Understanding the Two Types
Graphic Equalizer
A filter bank with many bands at fixed frequencies. You can only adjust the gain of each band.
🟡 Key Concept:
Many bands, few controls
- •Fixed center frequencies
- •Fixed Q per band
- •Only gain is adjustable
- •Parallel filter routing
- •10, 20, or 30 bands common
Signal Flow (Parallel):
Parametric Equalizer
Fewer bands but full control over each: frequency, gain, AND Q (bandwidth).
🔴 Key Concept:
Few bands, full control
- •Adjustable center frequency
- •Adjustable Q (bandwidth)
- •Adjustable gain
- •Series filter routing
- •Typically 3-7 bands
Signal Flow (Series):
Graphic Equalizer: A filter bank with bandpass filters routed in parallel, with fixed center frequencies separated by regular intervals (octave, half-octave, or third-octave). Only gain is adjustable per band.
Parametric Equalizer: An equalizer with fewer bands but more parameters per band. Allows control of center frequency, gain, and Q for each band. Filters are routed in series.
A common exam question format: "Explain TWO advantages of parametric EQ over graphic EQ."
Answer: (1) Adjustable center frequency for precise targeting, (2) Adjustable Q for controlling the width of the affected range.