What is "Q" ?

[GODSBASSMAN]

I have seen this notation around when talking about frequency controls; Q, what is it exactly, what does it do?

[bass_lord_mutha]

This is Q.

This is also Q...



Mwahahaha!!! But the first one is probably the Q you're asking about :P

[onosson]

Q refers to the bandwidth (range) of frequencies affected by a particular eq control, for bass it's usually used for midrange eq'ing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwid...nal_processing)

[GreggBummer]

Isn't there a Q control on some effects? My old Dunlop Wah comes to mind.

I adjusted it till it sounded good. Have no idea what was going on under the hood.

[bass_lord_mutha]

Originally Posted by GreggBummer

Isn't there a Q control on some effects? My old Dunlop Wah comes to mind.

I adjusted it till it sounded good. Have no idea what was going on under the hood.

Yeah the Q effect on the Crybaby wah is essentially a mid-frequency range sweep. The more clockwise you have the control, the wider the range of sweep. I used to have a mid-90's Ibanez SR506 that had the Vari-Mid EQ preamp with sweepable mids and I could hit a note or chord and roll the mid frequency sweep back and forth and get a pretty decent wah-like effect.

[GregDunn]

Actually, Q is the "quality" factor of a filter. It's the ratio of the center frequency to the 3db bandwidth, so a filter covering the same bandwidth at a lower frequency will actually have a lower Q. The graph will look similar on a log frequency plot though, so Q is actually a good measurement of relative bandwidth at different frequencies.

[bass_lord_mutha]

Yeah, what he said :P

[colcifer]

Originally Posted by bass_lord_mutha

This is Q.

This is also Q...

Mwahahaha!!! But the first one is probably the Q you're asking about :P

Q is awesome. He reminds me a bit of myself...

[ghostsontheroad]

"It is a hypothetical textual source for the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Luke. Q is defined as the "common" material found in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark. This ancient text supposedly contained the logia or quotations from Jesus. However, the existence of a highly treasured dominical document, being omitted from all the early Church catalogs and going unmentioned by all the fathers of the early Church, remains one of the great conundrums of modern Biblical scholarship." - Wikipedia

["Q"]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Q is awesome. He reminds me a bit of myself...

Thanks man!

[SGD Lutherie]

"Q" stands for "quality factor".

On something like a low pass filter it increases the resonant peak by inducing feedback. That makes the filter sound sharper.

For a band pass filter it changes the bandwidth, or sharpness of the filter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_factor

[GODSBASSMAN]

Whoa. Now I see why some people go to college to learn to play this thing called bass guitar.

[slopeshoulder]

Originally Posted by ghostsontheroad

"It is a hypothetical textual source for the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Luke. Q is defined as the "common" material found in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark. This ancient text supposedly contained the logia or quotations from Jesus. However, the existence of a highly treasured dominical document, being omitted from all the early Church catalogs and going unmentioned by all the fathers of the early Church, remains one of the great conundrums of modern Biblical scholarship." - Wikipedia

As a former seminarian and current bassitarian, I can confirm this.

[jnyjetta]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Q is awesome. He reminds me a bit of myself...

I envy your ability to control space and time as "like" member of the Continuum.

[GODSBASSMAN]

Actually, if you really think about it, all good bass players have the ability to manipulate space and time, to change the course and perspective of things perceived. All "Q".

["Q"]

You know, I should really be making more of this opportunity I'll never have a chance like this again...

[BigOldHarry]

Isn't that the thing you get in before you get to ride the Magic Bus??

Q/Queue...