Synapse GQ-7: Still Good??

[BradfordMoeller]

I'm basically looking at my RE's trying to find an excuse not to buy the Fabfilter Q3.

What are your opinions on the Snyapse GQ-7, or Reason's Spectrum EQ for that matter? How do they compare to really high-end plugins?

[Boombastix]

I'm pleased with it. Use it for side chaining bass w the low shelf. Can also do filter sweeps with it as it was designed for automation in mind.
Fast to work with, visible in the rack, and just turn the knobs. That 96dB cut in the LP/HP is great too. The spectrum is basic, but good enough for the purpose to EQ.
You can also solo bands. Great to leave on if you do sound design and just want to narrow range to be heard.

I use it in every project together with a couple of HW emulation EQ that has a good set of settings for "musical" shaping.
CV in if you want to create your own dynamic EQ.

[BradfordMoeller]

I'm pleased with it. Use it for side chaining bass w the low shelf. Can also do filter sweeps with it as it was designed for automation in mind.
Fast to work with, visible in the rack, and just turn the knobs. That 96dB cut in the LP/HP is great too. The spectrum is basic, but good enough for the purpose to EQ.
You can also solo bands. Great to leave on if you do sound design and just want to narrow range to be heard.

I use it in every project together with a couple of HW emulation EQ that has a good set of settings for "musical" shaping.
CV in if you want to create your own dynamic EQ.

That's well said. Thanks for the response, I definitely need to do a deep dive on it as it's been a while since I've put it to use. I also had no idea that you could get it to do dynamic EQ, I'll have to see if I can figure that out!

[Boombastix]

I meant you take advantage of the CV in. Whatever you CV chain does, you can dynamically make the EQ level move for any band. So, you can do something that triggers on a 1k-1.5k input, and have an EQ band at 8k duck, or whatever, just your imagination and needs that limit.

[dvdrtldg]

It's a great everyday bread & butter EQ. Nothing fancy, no "character" but if you're after something transparent and fast to work with, it's the best RE option

[Loque]

Its still a good one. I replaced it with Q3, but still use it, mostly if CV comes in and i need a special dynamic EQ or movement in an EQ.

[joeyluck]

Everything but the name lol, because it's not a graphic EQ

[BradfordMoeller]

Makes sense, thanks for the responses!

[Auryn]

Generally GQ-7 is my general purpose go-to EQ. Great sound quality, easy to use, and I also really like the auto-gain-compensate feature which makes mixing easier (because it helps avoid the louder=better trap when boosting for example).

Its still a good one. I replaced it with Q3, but still use it, mostly if CV comes in and i need a special dynamic EQ or movement in an EQ.

I'd be interested to hear what you prefer about the Q3? I'm trying it at the moment, haven't really connected yet with what would make it preferable to the GQ7?

[Loque]

Generally GQ-7 is my general purpose go-to EQ. Great sound quality, easy to use, and I also really like the auto-gain-compensate feature which makes mixing easier (because it helps avoid the louder=better trap when boosting for example).

Its still a good one. I replaced it with Q3, but still use it, mostly if CV comes in and i need a special dynamic EQ or movement in an EQ.

I'd be interested to hear what you prefer about the Q3? I'm trying it at the moment, haven't really connected yet with what would make it preferable to the GQ7?

Clean display, better resolution, fcking easy to use, more bands, more slopes, easy to make a dynamic EQ, viewing all connected Q3 in the display to identify frequency overlaps and occupation, adjustable phase, CPU efficient, ... Its just x times better and more versatile. My go to EQ. It just lacks CV

[Auryn]

Clean display, better resolution, fcking easy to use, more bands, more slopes, easy to make a dynamic EQ, viewing all connected Q3 in the display to identify frequency overlaps and occupation, adjustable phase, CPU efficient, ... Its just x times better and more versatile. My go to EQ. It just lacks CV

Thanks for the info. I don't mind the GUI stuff too much but the overlapping frequency function sounds useful. Phase stuff is still a bit arcane to me... basically that would just mean delaying the sound very slightly right? Or is there more to it?

