Hi Team

I am drawn to Fabfilter Pro-Q3 but before I invest in it do you have any alternatives that could even be preferable?

Thanks!

 

https://www.threebodytech.com/en/products/kirchhoffeq

 

Free https://plugins4free.com/plugin/949/

 

it's a great plug. even if you can get others. for all kinds of purposes, the Q3 is really out there.

 

Which DAW are you using? Chances are you already have a capable EQ on board.

There is no advantage is using Fabfilter over stock DAW EQ-

 

It was a huge surprise when I tried UVI Shade
It's an EQ looks very cool and the creative presets are bangin' there's like LFO presets it is insane
I'll never go back to FabFilter

 

I would say that Shade is a filter plug-in first and foremost, but it can be used as a EQ. You don't get a couple of functions in Shade that you get with Pro Q-3, like dynamic mode, linear phase mode, and EQ matching. Shade is more comparable to Volcano 3, and I would say that it's probably superior to Volcano 3. If you could use more than 4 filters in Volcano it would be a different story, but alas.

It depends on what you are after. If you want a workhorse EQ with superior workflow then go for Pro Q-3. Toneboosters Equalizer 4, Sonible Smart EQ 3, Kirchoff EQ (never tested it), HoRNet Total EQ, iZotope Ozone/Neutron EQ's and Softube Weiss EQ-1 are some popular alternatives that are also dynamic.

If you don't need Pro Q's dynamic mode or EQ matching mode there are several other options like DMG Audio EQuick/EQuality/EQuilibrium, Sonnox Claro, Slate Digital Infinity EQ, TBProAudio gEQ12 and others.

UVI Shade and apulSoft apQualizr2 are more more like filter plug-ins that you also can use as equalizers, but they are both very good!

Btw, if you are a Reaper user I would suggest to download ReEQ by nitsuj! Great JS EQ that is inspired by Pro Q3 (I'm assuming this, but can't say for sure).

 

Last edited: Jun 7, 2022

1. TDR Nova from Tokyo Dawn
2. VOS SlickEQ from Tokyo Dawn
3. Ignite Amps PTEq-x
4. Airwindows EQ plugins
5. Luftikus by lkjb
6. Sonimus SonEQ
7. MEqualizer by MeldaProduction
8. Fuse Audio Labs RS-W2395C
9. Acustica Audio Coffee The PUn
10. ReaPlugs ReaEQ

 

Don't forget Ikjb QRange and (probably the most capable out of the bunch) the unlimited trial version of Toneboosters EQ 4 (though I would recommend to buy it to support the great developer).

Ableton, Cubase, Logic, Studio One etc. also all have great stock EQs - not really a need for anything extra there.

 

DMG EQuilibrium

 

What I like in Pro-Q3 is the per-band dynamic processors.

Toneboosters Equalizer 4 is a lot less expensive and it does that too.
It has become my go-to EQ now.

 

ApQualizr2. I find it is better than Pro-Q3 in many ways (at roughly half the price). My personal workhorse.
https://www.apulsoft.ch/apqualizr2/

 

UVI Shade
https://www.uvi.net/shade

 

Pro-Q3 is a digital EQ, I prefer digital emulations of analog EQs for that analog warmth ​

 

to be honest, there are many similar ones. But none is as practical and intuitive as Fabfilter Q3. At least for me. You have from Izotope, also from Softube. But.... I totally agree with what @Hazen said, it is very likely that the Daw already has it, and I say this because it has happened to me with other plugins and functions, searching like crazy and in the end the daw had everything I wanted and better than an external vs.

 

Sorry I voted "dislike" because it's a 32-bit plugin.

 

Pro-Q 3 got 24 filters per instance, switchable mid-side-left-right for each individual filter, linear phase and minimum phase modes, and a switchable program-dependent dynamic EQ for each bell and shelf filter, including flat tilt. The only thing that can compete with it on equal footing for general purpose is the Kirchhoff-EQ mentioned above.
Then there are things that do stuff Pro-Q doesn't do - those are FF Volcano 3 for colouring EQ, allpasses and modulation (up to fairly complex stuff), and apulSoft apQualizr2/UVI Shade for even more complex modulation.
And then maybe something like TDR Nova or SlickEQ M/Pulsar Massive if you somehow need a parallel topology EQ exactly.

A newbie might not need all of the functionality Pro-Q 3 provides, but they'll stop being a newbie eventually - and they will need tools that's adequate to their intent. Chances are they'll come to Pro-Q 3 sooner or later anyways - better to familiarize onself with it from the start than wasting time on tools you won't use one day. Pro-Q 3 isn't overwhelming. Just gotta turn off the FFT analyzer every once and again and listen to what EQing does to the sound instead of only looking at it.

 

Last edited: Jun 7, 2022

And what's the problem with 32bit-plugins? Facepalm.

 

And there are also cheaper alternatives for those who want to go legit. Mainly, it's:
Crave EQ by Crave DSP - 32 bands instead of 24, no dynamics, comparable (stellar) quality (including linear-phase) and mid-side functionality;
And even cheaper TB Equalizer v4 by ToneBoosters, which sports quite a featureset for its price (16 bands with dynamics, AI suggestions), but cramps unless you turn the HQ on and lacks any linear-phase modes. Still an upgrade from most stock EQs I've seen.
The best bet for a legit buyer newbie IMO is a combination of Crave EQ and TDR Nova GE. Those two well get you covered all the way. I'd use that combo myself were I not addicted to Pro-Q 3 like it's crack : D

Studio One, Cubase and Live users won't be able to use it without crutches. Not an issue for Reaper or FL Studio people tho.

 

Last edited: Jun 7, 2022

Then get ToolChain. It's 64 bit version of EasyQ and all other plugins. Free and paid. Even EchoLab (delay) and Straightliner (synth).
http://www.rs-met.com/freebies.html

But (as justwannadownload said) it can't compete with Pro-Q regarding the full functionality.

These ones are good (I would prefer them sonically as EQs only, without bells and whistles, that is dynamic EQ etc.):
https://cravedsp.com/crave-eq
https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/hornet-total-eq/