They are quite great.. i wish they had better interface/ i been using them from time to time.. they really sound good.. but i dont like the equalizer.. only the EQ i dislike.. rest is good.. i wish they updated them a bit

the saturn plugin is also great for saturation and distortion
reverb is quite okay.. nothing special for me
de-esser is quite good and timeless delay is great

 

Better interface? What's wrong with an equalizer?

 

I think the interface in fabfilter plugins is purely functional (like everything else about their plugins). They're ment for ease of use and feedback, not to look pretty, and i doubt they'll ever change that. Honestly making the interface prettier would probably make things more confusing.

 

@Kate Middleton, then why not use a different plugin that meets your needs? There's a huge selection available these days.

The reverb and EQ are among the best on the market.

 

Last edited: Feb 26, 2026 at 2:56 PM

Pseudo-"professional" entitled bullsh1t if you ask me. Tell fabfilter what they should make better for the interface of Pro-Q 4. I am sure they are glad someone finally cares for their problems. :-(((

Facepalm, Mrs. Middleton. Better go care about the kiddies. :-(

 

I get the point about the EQ, I too think it is overrated and other cheaper EQs or these that come with your DAW are sufficient, but their Reverb algorithm in R 2 is so unbelievably smooth. If I had to pick only one regular reverb (not talking about spring reverb or shimmer which it doesnt cover if you don't load external IRs), theirs is the one.

 

it's funny you mention that because most people like the visual interface but often find out they don't really sound special and also feel intimidated by amount of features

what do you mean by better interface?
if you want graph/spectrum removed, then either you can disable it,
or use TDR SlickEQ or Analog Obsession - SSQ or any other of their EQs - https://analogobsession.com/equalization/

 

Might be horses for course but, I tend to think that the analogue emulation kind of channel strippy EQ's sound better than the parametric.

Just seems to have more life and character, maybe they're designed for different purposes but if you want an EQ that pops, probably opt for one of them.

Might be all in my head, a lot of stuff is after all

I really like Fabfilter ProQ btw, yet to try out version 4 but it looks great with the frequency mask detection stuff, cool

 

I'm very sorry that you were forced to use this equalizer against your will..

And it's a real shame that it's the only equalizer in existence in software format!

Unfortunately, Windows and Mac don't even allow you to uninstall the software you've installed!

If the post is serious, have you tried (for example) DMG Equilibrium?

 

Last edited: Feb 26, 2026 at 6:50 PM

why so much negativity replies about a plugin? I said i dont like the pro equalizer because not how it sounds or works, but how it looks like. its kinda ugly looking but i guess it does the job well... but i dont care if you think i am Wrong! they should release a new eq... they just keep updating the same plugin over and over and soon they will reach a point where they just cant update it anymore.

UAD is better, studio one stock pro eq 3 is better.. looks better... way better.. i think when working with mixing its not just the sound its also the view of a software vst.

 

are you meghan markle.. it sounds like it.. always hating for no reason

 

if you really do not like the GUI of Pro-Q, that's going to really limit your options, since almost every other EQ that has been made after it has copied the GUI appearance so heavily.

It's also weird to not like the one EQ that such a wide swath of producers, mixers, and engineers has adopted as almost the "standard 3rd party EQ" compared to most other plugins. Sure, there are others people may prefer, but it wouldn't surprise anyone if it was the stock EQ in their DAW's next version.

 

Sorry but Pro-Q4 is a Benchmark in all it's glory!! Other companies are copying every move fabfilter makes.

Most of the people who dislike Fabfilter Pro-Q4 is because they like smaller GUI Eqs in general.

All the stock plugin eq lovers like OP using StudioOne Stock EQ or many Ableton users loving their EQ8 more than Pro-Q4. The reason is mostly the smaller GUI of the stock EQ, it makes it easier to make big moves in the production or at the sound design stage.

I would recommend you try setting the Pro-Q4 to a bit of smaller scaling size similar to your favorite stock eq...and try using it. I've set my Pro-Q4 to the smaller scaling size and Tiny GUI size, it looks similar to ableton's stock eq & feels a bit easier to make big moves very easily & it also covers less of the screen real estate.

Try it!

 

Functionality comes first, I suppose? They should release a new EQ instead of just adding new features to a typical parametric EQ? Why? In the evolution of the Studio One, how many times was the native EQ born completely anew? A "kinda ugly look"? What offends the refined eye, what's excessive, what's missing, what breaks ergonomics... could you elaborate; a little? When working with mixing? When mixing, it's not just the (the entire project's instances in a single window) sound, it's also the "eye candy" look of the "COLLECT THEM ALL!" VST (VST/3, AU, CLAP, AAX Native, AudioSuite) software?

 

Last edited: Feb 27, 2026 at 1:45 AM

Because nobody forces people to buy a vst..
Is the UAD better? Buy the UAD.
I find aesthetic issues on a digital instrument that's supposed to get the job done quite ridiculous. It seems reductive to me to even call it (a first world problem).
If we're talking about colors or sizes that cause discomfort to the eye, that's another matter.

 

The sluggish, jerky way the knobs move drives me nuts.

 

What do you mean "sound special'?
An EQ is not supposed to sound like ANYTHING, unless it is an EQ that incorporates "mojo" (distortion, lo-fi, etc).
An EQ should be (and most attempt to be ) as neutral and transparent as possible.
[EDIT: I see by your reply that your point was similar to mine and I just misunderstood.]

 

Last edited: Feb 28, 2026 at 1:09 AM

Miss Middleton, I usually really enjoy your sense of humor and get a kick out of the things you say... but this time? No. That's it, you've crossed the line. Swapping my sugar for salt, that I can forgive. But talking shit about the FabFilter Pro-Q 4?

That's pure sonic ingratitude. Disrespect to the EQ curves that never asked for anything but to make you more "listenable." Sure, if it were the Waves L1 (everyone's got that one childhood trauma with this brickwall limiter!), but FabFilter?

You deserve to spend the rest of your life mixing with the stock Audacity EQ!

 

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I don't know if this is pure ragebait, but otherwise, in terms of EQs on the VST market, there's really plenty to choose from to experiment with different sounds and have an interface that isn't Fab's.

Personally, I really appreciate the curve, the dB range, the spectrum analyzer, and the sidechain, which would almost replace my other favorite analyzers. It just needs an integrated phasescope, and I'd be in heaven...

There are tools that aren't for everyone. In soldering, some use a soldering iron, others a hot air gun; there are as many users as there are uses. Don't be so judgmental, and instead suggest or demonstrate which plugin has better features and sounds better, and why, compared to Pro-Q. I'd be very curious to read your thoughts, and it would greatly reassure me that this isn't ragebait.