ReaEQ: A more useful scale with a "musical" arrangement of frequencies.

cool · 08-12-2019, 09:27 PM

ReaEQ is an excellent equalizer, but now it is not very universal. For example, for working with low frequencies (range 0 - 100Hz) it is very inconvenient due to the small area on the left side of the plugin. At the same time, the right-hand side (range 10k - 20k) has a considerable width despite the fact that these frequencies are rarely used in real work (most instruments simply do not sound in this range) and high accuracy is rarely needed there. Unlike low frequencies.

This will be especially true in new versions of the Reaper. The embedded small plugin will be even harder to use with the current frequency arrangement.

For clarity, I made an approximate arrangement of frequencies in a Photoshop at which we get significantly more freedom when editing any tools (sorry, the numbers are poorly visible on the thumbnail. Better to open the full image.):

For comparison, this is how the plugin scale looks now:

bFooz · 08-13-2019, 02:11 AM

Yes, definitely +1. This was already discussed in some other post not so long ago.

puddi · 08-13-2019, 07:14 AM

Yes, absolutely! It would be great to have a right-click option in the EQ window to make it more like your mockup.

sisaso · 08-13-2019, 10:05 AM

Is this still a log Scale, after Photoshopping?

mschnell · 08-13-2019, 12:36 PM

In that scale, the filter curves (e.g. a simple band pass) will look rather weird.

-Michael

bFooz · 08-13-2019, 02:51 PM

Here is ReaEq compared with TDR Nova. Nova has much more space in lows.

cool · 08-13-2019, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sisaso

Is this still a log Scale, after Photoshopping?

I only changed the numbers to give an approximate picture. Obviously, the final refinement of the plugin will require more serious changes, including the newly drawn grid.

An easy way to understand the idea is to compare it with ANY EQ. No exaggeration. From Sonitus:FX to FabFilter Q, everyone has enough space in the low-frequency region. And only ReaEQ is an outsider here.

mschnell · 08-13-2019, 10:07 PM

What about a horizontal scroll instead of modifying the scale ?

-Michael

cool · 08-14-2019, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mschnell

What about a horizontal scroll instead of modifying the scale ?

-Michael

This may be an option, but I'm not sure that additional mouse movements will be convenient. Also, if all the information is immediately available in one window, it is easier to work with.

I understand the users who are used to the good old ReaEQ. I think if, in addition to it, ReaEQ2 (for example) appears, it will please all users.
Also, if another frequency display is an additional option in the plugin menu, it will also be convenient for everyone.

puddi · 08-14-2019, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cool

This may be an option, but I'm not sure that additional mouse movements will be convenient. Also, if all the information is immediately available in one window, it is easier to work with.

I understand the users who are used to the good old ReaEQ. I think if, in addition to it, ReaEQ2 (for example) appears, it will please all users.
Also, if another frequency display is an additional option in the plugin menu, it will also be convenient for everyone.

Agreed, having it as an option would be the optimal solution.

It's almost like all values below 5.0k are shifted one grid line too much to the left compared to most other EQ's out there.

cool · 08-14-2019, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddi

It's almost like all values below 5.0k are shifted one grid line too much to the left compared to most other EQ's out there.

Yes, exactly. Most equalizers have a frequency of 500Hz in the middle of the scale. ReaEQ has 1000Hz.

eq1 · 01-30-2021, 05:56 PM

I was thinking something similar as the OP, searched, and found this thread. I'm wondering what the solution is - is it get a different plug-in?

In general, it seems like there's a lot of graphical real estate in ReaEQ devoted to higher frequencies. I think I'd prefer the middle to be around 500Hz rather than 1k, where everything that's now to the left of 500Hz gets stretched, everything to the right gets squeezed. Or better yet, if the x-axis were adjustable.

If anyone can suggest an EQ plug-in that's functionally comparable to ReaEQ - but has these graphical options - I'm all ears...

n997 · 03-04-2021, 10:51 AM

The existing ReaEQ visual scale is not logarithmic as octaves.
It is visually increasingly "compressed" to the lower end:

In that picture, Hz values of bands are even octaves (55, 110, 220, 440, 880, 1760, 3520, 7040, 14080). The distances between octaves would be same in most other EQs.

EDIT: fixed a typo (7020 > 7040)

For musical EQ scale, displaying the piano keyboard and semitone grid (fully octave-logarithmic) would be ideal:

Personally, I hope that it could be implemented optionally in existing ReaEQ.

mschnell · 03-04-2021, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n997

In that picture, Hz values of bands are even octaves (55, 110, 220, 440, 880, 1760, 3520, 7020, 14080).

Did you check if the Freq slider works in the same way ?

-Michael

n997 · 03-04-2021, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mschnell

Did you check if the Freq slider works in the same way?

As far as I can tell by drawing an envelope, yes - in lower frequencies, such as 55 to 110 Hz, an octave takes less vertical space than in upper frequencies:

That is of course with "Log-scale automated frequencies" checked.
To my understanding, ideally that envelope line should be straight, not curved.