A free parametric / visual EQ like ZL Equalizer is perfectly fine.
There may be some commercial parametric / visual EQs that have a slightly more sophisticated sound engine. Crave EQ for example has some modes that avoid the typical problems of digital EQs by cleverly combining linear phase and minimum phase technology, giving a more "analog" like sound experience.
I also use the CM version of Overtone AF2-10 quite frequently, because I found it has a smooth analog quality that I did not find in most digital parametric EQs. The company is now named Applied Computer Music Technologies
Another great sounding freeware EQ is TDR Slick EQ. It's not fully parametric, but rather a quick set-and-forget mixing / console EQ.
Summary: for the most part there is no difference between parametric freeware and commercial EQs, but some EQs (freeware / payware / magware) have a slightly more refined sound engine under the hood, that goes beyond bog-standard digital filters.
There may be some commercial parametric / visual EQs that have a slightly more sophisticated sound engine. Crave EQ for example has some modes that avoid the typical problems of digital EQs by cleverly combining linear phase and minimum phase technology, giving a more "analog" like sound experience.
I also use the CM version of Overtone AF2-10 quite frequently, because I found it has a smooth analog quality that I did not find in most digital parametric EQs. The company is now named Applied Computer Music Technologies
Another great sounding freeware EQ is TDR Slick EQ. It's not fully parametric, but rather a quick set-and-forget mixing / console EQ.
Summary: for the most part there is no difference between parametric freeware and commercial EQs, but some EQs (freeware / payware / magware) have a slightly more refined sound engine under the hood, that goes beyond bog-standard digital filters.
Statistics: Posted by BackInCheck — Thu Mar 20, 2025 12:19 pm