FabFilter User Forum

SSL eq curve on Pro-Q3

I'm used to mixing with SSL plugins, but I gravitated to use the Pro Q3 instead. If I want to replicate the eq curve from the SSL what q values should I use?
SSL 1Q (bell) = Fabfilter Q
SSL 2Q (bell) = Fabfilter Q
SSL low & high shelf = Fabfilter Q
SSL low & high pass = Fabfilter Q

Morten Andersen

Use the "Plugin Doctor" from DDMF to analyze your preferred SSL-EQ.

Thomas Haumer

Sadly I have to buy Plugin Doctor if I want to compare two plugins

Morten Andersen

Hi Morten,

The Q values of Pro-Q 3 can be different than the values of other plug-ins. Pro-Q 3 uses the default Butterworth Q factor as a default, but we have mapped this value to a Q of 1 instead. So for a bell the Q in Pro-Q actually resembles the default butterworth Q of 0.7071.

What exact ssl plug-in are you using?

Ralph (FabFilter)

Thanks Ralph :-)

Right now I'm using the Waves EV2 and the Brainworx SSL E

Morten Andersen

Hi Morten,

I could not test the EV2, but the BX SSL E uses the default Butterworth Q factor. Pro-Q does to, but we mapped it to a different value so that the default setting makes more sense. So a Q if 1 on the BX SSL E would be about 0.8 in Pro-Q 3. A Q of 2 on the SSL would be a Q of 1.8 in Pro-3.

I did notice some difference in frequency as well. When I select 200 on the SSL this is about 144 in Pro-Q 3. 3K on the ssl is 2754 in Pro-Q 3. This is likely due to the analog emulation of different channels.

Ralph (FabFilter)

Hi Ralph, That was indeed very kind of you - thanks for your answer :-)

Morten Andersen
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