If there a reason we don't get Q adjustment on amps

[Drop1]

I'm in the market for an amp and like that some are now offering sweepable mids, but why not take the next step and go to a fully parametric midrange ?

An ideal eq for me would be

Hi pass filters
Lows center point
Lows volume
Mids volume
Mids frequency
Mids Q
Highs volume
Highs filter frequency (high shelf)
Low pass filter with resonace control (optional)

But at the very least I'd like full control over mids frequency width and that seems unheard of. It's just a basic parametric eq section. It csnr be overly difficult to incorporate...

 

[Passinwind]

I'm in the market for an amp and like that some are now offering sweepable mids, but why not take the next step and go to a fully parametric midrange ?

IME, because offering the potential for inadvertently creating really bad sounds due to the generally non-intuitive format just scares off way too many people. That said, I do have one full PEQ band on most of my DIY amps, but typically don't find myself using it much for BG applications. It basically triples cost and complexity compared to a fixed or switched frequency midrange control, in my case at least.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Fully parametric mid controls are very useful in post production when the pace is slower and you have the ability to experiment and focus without interruptions. In a live setting -- particularly when you rarely know how you and the band sound out there in the audience -- this is the only control I need on my amp:

 

[LetItGrowTone]

If adjustments are provided for everything then half the customers will feel that it's too complicated (and I understand that because minimalism can be nice too).

Pedals exist that do those things and I've just started trying that, and once I've committed to a pedal to do something, I think I don't need that in the amp too, and pedals can do practically everything. For example - although I own other well-known bass amps, one of my setups is such function-block pedals into a QSC GX5 power amp, and this is the least hissy setup I have now. Not committed to it, just experimenting. One could plug the same pedal chain into the effect return of the bass amp one likes most, which will then provide *that* single desired function.

With regard to hiss and noise, I'm very satisfied so far with Broughton and Empress. Actually totally satisfied so far.

 

[abarson]

My first bass amp was a Roland Spirit Bass 50 that had Q settings. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to use it with little success. These were pre-Internet days so my access to knowledge on how to properly use it was nil and I didn't know anyone with audio insight. I agree that it isn't intuitive and most likely the reason that it was implemented on so few amps.

@Drop1 the only amp I'm aware of that comes close to your laundry list would be the Ashdown ABM EVO series.

 

[Lowendchamp]

I have a pretty good handle on my sound with my amp. Great EQ settings with a high pass filter and low mid control. Plus it’s cheap if you’re not opposed to acoustic. You might have to zoom in but it’s the best pic I have right now.

 

[Drop1]

IME, because offering the potential for inadvertently creating really bad sounds due to the generally non-intuitive format just scares off way too many people. That said, I do have one full PEQ band on most of my DIY amps, but typically don't find myself using it much for BG applications. It basically triples cost and complexity compared to a fixed or switched frequency midrange control, in my case at least.

I get it, but at the same time, there is often something in the mids I'd like to surgically remove without killing the mids completely. Para let's you do that without removing too much power from the sound.

It also gives you more control over room issues.

My background is more in playback systems than creating. I've done a lot of room analysis and foh stuff.

I can understand some people thinking it's complicated, but if you dont know what a knob does, there is really no need to touch it.

But for the purpose I really want it for, using q is very easy. Sweep the mids till you find rhe offending frequency, cut, then use the q to narrow or widen the range until it aound right. Its not complicated at all. Room correction harder to understand but I don't use on board eq's for that sort of thing.

 

[Passinwind]

I get it, but at the same time, there is often something in the mids I'd like to surgically remove without killing the mids completely. Para let's you do that without removing too much power from the sound.

It also gives you more control over room issues.

My background is more in playback systems than creating. I've done a lot of room analysis and foh stuff.

I can understand some people thinking it's complicated, but if you dont know what a knob does, there is really no need to touch it.

But for the purpose I really want it for, using q is very easy. Sweep the mids till you find the offending frequency, cut, then use the q to narrow or widen the range until it sound right. Its not complicated at all. Room correction harder to understand but I don't use on board eq's for that sort of thing.

I have a long tenured background in fixed PA system installation and mixing live shows, at my last house gig we had four 7 band PEQs for monitors. So PEQ is extremely intuitive for me by now. Room correction is exactly what I do use it for, personally, but that's a function of almost never putting my instruments through FOH, if there even is any.

If the customer isn't ever going to touch a knob, why pay for it? I'd say the market has voted with their wallets, and amps with full PEQ implementations are arguably for outliers like you and me. I don't really like using pedals but sometimes it's just what works...

 

[logdrum]

Get an outboard pre-amp instead if you really need that control

 

[agedhorse]

I have designed a couple of preamps with control over Q but they never made it to production because:

1. they aren’t really all that real world useful. The Q’s that most designers have chosen are generally pretty useful.

2. most players had absolutely no interest in the control.

3. it adds to the confusion factor in the heat of the gig.

4. it takes up space on an already crowded faceplate.