Well I suppose the best thing for it is just to mix a track with it, here goes...

[Loque]

Clean display, better resolution, fcking easy to use, more bands, more slopes, easy to make a dynamic EQ, viewing all connected Q3 in the display to identify frequency overlaps and occupation, adjustable phase, CPU efficient, ... Its just x times better and more versatile. My go to EQ. It just lacks CV

Thanks for the info. I don't mind the GUI stuff too much but the overlapping frequency function sounds useful. Phase stuff is still a bit arcane to me... basically that would just mean delaying the sound very slightly right? Or is there more to it?

Well I suppose the best thing for it is just to mix a track with it, here goes...

As soon as you change the gain in a specific frequency, you change the phase too. Some EQs can compensate that, if you really need it. Linear Phase EQs can sound better here and there and can solve specific problems. FabFilter has a very good video explaining that on the Q3 product site. TBH, i did not needed it till now - i make my music like "if it sounds good, it is good". And you are right, phase compensation introduces latency, but Q3 has several modes for EQing.

[Nerveclinic]

What is the Q3? I must be blind I couldn't find it in the shop...

[antic604]

What is the Q3? I must be blind I couldn't find it in the shop...

https://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro- ... er-plug-in

[danc]

What is the Q3? I must be blind I couldn't find it in the shop...

I used to 100% use GQ-7 for nearly all my Reason EQ jobs. Last year I invested in the full Fabfilter suite and not looked back once at GQ-7. Be clear GQ-7 was perfect ... Q3 is one step up from perfect. Why? Dynamic EQ. EQ matching. Super steep curves if you wish (inc. brickwall). Overlay other EQ instance graphs and see where things are overloading (in red)... Choice of phase options (linear / natural etc.). Spectrum grab - hang and pause your mouse over the graph and it freezes showing you the highest peaks and the semitone/octave it is - superb for getting things in tune. Full screen mode.

GQ-7 or any other RE doesn't stand a chance up against it.

HOWEVER... we are talking clean EQ - not character EQs... as that is a whole different discussion.

As for Logue saying no CV... I assume you are meaning literal CV... as you can automate everything you want in there. So - sweep the bands as you like with automation etc.

[selig]

I'm basically looking at my RE's trying to find an excuse not to buy the Fabfilter Q3.

What are your opinions on the Snyapse GQ-7, or Reason's Spectrum EQ for that matter? How do they compare to really high-end plugins?

I don't think any Reason EQ compares to the FabFilter EQ. And I say this as someone who has created what I feel is the best EQ in Reason! If you need all of those features, and ColoringEQ doesn't already cover them, you'll not find any other EQ as powerful.
Now, having said that, I don't actually own or use the FabFilter - I just don't find I need tons of bands an all of those options. If I had it, I MAY find uses for it. Maybe for the dynamic feature - but in Reason you can make any EQ "dynamic". I don't need the EQ matching etc. as I've spend 40 years learning how to do it by ear (and by ear is better IMO, IF you have the time to train your ear). I also learned to mix on an SSL - no spectral display to find frequencies, or flashy display etc. I realize I'm in the minority with this particular skill set, I'm simply explaining why the FabFilter, great and powerful as it is, isn't something I PERSONALLY need.

So obviously if you're staying in the RE world I'd suggest my own Coloring EQ - it's more versatile/powerful than any other RE EQ, and has full CV control (plus advance audio routing allowing you to re-build the EQ band by band), plus can be "played" by CV or MIDI and all the other things RE EQs can do. You can also get it as a part of the Mix & Mastering Bundle too!

But if you want the "latest/greatest", and don't need "Reason-centric" features such as CV and multiple outputs, FabFilter is by far the current gold standard of the VST world IMO.

[Loque]

As for Loque saying no CV... I assume you are meaning literal CV... as you can automate everything you want in there. So - sweep the bands as you like with automation etc.

Exactly. Having a modulation going on and being able to change root value in the GUI without interferences is pretty cool stuff. Its a much better version than the CV->Automation in the VST, its like damn native CV! So if i have a moving EQ, i pick a RE in 90% of all cases.