Waves F6

Floating-Band Dynamic EQ
User Guide
 Introduction

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About the F6 Floating-Band Dynamic Equalizer

F6 is a dynamic equalizer that features six floating, fully-adjustable parametric filters with dynamics, as well as HP and
LP filters. It provides multiband compression, equalization, expansion, and de-essing in one interface.

Plugin highlights include:

• M/S band mode for mid/side processing
• Compression and expansion
• Split/Wide side chain modes for processing flexibility
• Internal and external side chain
• Low CPU consumption
• Zero latency
• Parallel processing
• Side chain solo
• Smooth: no artifacts when adjusting parameters
• Simple interface: well suited for touch displays

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 Why Use a Dynamic EQ?
EQs have been used for about a hundred years to change the color of a signal. They increase or decrease the gain at selected
frequencies. They can affect a wide range of frequencies or very specific ones, and they usually offer a choice of curves. EQs can
precisely boost or cut a sound, or smoothly color a track. While they work, the difficulty is that once you set the gain, Q, and
frequency, an EQ is “deaf” to what’s going on in the music and it affects everything at the selected frequency. So a high-frequency
notch intended to tame a screechy violin string will simultaneously remove the detail and overtones of the instrument when lower
notes are played.

Multiband Compressors, such as Waves C4, address this problem by dividing the frequency spectrum into segments that are
defined by crossover points. Dynamic processing takes place between these crossovers and each includes the traditional dynamics
controls: threshold, gain, range, attack, and release. It’s like having a number of dynamics processors working on one signal at
designated frequencies. Because multiband processors are based on crossovers, rather than specific frequency bands, they are
smooth across all of the signal’s frequencies. Hence, they are useful in shaping a mix and coloring an instrument. But this
smoothness may not be what you want when carving an instrument out from a busy mix, or pushing it back so it blends better.

This is where a dynamic EQ, such as the Waves F6, comes in. Like a multiband EQ—say the classic Q10—it has free-floating
bands that can be set to any frequency, EQ type, gain, and Q. A dynamic EQ can do all of this, but it can also be set to act only
when the signal moves beyond a defined threshold at the chosen frequency. Specific instruments, or specific sounds of an
instrument, can be isolated and manipulated. Guitar plucks can be controlled with respect to the tonal sounds—without dulling the
strings. A dark kick can be enhanced without affecting the rest of the mix. An inarticulate instrument can be made solid, without
making the mix brittle. Each band offers all of the standard controls of a dynamics processor.

Each band of the F6 can process a signal in left/right stereo or in M/S (mid/side). This lets you control EQ for the center of a mix—
the singer, for example—without affecting the color or shape of the overall stereo image. For further control, a side chain signal is
sent to each band, so you can choose if that band’s frequency and its dynamics processing are triggered internally or externally.

Dynamic EQs are precision tools that let you control specific instruments or an entire mix in a very precise manner; reach for them
when your static EQ is effective, but is causing damage to the overall color of the sound. Use a dynamic EQ when compressors,
limiters, or de-essers step on too much of the sound. Use the F6 when you need to selectively control an instrument’s sound or its
place in the space of the mix.

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 Components
There are two F6 components:
(1) Mono
(2) Stereo
The interfaces of the two components are identical, except that the mono component does not include the Band Mode
switch.

F6 Interface

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 Graph

The Graph displays filters (Band Markers) and shows the effects of dynamic processing. Frequency is shown on the
horizontal scale and amplitude on the vertical scale. The Total Curve Line provides a summary of the filters and
dynamics for all bands.

Each band is represented by a Band Marker with its own number and color. Click on a band to select it. Selecting a Band
Marker will display all available band controls in the Band Controls section. You can also select a band by choosing a
filter in the Band Selectors row. Double-click on a marker to turn its band on or off. You can drag Band Markers 1–6 to
any place on the graph, whereas HP and LF filters can move only on the frequency (horizontal) scale. Many band marker
functions can be controlled with modifier keys.

Key/Movement Combination Action

Command + Click on band marker Switches filter types

Hold Alt, move marker horizontally Changes Q width

Hold Ctrl, move marker horizontally Movement on horizontal axis only Vertical axis is locked.

Hold Ctrl, move marker vertically Movement on vertical axis only. Horizontal axis is locked.

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 In the stereo component, a filter can be applied to the stereo or mid or side channels using the Band Mode switch. This
assignment is indicated on the Band Marker with a small letter: M (mid), S (side) or no letter (Stereo).

Band Type is selected in the Band Controls row.

