Module Reference · EQ & Dynamics

Surgical EQ

Surgical EQ is the scalpel. Four bands cover 20 Hz to 20 kHz with bell, shelf, notch, pass, band-pass and tilt shapes - and every band can go dynamic, ducking or lifting itself in response to the signal with its own threshold, attack and release. Each band can also target just the Mid (center), Side (width), Left or Right channel, which turns it into a mastering-grade problem solver for the center and the sides independently.

The editor speaks the same multi-select language as the rest of the plugin: rubber-band a group of nodes, drag them as one, duplicate a band with an ALT-drag. A zero-delay engine handles live tracking; a precision engine keeps every frequency perfectly time-aligned for critical mixdown work, at the cost of a little delay (linear phase).

Surgical EQ module editor in GhostInTheMachine
SURGICAL EQ MODULE SCREENSHOT INCOMING
ACTUAL UI · SURGICAL EQ MODULE CLICK TO ENLARGE

Why it hits different

The GhostWare take.

  • Every band is a full dynamic EQ - threshold, attack, release, up or down.
  • Per-band center/sides/left/right targeting for real mastering moves.
  • A zero-delay live engine and a time-aligned precision engine (linear phase) in one module.

In the shot

Reading the panel.

  • 1
    ANALYZER + BANDS

    Live analyzer with up to four surgical band nodes riding the curve.

  • 2
    BAND INSPECTOR

    Click any node and its full control set appears in this strip.

  • 3
    GLOBAL DECK

    Engine choice (instant or time-aligned precision), its resolution, and analyzer controls.

Control Showcase

Every control, explained.

48 controls, named exactly as they appear in the plugin.

B1 Freq 20 to 20000 Hz (default 100 Hz)

Center frequency of band 1, anywhere from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

B1 Gain -18 to 18 dB (default 0 dB)

Boost or cut for band 1, up to +-18 dB.

B1 Q 0.1 to 10 (default 0.7071)

Width of band 1: low is broad, high is a narrow surgical notch.

B1 Type

Band 1 shape - Bell (peak), Low Shelf, High Shelf, Notch (deep cut), High Pass or Low Pass.

BellLow ShelfHigh ShelfNotchHigh PassLow Pass
B2 Freq 20 to 20000 Hz (default 500 Hz)

Center frequency of band 2, anywhere from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

B2 Gain -18 to 18 dB (default 0 dB)

Boost or cut for band 2, up to +-18 dB.

B2 Q 0.1 to 10 (default 0.7071)

Width of band 2: low is broad, high is a narrow surgical notch.

B2 Type

Band 2 shape - Bell (peak), Low Shelf, High Shelf, Notch (deep cut), High Pass or Low Pass.

BellLow ShelfHigh ShelfNotchHigh PassLow Pass
B3 Freq 20 to 20000 Hz (default 2000 Hz)

Center frequency of band 3, anywhere from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

B3 Gain -18 to 18 dB (default 0 dB)

Boost or cut for band 3, up to +-18 dB.

B3 Q 0.1 to 10 (default 0.7071)

Width of band 3: low is broad, high is a narrow surgical notch.

B3 Type

Band 3 shape - Bell (peak), Low Shelf, High Shelf, Notch (deep cut), High Pass or Low Pass.

BellLow ShelfHigh ShelfNotchHigh PassLow Pass
B4 Freq 20 to 20000 Hz (default 8000 Hz)

Center frequency of band 4, anywhere from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

B4 Gain -18 to 18 dB (default 0 dB)

Boost or cut for band 4, up to +-18 dB.

B4 Q 0.1 to 10 (default 0.7071)

Width of band 4: low is broad, high is a narrow surgical notch.

B4 Type

Band 4 shape - Bell (peak), Low Shelf, High Shelf, Notch (deep cut), High Pass or Low Pass.

BellLow ShelfHigh ShelfNotchHigh PassLow Pass
Phase

Zero Latency is the classic instant-response engine; Linear Phase keeps every frequency perfectly time-aligned for precision work, at the cost of a little delay.

Zero LatencyLinear Phase
Linear Res

Precision of the Linear Phase engine: higher is more accurate in the lows but adds more delay.

LowMediumHigh
B1 Channel

Which channel band 1 affects: full Stereo, only the Mid (center), only the Side (width), or just Left / Right.

