# Equalizer 5 Band

## Functionality

Equalizers are possibly the most used signal processors in a studio environment. With an equalizer you can alter the frequency spectrum of an instrument with different types of filters. Equalizers are used to increase or decrease the volume of different frequency ranges. You may add some presence to your track, cut unneccessary sub frequencies, make "room" for mixing a signal with others without producing indifferent mud, brighten dull recordings or "fix" an unsatisfying but not reproducable recording - Equalizers are the swiss army knife in audio production.
The 5 band equalizer is the perfect channel strip solution. A high- and lowshelf and three parametric peak filters give you enough flexibility for standard manipulations.

## Filters

The Calf Equalizer 5 Band consists of two different types of filters:

- Shelving filters: This type of filter got it's name from it's characteristics - it looks like the shelv of a cow. A highshelf filter increases or decreases all frequencies above the center frequency equally, the lowshelf does vice versa.
- Peak filters: Peak or bell filters increase or decrease the frequencies around the center frequency. A high quality setting of this filter results in a needle while lower quality settings produce a wider bell.

Calf Equalizers are designed to give you the most control over your frequency response. The peak filters can add or subtract up to 36dB at a really high Q to your signal. This can result in a self resonating tone in comparison to a nearly complete removal of a single narrow band.

## Tips

Please refer to the Equalizer 12 Band manual for more information on equalization.

## Controls

- Input L/R: The level after the input knob. The LED's flash on levels above 0dB
- Bypass: Don't process anything, just bypass the signal
- Input knob: Control the input level before the signal is processed
- Output L/R: The level after processing and after the output knob. The LED's flash on levels above 0dB
- Output knob: Control the output of the plugin - clipping could destroy your signal
- Low/Highshelf Frequency: The center frequency of the filter
- Low/Highshelf Level: The amount in dB's the center frequency is increased or decreased
- Low/Highshelf Active: Power on this filter and select an operating mode. Inactive Filters don't use any CPU
- Peak Frequency: The center frequency of the filter
- Peak Level: The amount in dB's the center frequency is increased or decreased
- Peak Q: The quality of the filter. Higher values create needles, lower ones bell filters
- Peak Active: Power on this filter and select an operating mode. Inactive Filters don't use any CPU