I have seen this notation around when talking about frequency controls; Q, what is it exactly, what does it do? 
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What is "Q" ?
- Thread starter GODSBASSMAN
- Start date
Q refers to the bandwidth (range) of frequencies affected by a particular eq control, for bass it's usually used for midrange eq'ing.
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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.
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.
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 said:
Q is awesome. He reminds me a bit of myself...
"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
- Aug 21, 2008
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"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
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
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". 
You know, I should really be making more of this opportunity I'll never have a chance like this again...
