How To Use Pro Q In Logic Pro | Learn The Basics Of Equalizing

I believe that learning how to EQ your songs is a crucial skill that can make or break your music. An EQ, short for equalizer, is a device or software that allows you to adjust the frequency balance of a sound source. 

By using an EQ, you can boost or cut certain frequencies to change the tone, timbre, and quality of the sound. For example, you can use an EQ to make your vocals sound brighter, warmer, thinner, or fuller. An EQ can also help you remove unwanted noises, enhance desired harmonics, and create special effects.

Apple’s Logic Pro comes with an array of high-quality stock plugins, including Channel EQ. While Logic Pro's stock Channel EQ plugin is a fantastic tool, trying out third-party plugins is always a good idea as each plugin offers something unique. After all, you might find that a third-party EQ better represents the features you’re looking for. 

With that said, If you want to try out a third-party EQ plugin and see if it suits you better, Fabfilter's Pro Q is one of the finest third-party EQ plugins available.

ProQ is a versatile and powerful EQ plugin that you can use in Logic Pro to shape the sound of your tracks and songs. Pro Q offers up to 24 bands of parametric equalization, as well as a variety of filter shapes, spectrum analyzers, dynamic EQs, and more.

Admittedly, if you haven't worked with one before, the interface of an EQ plugin can appear daunting, and Pro Q is no exception. But don't worry, once you get the basics down, Pro Q will turn into an intuitive plugin, allowing you to execute your ideas seamlessly.

Before you start EQ’ing your songs, make sure you have recorded or imported them as cleanly as possible, especially if you want to EQ your vocals. Use appropriate recording techniques and equipment to avoid unwanted noises and distortion. Also, try to arrange and mix your songs in a way that each instrument has its own space and role in the frequency spectrum. Remember that the less EQ you need to use, the better.

Install your copy of Pro Q as you would install any VST plugin in Logic Pro and let's get started.

Add Pro Q to Your Logic Pro Track

Once you’ve recorded your audio/MIDI track. You can go ahead and add FabFilter’s Pro Q plugin. Preferably, you’d want it at the beginning of your effects chain.

There are some applications for an equalizer plugin that require them to be after some effects. For instance, if you’re shaping the sound of your reverb, you’d want to add the equalizer after your reverb plugin.

However, for correcting the frequencies of your track and building a solid foundation, the EQ must come first. Here’s how you add it to your tracks in Logic:

• Press “I” on your keyboard to open the Inspector menu.
• Click the “AUDIO FX” slot and scroll down to “Audio Units.”
• Hover your pointer on “FabFilter” and choose “Pro Q.”

The Pro Q Interface

The main area of Pro Q’s interface shows the frequency spectrum of your song or track, as well as the EQ bands and curves. You’ll see the frequency spectrum dancing on your screen once you play your audio clip. The yellow line running from left to right represents the EQ spectrum. You’ll start with a flat EQ by default. 

You can double-click anywhere on the line to create a new band and drag the bands around to adjust their frequency. Once you have a band selected, the settings for it will show up at the bottom. You can then adjust the gain, Q, and filter shape of the band to your liking. Additionally, you can right-click on a band to change its filter shape and type.

Clicking Analyzer on the bottom bar brings up the settings for the analyzer. This houses some useful features, such as Analyzer Freezer. Enabling Analyzer Freezer records the spectrum throughout the audio clip and displays the highest measurements. You can also use Analyzer Freezer temporarily by holding the button.

Spectrum Grab is another useful feature that’s enabled by default. Having this enabled allows you to directly interact with the spectrum peaks. All you need to do is hover your mouse over the spectrum for a few seconds until it turns purple and the existing bands dim out. Then you can drag any of the peaks in the spectrum to create a new band and adjust it.

Hovering over the setting icon in Analyzer will bring up the settings for it, where you can choose different speeds, resolutions, and ranges for the analyzer. If you have Pro Q on any other tracks in Logic Pro, you can highlight them here to see their spectrums too. This can help you see the bigger picture and adjust the EQ according to other tracks.

On the right side of the bottom bar, you’ll see the output level and the gain scale. You can use these to adjust the output, gain, and pan scale by dragging the knobs left or right, or by using the mouse wheel.

