Empirical Labs ELQ Lil FrEQ
Equalization Empirical Labs Style
As with ELI’s other signal processors, the Lil FrEQ Equalizer takes a somewhat unique approach to its job. Instead of daisy-chaining several equalizers and frequency processors, we combined most of the sound sculpting tools an engineer needs into a compact single rack space box, while still offering the highest performance of any design in its class.
Eight Sections of Processing
There are eight sections of processing – what other EQ offers that? Even better – in addition to a master bypass, each of the Lil FrEQ’s sections features its own dedicated bypass switch, letting you instantly A/B the effect of each section as you adjust and fine-tune them.
- High Pass: The High Pass section is a sharp filter that cuts all content below one of eight preset frequencies from 30-330 Hz. This filter is steep and has a special shape that prevents frequencies from thinning out just above the cutoff point. The corner frequency is selected using up/down buttons, and indicated by LEDs that glow softly when the section is bypassed, and brightly when the section is engaged.
- High & Low Shelving: These two knobs function similarly to the familiar “bass and treble” tone controls found on many consumer audio playback systems; however, these are designed to a much higher performance standard, providing exceptionally smooth and musical boost and cut on the high and low frequencies.
- Parametric EQ: The Lil FrEQ has four sections of fully parametric EQ (LF, Lo Mid, Hi Mid, and HF), with each section featuring individual gain, bandwidth (Q), and frequency controls. It may be the cleanest parametric EQ section ever produced, operating below .0007% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) even at extremely high audio levels.
- DS (Dynamic EQ): The DS section provides the highest performance, easiest to use, and possibly most natural sounding “De-esser” ever built. This powerful tool combines tunable filters with a compressor-like circuit that can help contain and control excessive high-frequency content such as sibilants or other sharp transients. It can also function as a one-of-a-kind soft knee High-Frequency limiter, making it the go-to vocal EQ for engineers everywhere.