What do you think of DMG equilibrium ?
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- 12481 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
CraveEQ is another good one. But EQuillibrium has been my go to. Even though, I barely scratch the surface of it.
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 208 posts since 31 Mar, 2025
What do you mean ?
- KVRAF
- 6279 posts since 8 Jul, 2009
I have and use it, along with many of the otehr DMG plugins. I consider them top tier but escoteric. Similar tier but much more main stream, and cheaper is FabFilter. I enjoy working with lots of different tools and appreciate some of the unique but escoteric features of EQuilibrium. If that's not important to you, you may want to pass and save some money with something like FabFilter. Just my opinion. YMMV
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 208 posts since 31 Mar, 2025
did you notice a difference in the sound ?plexuss wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 4:25 am I have and use it, along with many of the otehr DMG plugins. I consider them top tier but escoteric. Similar tier but much more main stream, and cheaper is FabFilter. I enjoy working with lots of different tools and appreciate some of the unique but escoteric features of EQuilibrium. If that's not important to you, you may want to pass and save some money with something like FabFilter. Just my opinion. YMMV
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machinesworking machinesworking https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8505
- KVRAF
- 8029 posts since 15 Aug, 2003 from seattle
It's been my main EQ for years now. I think as some have pointed out the interface is better than the rest. I bought it before Pro Q had the keyboard or note function, but obviously they're neck and neck in terms of quality. I'm not a purist for most EQ duties I'll use stock EQs and coloring EQs, but when I need to carve into a sound EQUilibrium is the goto.
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 208 posts since 31 Mar, 2025
thank for your advice. 
- KVRAF
- 1843 posts since 3 Jan, 2019 from Holland
Equilibrium is my go-to for many years. Tried many others, i do use Pro-Q4 or Slick Eq M for certain tasks, and i use hardware as well as emulations every now and then. I personally work much quicker with Equilibrium then with other eq's tho.
The strength of Equilibrium is in the phase response. It has perfect phase response meaning less transient smearing and better low-frequency handling. Mind you, in real-life situations these differences are so small that not many even hear it. Quite often ppl also mistake transient smearing for softening, which is why some will even prefer the sound of some cheaper eq's.
It could do with some updates tho, and perhaps look a bit more modern. But soundwise it's never been beaten, and Equilibrium's deep tweaking possibilities always enabled users to null it with every next 'best transparent eq ever'.
The strength of Equilibrium is in the phase response. It has perfect phase response meaning less transient smearing and better low-frequency handling. Mind you, in real-life situations these differences are so small that not many even hear it. Quite often ppl also mistake transient smearing for softening, which is why some will even prefer the sound of some cheaper eq's.
It could do with some updates tho, and perhaps look a bit more modern. But soundwise it's never been beaten, and Equilibrium's deep tweaking possibilities always enabled users to null it with every next 'best transparent eq ever'.
The loudness war is over, loudness has won
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 208 posts since 31 Mar, 2025
thank a lot for your advice !dionenoid wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:47 am Equilibrium is my go-to for many years. Tried many others, i do use Pro-Q4 or Slick Eq M for certain tasks, and i use hardware as well as emulations every now and then. I personally work much quicker with Equilibrium then with other eq's tho.
The strength of Equilibrium is in the phase response. It has perfect phase response meaning less transient smearing and better low-frequency handling. Mind you, in real-life situations these differences are so small that not many even hear it. Quite often ppl also mistake transient smearing for softening, which is why some will even prefer the sound of some cheaper eq's.
It could do with some updates tho, and perhaps look a bit more modern. But soundwise it's never been beaten, and Equilibrium's deep tweaking possibilities always enabled users to null it with every next 'best transparent eq ever'.
- KVRAF
- 6279 posts since 8 Jul, 2009
Like any good digital EQ, when it’s flat, no, I do not hear a difference. That’s a good thing! But comparing one EQ to another requires comparing apples to apples, which means using the same EQ curves. I don’t have the time or interest to do that, so I’d have to say that in terms of active bands, I don’t know. I would guess that there won't be much difference in sound between a given band curve on EQuilibrium and one in another digital EQ that emulates the same curve.solvni_music wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 5:17 amdid you notice a difference in the sound ?plexuss wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 4:25 am I have and use it, along with many of the otehr DMG plugins. I consider them top tier but escoteric. Similar tier but much more main stream, and cheaper is FabFilter. I enjoy working with lots of different tools and appreciate some of the unique but escoteric features of EQuilibrium. If that's not important to you, you may want to pass and save some money with something like FabFilter. Just my opinion. YMMV
However, when it comes to the ability to tweak band phase, yes, I do hear a difference, especially in the low end. But that’s one of EQuilibrium’s esoteric goodies. It doesn’t emulate the full analog signal path of the analog curves it supports - just the curves. For me, its strength lies more in the workflow and features than in being a better-sounding EQ, generally speaking. YMMV.
