CHAPTER 6. SOUND SETTINGS 49
6.8 Equalizer
Figure 6.2: The graphical equalizer
Rockbox features a parametric equalizer (EQ). As the name suggests, a parametric EQ
lets you control several different parameters for each band of the EQ. In some ways the
EQ is similar to the BASS and TREBLE settings described earlier, but the EQ allows you
to control the sound much more carefully.
Rockbox’s parametric EQ is composed of five different bands:
Band 0: Low shelf filter The low shelf filter boosts or lowers all frequencies below a
certain frequency limit, much like what a “bass” control found on ordinary stereo
systems does. Adjust the “cutoff” frequency parameter to decide where the shelv-
ing starts to take effect. For example, a cutoff frequency of 50 Hz will adjust only
very low frequencies. A cutoff frequency of 200 Hz, on the other hand, will ad-
just a much wider range of bass frequencies. The “gain” parameter controls how
much the loudness of the band is adjusted. Positive numbers make the EQ band
louder, while negative numbers make that EQ band quieter. The “Q” parameter
should always be set to 0.7 for the shelving filters. Higher values will add a small
boost around the cutoff frequency that is almost always undesirable.
Bands 1-3: Peaking filters Peaking EQ filters boost or lower a frequency range cen-
tered at the center frequency chosen. Graphic equalizers in home stereos are usu-
ally peaking filters. The peaking filters in Rockbox’s EQ lets you adjust three
different parameters for EQ bands 1 through 3. The “center” parameter controls
the center frequency of the frequency range that is affected as described above.
The “gain” parameter controls how much each band is adjusted, and works as
for the low shelf filter. Finally, the “Q” parameter controls how wide or narrow
the affected frequency range is. Higher Q values will affect a narrower band of
frequencies, while lower Q values will affect a wider band of frequencies.
Band 4: High shelf filter A high shelf filter boosts or lowers all frequencies above a
certain frequency limit, much like what a “treble” control found on ordinary
THE ROCKBOX MANUAL IRIVER H3XX
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