Asymetric custom EQ gains

[Ferran Pujol]

Mixxx should allow the user to customize the maximum attenuation and gain of each EQ band separately. So for example you could setup something like this:

Band Attenuation at full left Gain and full right
HI -35 db +6 db
Mid -25 db +10 db
Lo Full Kill +3 db

or whatever. I just pictured it for the current 3-band EQ, but 4 or more bands are also welcome.

I suppose this can already be done with MIDI scripting. However, In my opinion the user needs to be able to tweak this without relying on the scripts, so less technical users could also benefit from this features.

Another step further would be a customizable knob response. So for example the user could select to have a linear or logarithmic response from the knob, or even draw a custom curve.

[Daniel Schürmann (daschuer)]

Hi Ferran,

from the weak responds to my EQ-Questions I have learned that the vast majority of users does not care about EQ settings and techniques as long as there is one, that works.
The EQs are somehow a identity of a Mixer. Professionals claim to distinguish different Mixers by its sound.

Because of this I do not like to have too much tweaking options for EQs. I am in favor of setting up a limited number of EQs, that gives Mixxx a identity, but allows every Mixing style.

But let me understand your requirements why and when do you need to tweak the gain knobs curve and range?
What is your Mixing style?
Is it possible to integrate your EQ as one of the "limited number"

It sounds a bit like:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/mixxx/+bug/1366680
I am also happy about comments at:
https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/305

Thank you,

Daniel

[Ferran Pujol (ferranpujol)]

I mostly mix techno and tech-house. I use the 4-decks in Traktor (hope to definitively change to Mixxx with 1.12) to play full tracks and layer loops or build-up sounds. For me, every characteristic of the EQ I could tweak would be a total win. I HATE Traktor forcing me to use its predefined EQs. What happens if I'd prefer their ISO EQ with more gain? What if I would like the same EQ but with four bands? What if I want different behaviour for mid and low bands? I was tempted to move to Ableton just for the possibility to build my own signal path with the EQ I like.

It's a matter of what you feel comfortable with while mixing. Back in the analog days when EQs were a hardwired circuit, little you could do to adapt the EQ to you. You had to adapt yourself to the EQ. But now, you could freely fine tune the EQ to what you like the most. Why has someone to tell me which type of EQ I should use? (let me here omit the hard work you do coding all this stuff).

See also my response here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/mixxx/+bug/1367092

[Daniel Schürmann (daschuer)]

> I was tempted to move to Ableton just for the possibility to build my own signal path with the EQ I like.

How would your EQ path look like in Ableton?
Lets discuss if our planes fits to your needs.

We have a pending PR where it is possible to use external LV2 EQs
We may also add an option to chain up to four EQs or other effects and use it as Mixing EQ.
I hope this will be finished before releasing 1.12

[Ferran Pujol (ferranpujol)]

I was using a crossover vst like this (http://www.rs-met.com/freebies.html) to separate the audio coming from traktor in 4 bands. Each band was routed to a different channel and then I simply used the volume fader on each channel to control the EQ, except for the low band, for which I had a hi-pass filter that progressively swept low frequencies out.

I used 24db/oct roll-off, cut-off frequencies being 180-1000-3000 approximately. Gain cut of something in between -24 and -30 db and gain add up to 9db.

I also used a dedicated one knob lp/hp filter with resonance control. I used an encoder on my controller and a shift modifier to alternate between frequency and resonance control. It turned out to be pretty useful.

[Daniel Schürmann (daschuer)]

in Mixxx 1.12 we have now a 24db/oct Crossover EQ: Bessel-LV 4 and dedicated filter button.
Does this fulfill your requirement from #4 or should we add an aditional EQ type for this?

If we need a new type, what should be changed?

[Ferran Pujol (ferranpujol)]

Almost, but the user is still not aware of which are the real attenuation/gain maximum values in db of the eq.
Also, it is still not possible to adjust this values for each band independently.

Good work though, this is gonna be an amazing release.

[Daniel Schürmann (daschuer)]

> Almost, but the user is still not aware of which are the real attenuation/gain maximum values in db of the eq.

Yes, this is an issue. We may a DB label, but than it is an issue of skin space :-/

> Also, it is still not possible to adjust this values for each band independently.

Of cause this can be don in the C++ code. So I am still hoping we can turn one of the current EQ into your favorite by changing the gain scales from C++ code.
Still fixed gain knob scales, but Min Max values statically tweaked for your needs.

If this is true, what can we do? How can we start?
Is it this:
HI -35 db +6 db
Mid -25 db +10 db
Lo Full Kill +3 db
Can you explain why you like these scales?

[Ferran Pujol (ferranpujol)]

Ok, I see totally customizable gains must be too much for now, but I'm happy because you care a lot about my opinion on mixxx's eq :)

The values on the bug description were just random examples. With ableton I used this values:
HI -30 db +6 db
Mid -30 db +6 db
Lo Full Kill +6 db

This would make me very happy.

[Swiftb0y (swiftb0y)]

Mixxx now uses GitHub for bug tracking. This bug has been migrated to:
https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/issues/7125