CUBASE 11-Frequency 2 VS Fabfilter ProQ3

[@razormix]

I completely understand the passion or need for particular third party plugins. (I own plenty) But Cubase Pro has always been a leading example of how someone could produce anything with just the built in tools and achieve incredible results. Steinberg has done a great job adding essentials to their updates and improving the classics.

[@jorgedejesustejedavaldez5283]

Cubase is the most complete software in the market. They have everything and always have an step up in terms of Stock mixing plugins. Now they should focus a little bit more about the workflow for arrangement and the synths. I’m Cubase and Ableton user. And the workflow on Ableton when it comes to arrange is really fast in comparison with Cubase, this is something that I know they could improve in his future versions.

[@zweiklangmusic]

I‘m also a Cubase and Ableton User for the same reasons;-)

[@ckatheman]

Same here, Ableton is better for creativity for me, but Cubase is superior in about everything else, especially the piano roll.

[@jclosed2516]

@@ckatheman I think it's good to have two DAW's with a different approach to cover a big "bandwidth". I personally jumped a while ago from Ableton to Bitwig, because as an "old" Project 5 user I feel more comfortable with that last one. I use Bitwig mainly for sound design (the grid) and musical ideas (clip and session view in one screen is great), and use Cubase to finally flesh these Ideas out, add some final touches, do the mixdown, and finally that little bit of mastering I am capable of.

[@ags911]

@Tronam Very true, Cubase 7 onwards really stepped it up. A lot of the old plugins got redesigned too.

[@mixdownonline]

*** I mentioned in this video that the PRO Q3 doesn't have a Keyboard layout but it actually does...You can activate it at the bottom left of the plugin. EQ Bands can also be split with the scissor tool. Sorry about that, my bad! 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

[@kris_lx]

I was just about to mention this in a comment 😁

[@contemplativecomposer5983]

I was heading here too haha

[@nikibuz1]

Very cool you guys interact each other ! You have very high level character “ bravo for both

[@LiamGrants]

Chris you also mention at 7:30 that ProQ3 has ‘no internal sidechain whatsoever’. All dynamic devices use internal sidechains. The sidechain is the signal that feeds the detector. No sidechain, no compression !

[@robertbarner7626]

Yep that's one of the things I actually love about Pro Q 3

[@DomSigalas]

Awesome video Chris! I didn't have enough time to properly compare them yet so it's super interesting for me! And I also had no idea that Pro-Q3 had a keyboard layout XD XD XD

[@nikibuz1]

Very cool you guys interact each other ! You have very high level character “ bravo for both

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks bro! It helps that you were part og it ;-) Lol, got called out very quickly on the keyboard thing LOL...

[@sixstring3639]

If a young guy should ask my advice I would answere: Don't go down the third party rabbithole...as I have ;). Save your money and stick with Cubase stock plugins. Att the end of the day it your skills that makes a difference. Thanx Chris. Great show!

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks!

[@RachelNusbaumer]

The video I was looking for, thank you! I really enjoy Frequency 2 and I wondered if I really needed to by ProQ3, but I think I will keep on using Frequency which is already great for me. Thank you for this video! I subbed to your channel too :)

[@Nathankaye]

I find Frequency 2 so much more useful with those multiple side chains and I prefer the GUI.

[@keyscook]

Excellent comparison - just what I was looking for. New, so had to subscribe, good stuff Chris! Cheers from Seattle!

[@hazmatproduction4562]

Agreed that Freq2 is better at dynamic EQ. But I still use Pro Q3 in most cases. It’s just so easy to work with. There are some other very cool features you didn’t really mention, like spectrum grab, matching, spectrum comparison between any instance in a project, just to name a few ;) Overall Pro Q3 is still superior, but for a DAW native EQ, Freq2 is pretty much unbeatable

[@Boamahmadeit]

The moment I saw the new Frequency from Cubase I knew it was just a matter of time till someone did a comparison with Fab Filter Pro Q3 😂. Good one though 👊🏾

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks, bro!

[@korkenknopfus]

Good video, thank you Chris. Actually Wis-Dom has shown an application of the side chain using two sources in a piece (I don't remember if in his channel or Steinberg's). Very nice and illustrative.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, it's by using External Sidechain that we have available on each bands :-)

[@ziebanez]

I bought the Waves F6 dynamic EQ about 6 months ago. Dont need that anymore 😂😂😂

[@mixdownonline]

😂

[@ToddjMitchell]

I’ve been using F6 since it was first on sale. It has a lot of control like Frequency 2 .

[@cubaseman1487]

i upgrade from 10.5 today. i m very happy. really good daw. i love cubase. Thanks Criss

[@mixdownonline]

Great to hear!

