Quick start

> The fastest way to get a feel for Outboard-EQ: load it on a track, draw a curve on the display, and listen.

The fastest way to get a feel for Outboard-EQ: load it on a track, draw a curve on the display, and listen.

Walkthrough

1. Load the plugin

Drop Outboard-EQ on any audio insert in your DAW. The window opens with the spectrum analyzer running and the curve flat.

2. Add a band

Click anywhere on the EQ display. A new band appears at the click position with its filter type chosen from where you clicked (low cut at the left edge, high cut at the right, peak in the middle).

3. Shape the band

Drag the band disc to move it in frequency and gain at once.
Scroll on the disc to change Q (bandwidth).
Double-click the disc to solo or bypass it.
Right-click the disc for filter type, slope, channel routing, and per-band character stages.

4. Try the dynamic side

Open the band's right-click menu → Dyn On. Now the band only moves when the signal crosses the threshold. Pull threshold down until you hear the band start to react. See Dynamic EQ.

5. Pick a starting point from presets

Click the Presets pill in the header. Five entries — Instrument, Mixing, Mastering, Character, and User — each open a flyout with sensible starting points for the source you're working on (133 factory presets in total). See Presets.

6. Compare with A/B

Use the A/B buttons in the header to switch between two snapshots of your current setting. Copy from A to B (or back) any time. See Undo, redo, A/B.

7. Check the level

Look at the right-hand meter sidebar. The TP number is true-peak in dBTP. Keep it under −1.0 dBTP for streaming masters. Equal Loud Bypass in the header makes the bypass A/B level-matched so you compare tone, not loudness.

Tips

The flat curve plus the spectrum analyzer alone is already a useful reference view. Don't feel obligated to add bands until you hear something to fix.
If the display feels cramped on a mix bus, click ±24 dB at the top right to switch the Y range from mixing (±12) to mastering (±24).
Press F11 (or click the full-view pill) for a wide editing canvas; the plugin remembers the choice per host.