizer Mythology and Operator Adjustable Equalizers at Rane Audio's website.

16th February 2005, 04:49 AM	#8
Enzo diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lansing, Michigan	Oh, I get it. Not all parametrics have adjustable Q, and if yours doesn't, then you want to know what they made it, yes? That would be up to them and what they wanted to achieve. There would be no particular standard, though it might well be that more than one maker might settle upon a similar figure as the best overall compromise.

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