EQ & Filter Plugins
Equalizers, filters, tone shaping. Shape the frequency content of audio. From simple high-pass filters to complex parametric EQs.
Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Control Count | 3-12 (varies by band count) |
| Complexity | Low to High |
| Visualizer | Spectrum Bars or Radial |
| Layout | Clustered or Minimal |
Typical Controls
| Control | Widget | Range | Evocative Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Knob | 20-20,000 Hz | FREQ, SWEEP |
| Gain | Knob (bipolar) | -18 to +18 dB | BOOST/CUT |
| Q/Width | Knob | 0.1-10 | WIDTH, RING |
| Filter Type | Toggle | LP/HP/BP/Notch | MODE, TYPE |
Recommended Visualizer
Primary: Spectrum Bars
- Shows frequency content
- Users see EQ effect in real-time
- Industry standard for EQ
Alternative: Radial Spectrum for modern/unique look
Layout Pattern
Recommended: Clustered (for multi-band) or Minimal (for simple filter)
Multi-Band EQ Layout
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ [SPECTRUM ANALYZER] │
│ │
│ LOW MID HIGH │
│ [freq] [freq] [freq] │
│ [gain] [gain] [gain] │
│ [Q] [Q] [Q] │
│ │
│ [OUTPUT] [bypass] │
└─────────────────────────────┘
Simple Filter Layout
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ SWEEP │
│ │
│ [FREQ] [RES] │
│ │
│ [TYPE] [MIX] [bypass] │
│ │
│ [SPECTRUM] │
└─────────────────────────────┘
Example Plugins
- Parametric EQ - Frequency, gain, Q per band
- Graphic EQ - Fixed frequencies, gain only
- Low-pass Filter - Remove highs
- High-pass Filter - Remove lows
- Tilt EQ - Simple high/low balance
- Shelf EQ - Boost/cut above/below frequency
- Notch Filter - Remove specific frequency
Design Tips
Spectrum Analyzer
- Almost essential for EQ plugins
- Shows the effect of changes
- Position prominently (top or center)
Logarithmic Frequency
- Always use logarithmic scaling for frequency
- Human hearing is logarithmic
- 20Hz-200Hz should span same as 2kHz-20kHz
Group Per Band
- Keep freq/gain/Q together for each band
- Clear visual separation between bands
- Consider color-coding bands
Control Names
For EQ, technical names often work better:
| Control | Suggested Names |
|---|---|
| Frequency | FREQ, HZ |
| Gain | GAIN, dB, BOOST |
| Q | Q, WIDTH, RING |
| Type | TYPE, MODE |
| Band names | LOW, MID, HIGH, or frequency labels |
For creative filters, evocative names:
| Technical | Evocative |
|---|---|
| Cutoff | SWEEP, TONE, EDGE |
| Resonance | RES, RING, PEAK, BITE |
Color Suggestions
Analytical EQ
- Accent: Blue, cyan
- Background: Dark blue/gray
- Vibe: Precise, clean, professional
Creative Filter
- Accent: Based on plugin personality
- Background: Matches aesthetic
- Vibe: Depends on intended use
Common Mistakes
❌ No spectrum analyzer ❌ Linear frequency scaling (should be log) ❌ Q control not intuitive ❌ Bands too close together visually
✅ Spectrum shows changes ✅ Logarithmic frequency ✅ Clear band separation ✅ Intuitive Q behavior
Variations
Simple Filter
Controls: Frequency, resonance, type selector
Visualizer: Spectrum Bars (small)
Control count: 3-4
Size: Small (280×300)
3-Band Parametric
Controls: 3× (freq, gain, Q), output
Visualizer: Spectrum Bars (prominent)
Control count: 10
Size: Medium (420×400)
Tilt EQ
Controls: Tilt (bipolar), frequency pivot, output
Visualizer: Spectrum Bars
Control count: 3
Size: Small (300×320)
Creative Filter
Controls: Cutoff, resonance, drive, mode, mix
Visualizer: Spectrum Bars or none
Control count: 5
Size: Small (320×340)
Aesthetic: Match creative intent