RaneNote

BANDWIDTH IN OCTAVES VERSUS Q IN BANDPASS FILTERS

Bandwidth in Octaves Versus A generalized treatment is presented for the mathemati-

Q in Bandpass Filters cal relationships that exist between Q and bandwidth
expressed in octaves for bandpass filters. Closed solu-
tions for each relationship are given along with conve-
• Given -3 dB Points to Find BW and Q
nient tables. A Windows® Excel® program for calculating
BW (octaves) and Q is available for downloading at
• Given BW in Octaves to Find Q
www.rane.com/note170.html.

• Given Q to Find BW in Octaves

Introduction
Analog and digital audio designers confront daily every
imaginable aspect of active and passive filters. Most of-
ten, these are bandpass filters partially characterized by
a quality factor, Q, and a bandwidth, BW. There exists
enough books on active and passive filter design to fill a
modest office library, however, there are certain aspects
of the relationship between bandwidth as expressed in
octaves versus Q that are poorly documented — if at
all.
The purpose of this article is to derive the math-
ematical relationships between these two variables
and provide a useful “look-up” table for each, as well
as a handy Excel™ spreadsheet program, which may be
downloaded from www.rane.com/note170.html.

Dennis Bohn
Rane Corporation

RaneNote 170 1
This is an expanded version of an article titled “Bandpass
© 2008 Rane Corporation
Filter Design” originally published in Studio Sound magazine
January, 1983, and reprinted in S&VC magazine, August,
1999.

Bandpass Bandwidth-1
Definitions and Review Given the -3 dB Points, To Find BW and Q
A bandpass filter is characterized by three major If the -3 dB points are known, then calculating the BW
parameters: center frequency, amplitude response in octaves is straightforward:
(gain), and bandwidth. Center frequency is the fre- Let
quency at which the amplitude is maximum; gain is f2 = y f1,
the maximum amplitude response occurring at the where y is any positive real number.
center frequency; and bandwidth (or passband) is the Define N as the number of octaves of BW, i.e.,
frequency range between the -3 dB points located on N octaves means that
either side of the center frequency. Bandwidth is ex- y = 2N ,
pressed in several ways: in frequency, as being so many
then
Hertz wide; or in octaves, as being so many octaves (or
f 2 = 2N f 1 (1)
fractional octave) wide; or in decades, as being so many
decades (or fractional decade) wide. Far and away, the Solving for N gives
most common audio usage is to express bandwidth in log y
N= (2)
octaves. It is here that the literature falls short in giving log 2
sufficient mathematical relationships to allow answers and, by definition
to be expressed easily in “octaves.” f0
When first designing an audio filter, normally the Q= (3)
f 2 − f1
required BW in octaves is known and the associated Q
needs to be calculated; once the filter has been de-
signed than Q is easily calculated by measuring the -3
dB frequency points, taking the difference, and dividing
Given BW in Octaves, To Find Q
that into the center frequency; and lastly, the BW in
If the BW in octaves is known without knowledge of
octaves is then calculated.
the actual -3 dB frequencies, and Q is to be calculated,
A third situation arises where only Q is known and
then the following development leads to the required
the BW in octaves is desired. This calculation is not ob-
formula:
vious — nor easy. The next section presents the neces-
In general, f0 is the geometric mean of the skirt
sary closed solutions for each of these calculations. For
frequencies, f1 and f2:
reference purposes, Figure 1 shows a bandpass filter
therefore
with its associated parameters labeled for clarity and is
used for derivation purposes. f 0 = f1f 2 .

From (1)

3 dB
f 0 = f 1 (2N f 1)
or
Amplitude (dB)

Bandwidth f 0 = 2N f 1 .
Center Frequency

From (3) and (1)

2N f 1
Q= N
2 f1 − f1
or
2N
Q= N (4)
f1 f0 f2 Frequency (Hz) 2 −1

Figure 1. Bandpass Filter Parameters

Bandpass Bandwidth-2
 Table 1 shows several examples of equation (4) for Table 2 gives a handy look-up reference of BW (oc-
BW’s commonly used in audio design work. taves) versus Q.

BW (octaves) Q Q BW Q BW Q BW
2.0 0.667 (oct) (oct) (oct)
1.0 1.414 0.50 2.54 1.50 .945 6.50 .222
2/3 2.145 0.55 2.35 1.60 .888 7.00 .206
1/2 2.871 0.60 2.19 1.70 .837 7.50 .192
0.65 2.04 1.80 .792 8.00 .180
1/3 4.318
0.667 2.00 1.90 .751 8.50 .170
1/6 8.651
0.70 1.92 2.00 .714 8.65 .167
1/10 14.424
0.75 1.80 2.15 .667 9.00 .160
1/30 43.280
0.80 1.70 2.50 .573 9.50 .152
Table 1. Q Versus BW (octaves) 0.85 1.61 2.87 .500 10.0 .144
0.90 1.53 3.00 .479 15.0 .096
0.95 1.46 3.50 .411 20.0 .072
Given Q, To Find BW in Octaves
If only Q is known and the BW in octaves is desired 1.00 1.39 4.00 .360 25.0 .058
then equation (4) must be turned around and re-ex- 1.10 1.27 4.32 .333 30.0 .048
pressed in terms of Q: 1.20 1.17 4.50 .320 35.0 .041
From (4) 1.30 1.08 5.00 .288 40.0 .036
2N 1.40 1.01 5.50 .262 45.0 .032
Q= N 1.414 1.00 6.00 .240 50.0 .029
2 −1
Table 2. BW (octaves) Versus Q
or
2N = Q 2 − 1
.
( N
)
Since Bandwidth vs. Q Calculator
y=2 , N A Microsoft Excel® worksheet is available for down-
loading from www.rane.com. Look for it in the Library
then
section, and on the page of this RaneNote.
y = Q (y − 1)
squaring gives
2
y = Q y − 2y + 1 ( 2
)
rearranging
 2 2 + 1
2 Q
y −  2 y + 1 = 0
 Q 
applying quadratic solution:
2
 2Q2 + 1
y=
2
2Q + 1
±
 Q2  −1 (5)2
2
2Q 4 2
The squaring operation introduces an extraneous root ap-
pearing as the “minus” square root term. The “plus” square
root term gives the correct answer. The “minus” square root
N (the number of octaves of BW) is now found from
term gives the reciprocal answer, i.e., the “plus” answer leads
equation (2). to y, while the “minus” answer yields 1/y.
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