[@nichttuntun3364]

Hey, great video, Updated to 10.5 and got version 11 for free. How awesome is that. I love the track EQ of Cubase ever since as I think it´s a real great one. Not for character stuff. Mainly I use it for all the functional EQ in and out work on nearly all my AUX tracks which have wet EFX on them. Now to have this DynEQ as an addition is just wonderful. Cheers

[@whatareyouselling9811]

This literally helped me decide if I was going to make the switch to cubase! I've been wanting to get away from 3rd plugins and cubase has a really good bundle of stock effects and instruments. Literally will be ditching certain 3rd plugins for cubase stock set, frequency looks like my new go to eq for every situation!

[@brianfunshine]

Yet another wonderful reason to update my Cubase to v11!

[@VovaHook]

Thank you! But why didn't you show the multiple sidechain mode? When two or more signal works as an input signal. I was so hopeful to see it!

[@adithyasatheesh127]

You can split a band in q3 by pressing the scissor icon on the band settings.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, I updated my correction note in the video description..Thanks for letting me know cause I never noticed.

[@mikaelzakrisson5514]

Excellent explanation! It's all much clearer to me now! Now I want to see want we can do with Squasher! 😃

[@arminfatol]

9:14 Ahahahaaa.. no waaay! Absolutely awesome!!! :))))

[@mixdownonline]

Lol! We're good friends :-)

[@arminfatol]

​@@mixdownonline Yeah, now I know, you both are awesome! Actually... three, if I'd include @Doctor Mix :)

[@DycayBeats]

I just came up with a question that what the differences between pre/post sidechain effect in Cubase are. I have checked your old video about it but your cubase was 9.5 or something and it's so much different from how we setup sidechain now. Could you explain how to apply sidechain setting to bass, synth and etc in your next QnA video?

[@TheouTRace]

Right now Cubase is the best DAW on the market.

[@mixdownonline]

Totally agree!

[@charliesleeth1]

Great video Chris! Love your channel. Q: Looks like you're using a Tal synth. Which one is it? I have been looking for this sound for a while. Thank you so much!

[@timsamsung3736]

Thanks for the comparison. You compared the features. What about the sound, which one do you prefer?

[@lewisknudsen1]

I didn't know it was possible to do M/S EQ in Frequency, thank you!

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@friedlich4619]

Hey Chris, thanks for another great video! One question in general- wouldn't it be a better way to send in a sidechain than pre fader? Or in what cases do you deal with sending pre mabye?

[@thierry-VERET]

merci Chris pour cette vidéo dans laquelle tu explique parfaitement les différences et les plus ou moins de chacun des plug. j'ai le fabfilter pro Q (hé oui, une vielle version) j'ai cessé de l'utiliser car j'entendais une modification du son et j'ai basculé sur le frequency de Cubase et ç'est maintenant mon équaliseur pour nettoyer les pistes. Juste un regret : l'échelle en db est très petite et pour le même mouvement de souris dans pro Q je retire 3db alors que dans frequency je retire 6 db (je n'ai pas trouvé le moyen d'agrandir cette échelle) ...bon, je retourne au visionnage de ta formation :) ...

[@mixdownonline]

Excellent, heureux que tu aime! Avec le Dynamic EQ, je vais te dire que je vais utiliser Frequency un peu plus

[@jerokoll]

Salut Jeff ! Merci encore pour cette vidéo ! 👍 Je voulais savoir si il était possible de t’envoyer une vidéo d’un challenge musical que j’ai fais afin que tu me donnes ton avis sur le mixage ? Merci à toi de ta réponse.

[@leoparcoeur]

Very cool video. As usual it goes to the essential very clearly. Also, despite my english is "so so", I understand everything you're saying.

[@Nomasiac]

Thank you for showing us what "The Voice Of Reason" looks like 🤣🤣🤣

[@angelinagargano3940]

Hi, I have fabfilter q3 version 3.17 and cubase pro 11.0.2 and there is no activate sidechain option in cubase ther is one for frequency? Any suggestions? Really want to use your sidechain tech I learned for ffpq3. Thanks

[@SadhanaKhawas]

It's the voice of Wis-DOM!?

[@mixdownonline]

😂😂😂

[@SadhanaKhawas]

@@mixdownonline 😉😉😉

[@mcsweet1966]

Hello Chris, I was doing some CPU Load comparison on a small project (20 tracks) and I don`t see ANY difference between Frequency 2 VS ProQ3 (Linear phase at High) I was under the impression that since Frequency 2 is a stock plugins that it would be a lot lower then a 3t party plugins like ProQ 3.

[@mixdownonline]

ProQ3 is a pretty CPU friendly plugin to start with. Usually, straight up EQs like these are goos on CPU.

[@mcsweet1966]

@@mixdownonline Thanks for taking the time to reply :) I just realized that what I thought was a metering for CPU Load is actually for average Audio processing Load ! a more in depth explanation would make a GREAT FAQ ! Stay Home Stay Safe and may 2021 get your chanel to 100k users

[@AliAlZayer]

nice compare chris , have you test them both regarding processing when you activate linear phase , I know that ProQ will eat a lot of

[@mixdownonline]

I actually didn't but usually stock plugins will be less CPU hungry

[@AliAlZayer]

@@mixdownonline I am specially talking about ProQ regarding linear phase it will be unusable in this case if you have tried that please update me with many thanks

[@mattdowning]

Thank you - very helpful and clear.

[@mixdownonline]

Glad it was helpful! You're welcome!

[@mixphantom0101]

I have and like both but my new fave is UVI's Shade... all the features of Freq 2, Pro-Q3 and so much more! Filters, LFOs, ADSR - it's a creative monster!

[@DrMax0]

Hi Chris. If you want Q3 to expand the signal (like you did in frequency by cranking up the gain) you have to turn the threshold to the right. And then it will sound the same.

[@mixdownonline]

The lack of ratio, attack and release parameter is where I found the effect was not quite the same :-)

[@DrMax0]

@@mixdownonline Yeah. That's really the downside of the Q3 automatism. So it seems that frequency2 is kind of more powerful than Q3 in some aspects. The Steinis are really killing it with their new plug-ins.

[@y19resonate67]

Fam there’s piano keys in pro q too, its in lower left hand corner

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, I added a correction note last Friday in the video discription and pined on top of comments also.

[@robertmyftari8403]

hhahahaaaa that moment with Dom was awesome

[@WAVSAudioStudio]

Hey Chris! What s the major difference between studio eq and frequency eq plugins in cubase! Please clarify!

[@DrMax0]

You forgot to mention that linear phase can be activated PER band within Frequency. Very cool. Q3 cannot do that.

[@mixdownonline]

It is very cool for sure!

[@biominerals]

Chris thank you for this video, I have an issue when I try to listen to sample sound before I import it it does not make any sound and idea how to fix it? Import->audio-> this window where you usual listen to samples does not make a sound

[@SamuelLeTonqueze]

Thank you Chris, this is exactly the question I have after my Cubase 11 Pro update... Do I still need to buy the great Fabfilter ProQ3 ? Thanks you Steinberg.

[@mixdownonline]

Nice!

[@ags911]

Probably not.

[@DownforceRecordings]

i think fabfilter deliberately didnt built in as many options for dynamic EQ to not render their own Multiband Comp useless and compete with their own plugin

[@DMidNyte]

Hey chris, same question here. Im working with EQs, and some of them are blue, but some of them are colorless, or black. I can control these, but not sure if the eqs are working yet. And yes, both eqs are on. Ive been searching the web with no luck. Can you please address this?? Thank you

[@shiftyswo]

Chris.... when using presets for Frequency 2 what is the "notch" for? Example there is a "Male" vocal preset and it has a warning to "(set the notch!)". What should I be looking for that notch to cut?

[@peterrees9212]

A notch is typically used for de-essing vocals.

[@logjamstomper1280]

Pretty helpful Chris. Thank you.

[@billribas]

way cool. looks like they put a lot of work into the 11 update.

[@mixdownonline]

They did!

[@GreyWind]

Fab filter plugins crashes so much on Cubase 11 Mac OS

[@williamgeorge719]

Oh Wonderful. I haven't upgraded to Cubase 11 and Q3. Good Comparison for me.

[@mixdownonline]

Great to hear!

[@jmac2050]

If you have freq 2, Fad seems redundant

[@evodem]

09:13 You are both so funny i love you both, maan! :D

[@mixdownonline]

Lol, thanks

[@bennyceca]

So will you be sticking to Frequency 2 from now on or it'll depend on the track/scenario?

[@mixdownonline]

For Dynamic EQ, I think I will!

[@Mandy-Lane]

i like cubases eq more, i dont know why tho.

[@mixdownonline]

I work a lot with the ProQ3 a lot, but with Dynamic EQ I think I will work with Frequency a bit more ;-)

[@realraven2000]

Is the "Start" knob basically like a makeup gain?

[@mixdownonline]

Not really, it's more like a boost or cut in frequency that will be your start point for the compression

[@JohnWaldenDDM]

@@mixdownonline Hi Chris - thanks for this - great stuff as always. The Frequency 2 Start control does take a little while to get your head around. Steinberg could maybe do with a somewhat more comprehensive explanation of what it does in the PDF Plugin Reference manual :-)

[@MrVleker]

Another interesting competitor is Neutron although it is quite CPU intensive

[@TaureanMixing]

Frequency sounds quite good. Compared to Fabfilter, the ProQ3 still takes the cake in terms of fullest response. But Frequency is very, very close.