On the top right corner of the interface, you’ll see the preset menu and the options menu. You can use these to load, save, or manage presets, or to access various settings and features of Pro Q.

Using Pro Q in Logic Pro

Now that you’re familiar with the interface, let’s see how to use Pro Q to EQ your songs. There are no fixed rules or formulas for EQ’ing songs, as every song is different and depends on the genre, the mood, the instruments, and the mix. However, there are some general guidelines and tips that you can follow to get a better sound.

Start by addressing any issues in the mix. Identify problematic frequencies using the spectrum analyzer and use Pro Q to cut or boost accordingly. Addressing these issues early can prevent problems later in the production process. Once you’ve made corrective adjustments, move on to enhancing the sound. Use Pro Q to highlight the strengths of individual elements, adding clarity and definition to your mix.

Cut Out Unwanted Low and High Frequencies

First, you’ll want to cut out any unwanted low-end or high-end frequencies that might make your songs sound muddy, boomy, hissy, or noisy. To do this, create two bands, select a low-cut filter and a high-cut filter, and set their frequencies to the lowest and highest points of your song’s frequency range, respectively. You can also adjust the slope of the filters to make them steeper or smoother.

Reduce Resonant Frequencies

Next, you’ll want to reduce any harsh, nasal, or resonant frequencies that might make your songs sound unpleasant or unbalanced. To do this, select a bell-shaped filter and sweep it across the mid-range frequencies, from around 200 Hz to 10 kHz. Listen carefully and find the frequency that sounds the most annoying or prominent. Then, reduce the gain of the filter by a few dBs and narrow the Q value to make it more precise.

Boost Frequencies to Enhance Clarity

After that, you’ll want to boost some frequencies to enhance the clarity, presence, and brightness of your songs. To do this, select another bell filter and boost it around the frequency that sounds the most important or characteristic of your song. This will make your song sound more solid and lively. You can also select a high-shelf filter and boost it above 10 kHz to add some airiness and sparkle to your song. Be careful not to overdo it, as too much boost can make your song sound harsh or sibilant.

Fine-Tune Your EQ Settings

Finally, you’ll want to fine-tune your EQ settings and make sure they work well with the rest of the mix. To do this, you can use the dynamic EQ feature of Pro Q, which allows you to make the EQ bands react to the input level of your song or track. This way, you can make the EQ more subtle or aggressive depending on how loud or soft your song or track is. To enable the dynamic EQ, click on the dynamic range ring around the gain knob of any band. You can then adjust the dynamic range for that band by dragging the knob left or right.

You can also use the solo button on each band or bypass it to isolate and compare the effect of the EQ. Hover your mouse over a band and then hold the headphones icon to audition the part of the song that’s affected by that band. To bypass a specific band, either click the power icon or hold the Option key on your keyboard and then click the band.

The global bypass button on the bottom right corner of the interface allows you to compare the EQ’ed and original song or track. You can also use the global gain knob to adjust the overall output level of the EQ and match it with the input level. If you’re looking to compare two EQs together, then the A/B button is going to come in very handy. Clicking A/B on the top bar switches between two EQs and allows you to quickly compare two different setups.

Remember that Besides using Pro Q, you can also use other plugins in Logic Pro to improve your songs and tracks, such as compression, reverb, delay, and modulation. You can also use Pro Q to EQ these effects and shape their sound. For instance, you can add reverb to your Logic Pro track and then use Pro Q to EQ the reverb.

Final Thoughts On Using Pro Q In Logic Pro

Pro Q is a powerful and versatile EQ plugin that can take your music to the next level. By learning how to use it effectively in Logic Pro, you'll be able to shape the sound of your tracks and songs in ways you never thought possible.

As you begin to experiment with Pro Q, it's important to remember that there are no fixed rules or formulas for EQ'ing songs. You'll need to use your ears and follow your intuition to find the right sound for your mix. Don't be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and try new things.

If you're new to Logic Pro, be sure to check out my Free 6 Pillars To Learn Logic Pro Faster course, which covers the essential skills and tools you need to get started. With practice and persistence, you'll soon be able to create the sound you've been dreaming of.