StereoMidSideLeftRight
B1 Type+

Extended shapes for band 1: Inherit keeps the normal Type, Band Pass isolates the band, Tilt pivots the spectrum around it.

InheritBand PassTilt
B1 Dyn Rng 0 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Turns band 1 dynamic: how many dB the band is allowed to move in response to the signal. 0 keeps it static.

B1 Dyn Thr -60 to 0 dB (default -24 dB)

Level the signal must reach before band 1's dynamic action starts.

B1 Dyn Atk 0.1 to 200 ms (default 20 ms)

How fast band 1's dynamic gain reacts when the signal crosses the threshold.

B1 Dyn Rel 5 to 1000 ms (default 150 ms)

How fast band 1's dynamic gain resets after the signal drops.

B1 Dyn Dir

Dynamic direction for band 1: Down ducks the band when loud (de-ess style), Up lifts it when loud.

DownUp
B2 Channel

Which channel band 2 affects: full Stereo, only the Mid (center), only the Side (width), or just Left / Right.

StereoMidSideLeftRight
B2 Type+

Extended shapes for band 2: Inherit keeps the normal Type, Band Pass isolates the band, Tilt pivots the spectrum around it.

InheritBand PassTilt
B2 Dyn Rng 0 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Turns band 2 dynamic: how many dB the band is allowed to move in response to the signal. 0 keeps it static.

B2 Dyn Thr -60 to 0 dB (default -24 dB)

Level the signal must reach before band 2's dynamic action starts.

B2 Dyn Atk 0.1 to 200 ms (default 20 ms)

How fast band 2's dynamic gain reacts when the signal crosses the threshold.

B2 Dyn Rel 5 to 1000 ms (default 150 ms)

How fast band 2's dynamic gain resets after the signal drops.

B2 Dyn Dir

Dynamic direction for band 2: Down ducks the band when loud (de-ess style), Up lifts it when loud.

DownUp
B3 Channel

Which channel band 3 affects: full Stereo, only the Mid (center), only the Side (width), or just Left / Right.

StereoMidSideLeftRight
B3 Type+

Extended shapes for band 3: Inherit keeps the normal Type, Band Pass isolates the band, Tilt pivots the spectrum around it.

InheritBand PassTilt
B3 Dyn Rng 0 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Turns band 3 dynamic: how many dB the band is allowed to move in response to the signal. 0 keeps it static.

B3 Dyn Thr -60 to 0 dB (default -24 dB)

Level the signal must reach before band 3's dynamic action starts.

B3 Dyn Atk 0.1 to 200 ms (default 20 ms)

How fast band 3's dynamic gain reacts when the signal crosses the threshold.

B3 Dyn Rel 5 to 1000 ms (default 150 ms)

How fast band 3's dynamic gain resets after the signal drops.

B3 Dyn Dir

Dynamic direction for band 3: Down ducks the band when loud (de-ess style), Up lifts it when loud.

DownUp
B4 Channel

Which channel band 4 affects: full Stereo, only the Mid (center), only the Side (width), or just Left / Right.

StereoMidSideLeftRight
B4 Type+

Extended shapes for band 4: Inherit keeps the normal Type, Band Pass isolates the band, Tilt pivots the spectrum around it.

InheritBand PassTilt
B4 Dyn Rng 0 to 24 dB (default 0 dB)

Turns band 4 dynamic: how many dB the band is allowed to move in response to the signal. 0 keeps it static.

B4 Dyn Thr -60 to 0 dB (default -24 dB)

Level the signal must reach before band 4's dynamic action starts.

B4 Dyn Atk 0.1 to 200 ms (default 20 ms)

How fast band 4's dynamic gain reacts when the signal crosses the threshold.

B4 Dyn Rel 5 to 1000 ms (default 150 ms)

How fast band 4's dynamic gain resets after the signal drops.

B4 Dyn Dir

Dynamic direction for band 4: Down ducks the band when loud (de-ess style), Up lifts it when loud.

DownUp
Gain Scale 0 to 200 % (default 100 %)

Scales all band gains at once - a master intensity for the whole curve.

Analyzer Tilt 0 to 4.5 dB/oct (default 0.6 dB/oct)

Visual tilt for the built-in analyzer so high frequencies read at a natural level. Display only.