How to unlock a magic button in Fabfilter ProQ3

This video shows some of the great features inside of Fabfilter ProQ3, and a side-chain trick using a button I wish I knew sooner. This is a cool trick, that is easy to do, and a great solution to using dynamic EQ and compression to deal with frequency masking. Here we use side-chaining kick and bass as an example.

[basslightyeah]

I also use this to fit vocals into a mix. Routing all instrumental tracks to an instrumental bus, the using the match EQ option to find overlapping frequencies with the vocals. Then I just drag the overlapping ones to zero and apply a really subtle dynamic EQ for all of them (usually no more than -1 DB). Not only will it clear the mix, it also helps to show when vocals are too quiet because then this setting will be more obvious. Trackspacer is another good plug-in dedicated to this, even lets you adjust the attack and release.

[Honestcosby]

Guy explained external sidechain like it was a secret.

[CaptainVelveeta]

I'll use busses for a final mix but I've never been a big 'sidechainer'. I usually already have ProQ3 on just about every instrument track already. So I just pop up the plugin on any 2 tracks and the visual graph makes is so easy to see who's battling for what space. I just look at the 2 frequency graphs and make adjustments as needed.

[hcl]

Wow … using Pro Q3 for years as standard EQ and never knew that. Thx!

[RokSivante]

Soothe2 in sidechain mode is also absolutely fantastic for this same purpose, and alot quicker to setup.

[BobbyLaneProductions]

I didn't know about this little hidden gem in the ProQ3.. and I love it.. thanks!.. and by the way I've used your mixing cheatsheet and it definitely helped get me started with my mixes.

[pianoatthirty]

Had no idea this was buried in Pro Q 3, thank you! Seeing that overlap color really makes this more useful than using Pro MB.

[Pazaluz]

Thanks, definitely gonna use these tips. I never got into the deep of ProQ and only used it for regular EQ'ing. Being able to see the 2 frequency spectrums is gonna be really helpful for mixing.

[xrabbz]

This is great, that button slipped past me too, thanks for this

[HereAfterNow]

Question from beginner: why did you sidechain to the bus instead of the kick directly???

[stevenroach]

Nice. Didn't know about the button. No wonder I couldn't get sidechain working. Thanks.

[MarianoPoker]

Why use a Bus instead of just sidechaining from the Kick track directly?

[MELOPSMUSIC]

Congrat, you go straight to the thing, very efficient, no blabla

[jwilliams]

For years I have been trying to find this out. That little button, I’ve looked over it a million times

[davelordy]

This video is literally pointing out a very basic - and very well known - function, in one of the most common EQ plugins ever . . . as if he was 'unlocking' some esoteric function only known to a select few studio wizards ! 😂 For the next video you should explain the 'secret settings' (only known to a few) that allow you to pan a track over to the left or over to the right !

[alphaprinters]

I didn't know about this by the way. Good work man 👍🏼

[sethexploresmusic]

I need to start reading the manuals, or just watching your channel!!!! haha. That’s awesome, thank you brother. ❤️‍🔥

[bugsh]

I've been doing this trick with various dynamic comps/EQ. However. Soothe 2 is by far the best tool for this. Not even close.

[Projektor_music]

I wonder how strongly this effect will fuck up any form of phase allignment one may setup between the kick & bass?

[fit_tan_club]

I didn't know this. Thank you! I've been using different kinds of methods for sidechaining kick and bass but will definately give this a try.