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Free music with your support on Patreon | Youtube: Music of Plexus Videos (music videos) | Youtube: Plexus Productions (audio related) Stop whining. Make music.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 208 posts since 31 Mar, 2025
Thank , I really apreciate 
- KVRAF
- 11378 posts since 3 Feb, 2003 from Finland, Espoo
Mind you, the smearing can be abused in Equilibrium too. You can set it's windowing size and type to force really heavy smearing, which can sometimes be extremely good. I love using Equilibrium when I need to soften clicky hihats or other drums/percussion. Simply by boosting or cutting at the offending frequencies you can smear it so much that the end result is better.dionenoid wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:47 am Mind you, in real-life situations these differences are so small that not many even hear it. Quite often ppl also mistake transient smearing for softening, which is why some will even prefer the sound of some cheaper eq's.
That's the power of EQuilibrium. You the user have all the choices you could ever need for a digital EQ. It can be the "best" EQ in the whole industry with ridiculous settings and it can also emulate "bad" EQs.. and you have full control over the phase response in the FIR 'free' mode, meaning you can actually exaggerate pre-ring, which again can be a nice little trick (works well on kicks and such when you want them to go "wwwwoooOOOP".
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot
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- KVRian
- 698 posts since 9 Dec, 2021
Can you recommend me a good setting for this? I personally hate the clickiness of modern musics, always love the smeary high end of low bitrate mp3 but emulation like the Goodhertz doesn't sound like the way I wanted.bmanic wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 12:56 amMind you, the smearing can be abused in Equilibrium too. You can set it's windowing size and type to force really heavy smearing, which can sometimes be extremely good. I love using Equilibrium when I need to soften clicky hihats or other drums/percussion. Simply by boosting or cutting at the offending frequencies you can smear it so much that the end result is better.dionenoid wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:47 am Mind you, in real-life situations these differences are so small that not many even hear it. Quite often ppl also mistake transient smearing for softening, which is why some will even prefer the sound of some cheaper eq's.
That's the power of EQuilibrium. You the user have all the choices you could ever need for a digital EQ. It can be the "best" EQ in the whole industry with ridiculous settings and it can also emulate "bad" EQs.. and you have full control over the phase response in the FIR 'free' mode, meaning you can actually exaggerate pre-ring, which again can be a nice little trick (works well on kicks and such when you want them to go "wwwwoooOOOP".
- KVRAF
- 11378 posts since 3 Feb, 2003 from Finland, Espoo
EDIT: Actually you don't need two instances.. no idea why I thought you would need two. You can do everything within a single instance of EQuilibrium, of course. Just have an identical cut and boost then simply set their 'phase dots' in opposite directions. This will cancel out the frequency response but you are left with the 'phase wobble' and impulse ringing which will do the smearing.jtsterays wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 11:55 amCan you recommend me a good setting for this? I personally hate the clickiness of modern musics, always love the smeary high end of low bitrate mp3 but emulation like the Goodhertz doesn't sound like the way I wanted.bmanic wrote: Wed Apr 23, 2025 12:56 amMind you, the smearing can be abused in Equilibrium too. You can set it's windowing size and type to force really heavy smearing, which can sometimes be extremely good. I love using Equilibrium when I need to soften clicky hihats or other drums/percussion. Simply by boosting or cutting at the offending frequencies you can smear it so much that the end result is better.dionenoid wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 11:47 am Mind you, in real-life situations these differences are so small that not many even hear it. Quite often ppl also mistake transient smearing for softening, which is why some will even prefer the sound of some cheaper eq's.
That's the power of EQuilibrium. You the user have all the choices you could ever need for a digital EQ. It can be the "best" EQ in the whole industry with ridiculous settings and it can also emulate "bad" EQs.. and you have full control over the phase response in the FIR 'free' mode, meaning you can actually exaggerate pre-ring, which again can be a nice little trick (works well on kicks and such when you want them to go "wwwwoooOOOP".
Just use EQuilibrium in it's FIR 'free' mode and set 'Impulse length' to 1024 (the lowest possible). You can shape the smearing with the frequency where you are cutting and boosting. If you boost/cut higher up you get shorter impulse lengths but if you do it in the lower frequency regions you get much longer ringing filters.

In the image above you can see that I have two bells, both at exactly 2kHz. One is set to +6dB and the other to -6dB. I've then reversed the phase of one of the bands. This causes a flat frequency response while still causing impulse ringing. You can use this to smear things. The steeper the bells are and the lower in the frequency range you set them the longer and more severe the ringing. Note that at an impulse size of only 1024 the ringing will be "cut off" though.. this can cause some discontinuity and weirdness. You can use the padding setting to mitigate this.
Anyhow, it's worth exploring what kind of smearing you want. For closed clicky hihats I always have two or 3 bells narrow bells quite high up in the frequency range. Between 3 and 10kHz. This causes a really clear smearing ripple and can help take off the edge of the hihat.
Last edited by bmanic on Wed Apr 23, 2025 3:20 pm, edited 3 times in total.
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle
