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Parametric equalizer (PEq)

Precise control of selected frequencies: where to change the sound, by how much and over how wide a range.

← All equalizers

How to open and enable it

Settings → Build your SHIKARDOS → Parametric equalizer → Done. Then open EQ → PEq and tap “Apply equalizer”,if the button is shown.

Play a familiar song at a comfortable volume. If the EQ letters at the top are dim, check whether unprocessed comparison is enabled.

Show all steps and the selection screen →

The parametric equalizer screen

Frequency →Up / down — gain

Control diagram. Horizontal position is frequency; vertical position is gain. Each point belongs to its own band.

All band settings: frequency, gain, Q and shape →

  1. Open PEq and apply it to hear your settings.
  2. Add a band with the “+” button.
  3. Move the point horizontally to select frequency, and vertically to boost or cut.
  4. Set the affected width in the band settings. Start with a small change.
  5. To compare one band, use “Bypass band”; use “Restore band” to bring it back. “Delete band” removes it from the settings.
The result

You change a selected part of the spectrum by controlling frequency, gain and width.

Archived PEq screen, version 1.0.64: points and the combined curve are visible. Additional buttons are arranged differently in newer releases.
Archived PEq screen, version 1.0.64: points and the combined curve are visible. Additional buttons are arranged differently in newer releases. View screenshot ↗

PEq: frequency — where to change the sound

Frequency selects the region of sound that the band will change.

Where to find it in the player

EQ → PEq → select a point or add a band with “+”.

Hz / kHz. Horizontally: lower frequencies to the left, higher to the right.

How to use it

  1. Select a band. Move it horizontally or enter the frequency in its settings.
  2. Start with a small boost or cut: this makes the desired region easier to find.
  3. Compare the enabled band with “Bypass band”. Restore it afterwards if needed.

What you will hear

The correction moves to a different region, for example from boomy bass to the midrange.

PEq: band gain — how much to add

Gain boosts or cuts the selected region.

Where to find it in the player

EQ → PEq → point and settings for the selected band.

dB: positive boosts, negative cuts, 0 leaves this band unchanged.

How to use it

  1. Raise the point to boost or lower it to cut.
  2. If a region sounds too loud, try a small cut first.
  3. Watch for overload when making several boosts. PRE provides headroom before processing.

What you will hear

The selected region becomes more prominent or more subdued.

PEq: Q — bell width

Q determines how narrow a region a bell-shaped band affects.

Where to find it in the player

EQ → PEq → PEAK / bell band → Q.

Higher Q — narrower; lower Q — wider.

How to use it

  1. Select the bell shape and frequency.
  2. Increase Q for a narrow local correction; decrease it for a smooth change across a broad region.
  3. Compare before and after on several passages. A narrow adjustment for one sound may not suit the entire recording.

What you will hear

At the same frequency and gain, the range of neighboring frequencies affected changes.

PEq: bell, shelves and slope S

The shape determines which frequencies change around the selected point.

Where to find it in the player

EQ → PEq → band settings → filter type.

PEAK — around the selected frequency; LOW SHELF — the low end; HIGH SHELF — the high end.

How to use it

  1. Use a bell for a particular region of the spectrum.
  2. Choose a low shelf to change the entire low end relative to the transition frequency. Use a high shelf for the upper spectrum.
  3. A shelf has an S slope setting, which changes the transition into the boosted or cut region. Bell width is set by Q.

What you will hear

A shelf changes one whole side of the spectrum; a bell changes the region around its frequency.

Example: reduce harshness in particular sounds

  1. Add one band with “+” and select a bell.
  2. Set a small cut. Move the frequency through the region where you hear harshness. This is often the midrange or treble, but the exact location depends on the recording.
  3. Start with a broad, gentle correction; raise Q only if you need to affect a narrower region.
  4. Tap “Bypass band” and compare. “Restore band” enables it again; “Delete band” removes it from the settings.

On-screen buttons: what they do

EQ — large letters
Temporarily bypass processing for comparison; tap again to restore it. Your settings are preserved.
PRESETS — saved settings
Built-in settings and those you have saved. For a headphone preset from the website: download the file and import it into PEq.
TONE — tonal character / STAGE — space
Open groups of controls. In GEq/PEq these are separate tools; in the ORBITAL Studio they set the depth of five sides. See “Additional controls” below for details.
REVERB / HALL
Room reflections: space selection, decay time and strength. How to adjust reverb.
Scales icon / BALANCE
Volume balance between the left and right channels. How to use balance.
FX: FULL / ECO / OFF
The amount of visual effects on screen. FULL — full animation; ECO — calmer and less demanding; OFF — no animation. This does not switch audio processing off.
PANEL
Shows or hides the additional slider panel, leaving more room for the graph. On a wide screen the panel is at the side; in portrait it may be below the graph. Hiding the panel does not disable its audio effects.
The “i” button
Opens an explanation of the screen or a particular control inside the player.
Circular arrow — reset
Restores sound settings to their initial values after confirmation. For a simple comparison, tap the EQ letters rather than reset.

Additional controls

Select the control name you need. Its explanation opens immediately.

GRAVITY — bass controlAdds definition and weight to the low end. →CRYSTAL — clarity and high frequenciesShapes the sound toward greater clarity and sparkle. →WIDTH — stereo widthA separate control changes the difference between the left and right channels. →XFEED — crossfeed for headphonesMixes a frequency-shaped portion of each channel into the other. →COMPRESSOR — control of loud peaksRestrains loud moments, reducing their difference from quiet ones. →LOUD — bass and treble at low volumeAdds bass and some treble according to the volume level the player can account for. →PRE — headroom against overloadLowers the input level in advance, leaving room for frequency boosts. →GAIN — additional gainAdditional gain in the standard Android audio path. →BALANCE — left/right channel balanceChanges the relative levels of the two channels. →PHASE — channel polarity checkInverts the polarity of the left or right channel. →REVERB — room reflections and spaceAdds decaying reflections to a recording, creating a sense of a room. →

Comparison and reset

Tap the large EQ letters at the top of the equalizer screen EQto temporarily bypass processing. Tap again to restore it. This is a processed/unprocessed comparison, called “CLEAN” in other views.

The control positions are preserved. Listen to the same passage at the same volume. Do not use reset if you only want to compare the sound.

The circular-arrow button resets sound settings. Read the confirmation and proceed only if you want to start again. Save complex settings beforehand.

GEq also has a separate “RESET” above its bands. Resetting bands and resetting the entire active sound section are different actions.

Explore the principle in an interactive diagram

The website diagram helps explain the principle. It does not change your app's settings or process music.

Open the PEq diagram →