Band Selectors Row

When you choose a band in the Band Selector row, all available band controls will appear. These controls enable you to
adjust processing parameters without touching the Graph, so it’s useful for precise, delicate control. Double-click on a
band selector to turn the band on and off. Only one band is selected at a time.

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 Band Controls
Bands 1-6
These controls are available for the selected band. The value of a continuous control is indicated on its knob.

Control Range Action

Band On/Off On or Off Turns off processing for selected band

Band Mode ST, M, S Sets what the filter affects: stereo, mid, or side channel
(Stereo component only)

Band Type Low shelf, Bell, or High shelf. Sets EQ type

Frequency 16–21,000 Hz Sets band frequency
Q 0.4–60 Sets band width

Gain -18 to +18 dB Sets band gain

Range -18 to +18 dB Dial negative range for compression and positive range for
expansion
Threshold -60–0 dB Center knob sets the level at which dynamic processing
begins.
SC Input Meter -60–0 dB Displays the band’s SC input. Since the input to a band is
(surrounds Threshold always internal or external SC, this meter effectively indicates
knob) the band’s input.
Attack 0.5–500 ms Sets attack for dynamic process of selected band
Release 5–5000 ms Sets release time for dynamic process of selected band

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 Control Range Action
Side Chain Solo* On or Off Auditions the band’s SC source
Side Chain Source Internal or External SC source select
Side Chain Mode Split or Wide In Split Mode, filtered audio will affect dynamics of the
selected band. In Wide Mode, Full Range audio will affect
dynamics of the selected band.

*Side Chain Solo can be activated by clicking on the Solo toggle in the Band Controls Row. The solo toggles off when
you select another band. Solo can also be activated by right-clicking and holding a band marker. Move the marker while
holding right-click and you can solo other frequencies.
What you hear when soloing a band depends on Bands SC Source and SC Mode.

HPF/LPF
High pass and Low pass filters can be applied to a signal.

Control Range Action

Band On/Off On or Off Turns off HP and LP filters for the band

Band Mode Stereo, Mid, or Side Select what the filter is applied to
(Stereo
Component only)

Frequency 16–21,000 Hz HP/LP filter frequency settings

Q 6, 12, 18, 24 dB per Sets steepness of filter

octave
Solo On or Off Solos the selected filter

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 Global Controls

Control Range Action

Global Release Automatic Release Control (ARC) Sets the type of release for dynamics processing.
or Manual When Global Release is set to ARC, the ARC engine will
calculate the shortest possible release time based on the
signal’s envelope. This value will always be shorter than the
Release setting for the band.

Global Arrows Up/Down arrows Use these arrows to link certain controls on all bands,
Range depends on the control regardless of which band is selected. Move the arrows up and
down to adjust the control above it.
Controls that can be linked: Gain, Range, Threshold, Attack,
and Release

Output Section

Control Range Action

Mix 0: unprocessed sound Controls the mix between processed and
100: fully processed sound unprocessed audio (also called parallel
processing).

Out -18 to +18 Controls plugin’s output gain

Output Meter -40 to 0 dBfs Displays output level

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 F6 in Use
The F6 Floating-Band Dynamic EQ is very flexible since the frequency, width, sidechain mode, and EQ type of each
band can be set independently of others. This lets you assign separate EQ and dynamic processes to different frequency
bands of a signal. With the M/S mode, you can control dynamic EQ processing in different parts of the sound image. This
opens many opportunities. Here’s one example:

Let’s say that the instruments and the lead vocal are competing with each other for the same space in a mix. This is, of
course, pretty common. You can use F6 to carve out a spot for the lead vocal without affecting the stereo width of your
mix while maximizing the blend (glue) between the instruments and the lead vocal.
Here’s a way to sort it out:
1. Group the instruments to a stereo buss.
2. Insert the F6 stereo component on this buss.
3. Route the lead local to the F6 as an external side chain.
4. In this example, we’ll use Band 4 for processing as follows:
a. Switch Band 4 Mode to M (Mid Channel)
b. Switch Band 4 SC Source to EXT
c. Set Band 4 Frequency to 1600 Hz
d. Widen the Q to 0.6
e. Set Range to -2.5 dB
5. Now play your audio (instrument and lead vocal together).
6. The lead vocal’s input level is indicated on the Threshold SC Meter. The positon indicator on the Threshold knob
indicates whether Band 4’s Threshold is above or below the lead vocal’s input level.
7. Slowly lower the Threshold level. When Threshold falls below the level of the lead singer, the band’s compressor
will begin to attenuate the mid channel. The amount of attenuation is indicated by the Total Curve on the Graph.
8. Adjust parameters per your liking.

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