FabFilter has announced FabFilter Pro-Q 3, a major update to its Pro-Q equalizer plug-in adding dynamic EQ, surround support and per-band mid/side processing, while maintaining sound quality and ease of use for which Pro-Q.

Pro-Q 3 now has the ability to switch any of its 24 bands to Dynamic EQ mode, with a simple operation – raising or lowering the Dynamic Range ring around the Gain knob applies smooth compression or expansion to that band. An intelligent algorithm chooses programme-dependent attack, release and knee settings, while the Threshold can be set automatically, according to the input signal level, or manually. EQ bands continue to operate with analogue matching and support Linear Phase mode.

Pro-Q 3 works with all major surround formats, up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2. The plug-in automatically configures itself to the multichannel format of the hosting surround track, and an intuitive selection panel enables EQ adjustment of multiple channels together.

Pro-Q has long been able to work its equalisation magic on the mid or side channels in a stereo signal, as well as left and right, and this functionality becomes more flexible with Pro-Q 3. Each individual band can now be set to process only the Mid, Side, Left, Right, or Stereo channels. Pro-Q 3 adds to Pro-Q 2’s multitude of filter types with the all-new Flat Tilt shape, applying a flat tilting correction curve to the entire audible spectrum. And for those occasions when even the super-steep 96dB/octave roll-off slope isn’t precise enough, the Low and High Cut filter types can now be set to Brickwall mode for the ultimate in top/bottom attenuation.

Pro-Q 3’s spectrum analyser now includes collision detection to view clashes between the source signal and the spectrum of any other Pro-Q 3 instance in the session, also offering instant handle on the most important peaks in Spectrum Grab mode with frequency/note labels.

Key features:

• Professional mastering-grade EQ plug-in.
• Up to 24 bands with a wide range of filter types.
• Dynamic EQ option for every band.
• 6-96dB/octave slopes for all filter types.
• Additional Brickwall slope for the High Cut and Low Cut filters.
• Per-band Stereo, Left, Right, Mid, or Side mode.
• Zero Latency, Natural Phase, and Linear Phase processing modes.
• Extremely efficient processing and low memory usage.
• Surround support, including Dolby Atmos 7.0.2 and 7.1.2 formats with flexible surround channel linking.
• Adapts automatically to stereo, mono, and surround channel layouts.
• Intelligent multiband selection and editing.
• Intelligent band solo mode.
• Real-time spectrum analyser.
• External spectrum visualisation from any other Pro-Q 3 instance in the session, including collision detection.
• Spectrum Grab: grab and adjust a peak directly in the spectrum analyser.
• EQ Match for imposing the tonal characteristics of one signal on another.
• Piano Display switches the frequency scale to musical note values.

FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is now available for EUR 149, USD 179 or GBP 134, supporting both Windows and macOS in VST and VST 3, Audio Units, AAX and AudioSuite plug-in formats.

More: www.fabfilter.com