[@josephwood2098]

Great video! Thank you! :)

[@mixdownonline]

Thank you too!

[@smile_and_cry...]

Hey bro My fabfilter doesn't have a side chain ???

[@project1265ffo]

Hum ok, seems interesting, but i don t have Cubase pro 11 yet :( :( Hope to get it in the near future. Cheers Chris

[@anthonysoto29]

Wait how do you download this plugin I have the pro version

[@PB72UK]

F2 EQ will not run on my system, it just crashes c11 pro everytime... Not sure why , but it's the only problem I've got so far in c11

[@chrisshollinrake6826]

My ProQ3 does not have the sidechain options at the top - Cubase 12 Pro, any ideas why not?

[@pekpro]

You're probably using the VST2 version instead of the VST3 version of ProQ3. The integrated sidechain routing in Cubase is a VST3 only feature I believe. Disclaimer: I don't have ProQ3 - this is just a general hint. 🙂

[@erikkroll2154]

I have Q3 but haven't upgraded to Cubase 11. This should be an interesting comparison.

[@mixdownonline]

Hope you like it!

[@erikkroll2154]

@@mixdownonline It seems Frequency 2 has a few advantages. Very cool! I hardly use all the features that Q3 has, so I doubt I need anything more, for now!

[@Wedontwantnowarnomore]

Interesting is, for those who are hard striving to get a great sound. It is not so important. The sound is important but not as important than the song it self. If you have a good song than the sound don’t matter. So, what I want to say is. If you have a working daw with all you installed plugins and you’re happy it may not be so happy when you find yourself load a new version that don’t accept your precious plugins. I’m so content with C10.5. Thx

[@mixdownonline]

Awesome!

[@shayneross7922]

Love ur content.

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks :-)

[@shayneross7922]

I’m using Cubase 9.5. Not seeing option to upgrade from v9 to v11...do you know if I can upgrade from my Cubase DAW?

[@erikkroll2154]

I know you can go to their site and upgrade from 9.5

[@bennyceca]

yes you can, look at the tabs on the website, it'll be around 130-150 euros.

[@shayneross7922]

Considering Q3...I’ll wait to the end

[@mixdownonline]

Hope you enjoy!

[@jebb.]

Let's see how they compare

[@mixdownonline]

Hope you'll enjoy!

[@jebb.]

Yes I enjoyed it. Thanks for the always informative videos

[@louplarsen56]

I use PRO Q3 it's a great Dyn EQ. I have Cubase Pro 11 but I don't think I will use Frequency 2

[@mixdownonline]

Use the tools that you like best :-)

[@zweiklangmusic]

Is there a difference in CPU performance? If you use the EQs on many tracks?

[@mixdownonline]

I did not compare but a stock plugin will usually be less CPU hungry (most of the time)

[@shonatarisa]

Words of wisdom 9:11

[@ILLIntentionsOfficial]

I love how the writing on the thumbnail image is the wrong way around

[@jaunesephir7261]

The big plus with Frenquency 2 is that it's included in Cubase 11... If you don't already own ProQ3 no use to buy it !

[@mixdownonline]

Good point!

[@partther3dsea891]

Where my CuBasers at??? ✌🏾

[@soundsfromYYBY]

i like F2 better

[@mixdownonline]

F2 is great

[@audiosounddoctor5834]

Fabfilter ProQ3 rules .....

[@himanperera558]

hi

[@mixdownonline]

Hello!

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

Q3?????!!! TF was wrong with Q2?......😭😭😭😭😭🤦🏽‍♂️😜

[@realraven2000]

well, I know you're trolling but Q3 has dynamics. It's easy enough to use (you can set both compression amount and makeup graphically) but there is not much control on the attack / release, so it's not as as good for handling transients as something like waves F6 which gives you full compression controls. Also there is no easy way in Q2 to copy all parameters to a Q3 instance, which is annoying - seems to be a general problem with upgrades that parameters are hard to transfer. Notable exception are waves again - where you can easily transder settings between mono - stereo instances (let's say you transfer mono events to a stereo track) via the Save-Clipboard / Load-clipboard functions. That's something I would like to see in fabfilter Plugins as well.

[@mixdownonline]

Like RealRaven says, mainly Dynamic EQ that V3 has

[@luisw0514]

LMAO 9:09

[@mixdownonline]

LOL...I had to!

[@thesleepportal5974]

Does frequency 2 have upward expansion?

[@bennyceca]

Steinberg also included a new plugin called Squasher with v11 Cubase Pro which does that.

[@thesleepportal5974]

@@bennyceca I think squasher does upward compression not upward expansion

[@bennyceca]

@@thesleepportal5974 I thought it's the same thing, just a different name. Besides, pretty sure you can achieve both using Frequency 2 and Squasher. Maybe Chris can address this as he's more qualified than me.