Space Designer Output EQ in MainStage

Space Designer has a six-band Output EQ consisting of high and low cut bands, two parametric mid-bands, plus a low shelving filter and a high shelving filter. You can edit EQ parameters numerically in the parameter bar or graphically in the main display.

Figure. Space Designer Output EQ display.

Output EQ parameters

EQ On/Off button: Turn on to enable the Output EQ, which adjusts frequencies of the overall combined reverb and source signal.
Band 1 On/Off button: Switch on a highpass filter that allows high frequencies to pass and reduces the level of low frequencies near the cutoff (set) frequency. When active, you can change band parameters directly in the graphic display.
- Band 1 background or node: Drag the red shaded area or node horizontally to change frequency. Drag vertically to change the Q value (12dB/Oct active in Order pop-up menu).
Band 2 On/Off button: Switch on a low shelving filter that adjusts the level of low frequencies and has a minimal impact on frequencies above the cutoff (set) frequency. When active, you can change band parameters directly in the graphic display.
- Band 2 background or node: Drag the orange shaded area or node horizontally to change frequency. Drag vertically to change gain. Command-Option drag vertically to set the Q value.
Band 3 On/Off button: Switch on a parametric bell filter with three controls. Frequency sets a center frequency. Q sets the width of the frequency band around the center frequency. Gain sets the level of the band. When active, you can change band parameters directly in the graphic display.
- Band 3 background or node: Drag the green shaded area or node horizontally to change frequency. Drag vertically to change gain. Command-Option drag vertically to set the Q value.
Band 4 On/Off button: Switch on a parametric bell filter with three controls. Frequency sets a center frequency. Q sets the width of the frequency band around the center frequency. Gain sets the level of the band. When active, you can change band parameters directly in the graphic display.
- Band 4 background or node: Drag the blue shaded area or node horizontally to change frequency. Drag vertically to change gain. Command-Option drag vertically to set the Q value.
Band 5 On/Off button: Switch on a high shelving filter that adjusts the level of high frequencies and has a minimal impact on frequencies below the cutoff (set) frequency. When active, you can change band parameters directly in the graphic display.
- Band 5 background or node: Drag the purple shaded area or node horizontally to change frequency. Drag vertically to change gain. Command-Option drag vertically to set the Q value.
Band 6 On/Off button: Switch on a lowpass filter that allows low frequencies to pass and reduces the level of high frequencies near the cutoff (set) frequency. When active, you can change band parameters directly in the graphic display.
- Band 6 background or node: Drag the pink shaded area or node horizontally to change frequency. Drag vertically to change the Q value (12dB/Oct active in Order pop-up menu).
Frequency field: Set the frequency for the selected EQ band.
Gain field: Cut or boost the selected EQ band.
Order pop-up menu: Choose the filter rolloff amount for the Low Cut and High Cut filter bands. Higher order filters have a steeper rolloff.
Q field: Set the Q factor—the width—for the selected band. Low values result in a narrow frequency band selection. High values encompass a broad frequency band.

Use the Output EQ graphic display

The graphic display shows the current curve of each EQ band. The color of each band matches the corresponding button above the display. Each colored band (and corresponding Frequency, Gain, Order, and Q field) is highlighted as you move the pointer across it.

Click a curve line segment, the (center frequency) node, or anywhere in the colored space between the zero line and EQ curve to adjust the band.

Click the node to select a band for editing. Once a band is selected, no other band node that falls within the active (colored) area of the selected band can be selected.

Click the graphic display background (outside a colored band) to deselect the selected band.

Hold down Command while performing any of the following operations to limit dragging to vertical or horizontal movement.

Drag anywhere in the colored band to adjust gain and the center frequency.
Use a two-finger vertical swipe with the trackpad, or a single-finger vertical swipe with the Magic Mouse, to adjust the Q value of the selected band.
Drag the node to adjust the center frequency only.
Note: Horizontally dragging the node in band 1 and band 6 adjusts both the frequency and Q.
Hold down Option-Command to adjust the Q and center frequency simultaneously.

Download the guides:

MainStage User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

MainStage Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

MainStage Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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