 

[Wasnex]

Fully parametric EQ is expensive, takes up a lot of real estate, and most people don't understand or want it.

I used to run one of these:

I spent a lot of time tweaking to make my Rick 4001 sound like the bass on various hit recordings of the day.

I believe the Source Audio EQ2 can be configured to operate in fully parametric mode.

EQ2 Programmable Equalizer - Source Audio Website

The Empress ParaEQ MkII Deluxe has variable Q
ParaEq MKII Deluxe – Empress Effects Inc.

I found the display on Yamaha digital mixers was really helpful. I used my ears, but it was nice to have a visual representation of how the EQ bands interact. I feel seeing the results made it much more intuitive to get the sound I wanted.

 

[Michedelic]

I'm in the market for an amp and like that some are now offering sweepable mids, but why not take the next step and go to a fully parametric midrange ?

An ideal eq for me would be

Hi pass filters
Lows center point
Lows volume
Mids volume
Mids frequency
Mids Q
Highs volume
Highs filter frequency (high shelf)
Low pass filter with resonace control (optional)

But at the very least I'd like full control over mids frequency width and that seems unheard of. It's just a basic parametric eq section. It csnr be overly difficult to incorporate...

There are too many players who can’t cope with anything beyond bass and treble controls, and are too contrarian to bother to learn. And you just know that they’re the ones who refuse to use pedals…EQ of any type, let alone others

 

[agedhorse]

There are too many players who can’t cope with anything beyond bass and treble controls, and are too contrarian to bother to learn. And you just know that they’re the ones who refuse to use pedals…EQ of any type, let alone others

There are also players who recognize what’s really important and what’s not, those often (not always) recognize the benefits of techniques and practice that may exceed the value of such features.

 

[logdrum]

There are also players who recognize what’s really important and what’s not, those often (not always) recognize the benefits of techniques and practice that may exceed the value of such features.

Not helping in selling more gear Andy. We will keep this from board of directors.

 

[Drop1]

I have designed a couple of preamps with control over Q but they never made it to production because:

1. they aren’t really all that real world useful. The Q’s that most designers have chosen are generally pretty useful.

2. most players had absolutely no interest in the control.

3. it adds to the confusion factor in the heat of the gig.

4. it takes up space on an already crowded faceplate.

I get it, but sometimes I want it. Especially for the monitors when I used to play out. I've experienced some cancelations (which you really can't do anything about except move the cab) but when those happen, there is so often peaks crested on either side of the null. Reducing those peaks helps a ton to hide the dip.

I agree that amp manufacturers are pretty good at selecting useful frequencies (and the addition of sweepable mids is definitely step in the right direction!). But sometimes there is a very specific thing in the tone I want gone, but I often find that even with the the choice of using the onboard pre or the amp, the q can be a little wide. (Or narrowness depending on what im after)
If you have an amp and pre with adjustable mids, it's pretty easy to make a wider cur using both, but not having the ability to go narrower is what eats at me at times.
I just sometimes wish I had a little bit more control over things, particularly in smaller spaces with no FOH support. That's all.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Others more qualified than me have already stated that it has been done and have articulated why it hasn’t been done more often, so I will just add that some Peavey TKO and TNT combos from the ‘80s did have fully parametric mid controls, and probably aren’t too hard to track down (at least in North America) if you wanted to try it on the cheap. I think the Demeter preamp I had ages ago had one as well (not 100% certain which model I had, and someone stole it 16 years ago), and I found “my sound” with the parametric mid control on that; so I certainly understand the desire to try it, but I would opt for a pedal if I felt the need to try it now.

 

[factory presets]

I find 4 band eqs tend to have useful ranges for getting a good bass sound. In my limited experience. I don't know there's a big market for built in surgical adjustment.

But a pedal with high and low pass/shelf filters and a parametric or 2 would have a range of applications for those who understand how to use them.

 

[etoncrow]

Why would I ever need more than this

 

[agedhorse]

I get it, but sometimes I want it. Especially for the monitors when I used to play out. I've experienced some cancelations (which you really can't do anything about except move the cab) but when those happen, there is so often peaks crested on either side of the null. Reducing those peaks helps a ton to hide the dip.

I agree that amp manufacturers are pretty good at selecting useful frequencies (and the addition of sweepable mids is definitely step in the right direction!). But sometimes there is a very specific thing in the tone I want gone, but I often find that even with the the choice of using the onboard pre or the amp, the q can be a little wide. (Or narrowness depending on what im after)
If you have an amp and pre with adjustable mids, it's pretty easy to make a wider cur using both, but not having the ability to go narrower is what eats at me at times.
I just sometimes wish I had a little bit more control over things, particularly in smaller spaces with no FOH support. That's all.

Then you will probably need to find an outboard device to accomplish this.

 

[eniac]

Fully parametric mid controls are very useful in post production when the pace is slower and you have the ability to experiment and focus without interruptions. In a live setting -- particularly when you rarely know how you and the band sound out there in the audience -- this is the only control I need on my amp:

View attachment 5410874

Amen, brother.