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Average Price: $181
High-end/Boutique
$49
$150+
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Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "FabFilter Pro-Q 3". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Unleash your creativity with the FabFilter Pro-Q 3, a versatile EQ plugin that stands out in any mix engineer's toolkit. Its sophisticated design allows you to shape sound with precision, whether you're making subtle adjustments or engaging in complex frequency sculpting. The 24-band dynamic equalizer offers a mix of analog warmth and digital precision, thanks to its Natural Phase and Linear Phase modes. This plugin is not just versatile in its sound-shaping capabilities but also in its user-friendly interface, which features a large interactive EQ display that simplifies the process of creating and tweaking EQ bands.
With Pro-Q 3, you can effortlessly identify and eliminate frequency collisions, aided by its revamped spectrum analyzer and Spectrum Grab function. The plugin also supports Dolby Atmos, making it a future-ready tool for immersive audio projects. The inclusion of a Piano Roll display ensures your EQ decisions are always musically informed, while the innovative Auto Gain mode compensates for volume changes, keeping your mix balanced. Whether you are a seasoned pro or an aspiring engineer, the Pro-Q 3 promises a rich blend of features that elevate your mixing and mastering sessions.
Key Features:
- 24-band dynamic equalizer with Natural Phase and Linear Phase modes
- Dolby Atmos support with intelligent per-band speaker selection
- Brickwall LP/HP filter slope for aggressive frequency elimination
- Spectrum analyzer with collision detection and Spectrum Grab function
- Per-band Mid-Side and Left-Right processing modes
- Auto Gain with channel weighting and dynamic gain correction
- EQ Match feature for seamless integration with other Pro-Q 3 instances
- Up to 96 dB/octave filter slope and diverse filter types
- Piano Roll display for musically guided EQ adjustments
- Zero Latency mode for live tracking and performance
Product specs
| Software Type | Dynamic EQ |
| Platform | Mac, PC |
| Upgrade/Full | Full |
| Download/Boxed | Download |
| Bit Depth | 64-bit |
| Plug-in Formats | AAX, AU, VST, CLAP |
| Additional Compatibility | AudioSuite |
| Hardware Requirements - Mac | Intel Core 2 Duo or higher, 4GB RAM minimum |
| Hardware Requirements - PC | Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 or higher, 4GB RAM minimum |
| OS Requirements - Mac | macOS 10.13 or later |
| OS Requirements - PC | Windows 7 SP1 or later |
FAQs
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What are the main features of the FabFilter Pro-Q 3 EQ plugin?
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The FabFilter Pro-Q 3 offers a 24-band dynamic EQ with Dynamic Range and Threshold controls, perfect analog EQ shape matching, Linear Phase mode, and surround support up to 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos. It also includes mid/side processing options, a brickwall LP/HP filter slope, and an improved spectrum analyzer with frequency collision indication.
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Is FabFilter Pro-Q 3 compatible with my DAW?
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FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is compatible with DAWs that support AAX, AU, VST, CLAP, and AudioSuite plugin formats. It works on both Mac and PC platforms, ensuring broad compatibility across most popular DAWs.
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How does the Dynamic EQ feature work in FabFilter Pro-Q 3?
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The Dynamic EQ in FabFilter Pro-Q 3 allows you to adjust the EQ bands dynamically based on the input signal. It features Dynamic Range and Threshold controls, along with an intelligent Auto Threshold mode, providing precise control over dynamic processing.
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What are the system requirements for running FabFilter Pro-Q 3 on a Mac?
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To run FabFilter Pro-Q 3 on a Mac, you'll need macOS 10.13 or later, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or higher, and a minimum of 4GB RAM.
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Can I use FabFilter Pro-Q 3 for surround sound mixing?
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Yes, FabFilter Pro-Q 3 supports surround sound mixing up to 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos, with intelligent per-band speaker selection, making it suitable for complex audio environments.
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How does the spectrum analyzer in FabFilter Pro-Q 3 improve mixing?
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The spectrum analyzer in FabFilter Pro-Q 3 includes frequency collision indication and the ability to show the spectrum of any other Pro-Q 3 instance, helping you identify and address frequency clashes effectively during mixing.
Videos
FabFilter
Introduction to FabFilter Pro-Q 3
Reviews
PROS
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Highly flexible with up to 24 bands for detailed EQ control
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Dynamic EQ capabilities allow for precise frequency adjustments
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Excellent GUI with visual feedback aids in intuitive use
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Transparent sound, ideal for both subtractive and additive EQ tasks
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Mid/side processing enhances stereo field manipulation
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Extremely versatile, suitable for individual tracks and mastering
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Auto-gain feature simplifies gain staging and workflow
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Industry standard, trusted by professionals for reliable performance
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Resource friendly, doesn't strain CPU even with multiple instances
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Exceptional for surgical EQ tasks and problem frequency isolation
CONS
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Some users find it expensive compared to other EQ options
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Lacks the analog warmth of hardware EQs for certain tasks
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about FabFilter Pro-Q 3.
Comparisons
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ToneBoosters EQv4 is highlighted as offering 90% of Pro-Q 3's functionality at just 20% of the cost, providing a more budget-friendly option.
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The JST EQ by Joey Sturgis Tones is suggested as a budget-friendly alternative to Pro-Q 3, sharing many features but at a lower price.
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Kirchhoff EQ is noted as a comparable alternative, particularly for its dynamic EQ control, though it lacks Pro-Q 3's frequency masking visualization.
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Use cases and applications
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The Pro-Q 3's dynamic EQ functionality is praised for maintaining mix clarity when static cuts make the mix sound dull.
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The EQ matching feature in Pro-Q 3 is noted for its utility in reverse-engineering sounds, providing creative sound design opportunities.
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Many users prefer using Pro-Q 3's linear phase mode on vocals for its clean, transparent sound, despite its high CPU usage.
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User experience
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Some users note the minimized version of Pro-Q 3 is efficient on CPU, making it feasible to use as the default EQ on multiple channels without resource strain.
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Users report that Pro-Q 3 significantly enhances workflow speed, especially when working on tight deadlines.
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Owners appreciate the mid-side processing and intuitive UI, which significantly improves workflow efficiency.
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Features and functionality
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Users appreciate the full-screen mode, which maximizes the analyzer display, allowing for quicker identification of problem frequencies.
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The Pro-Q 3's EQ curves maintain integrity near the Nyquist frequency, avoiding the "cramping" effect found in other EQs for high-frequency filters.
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The Pro-Q 3's ability to visualize frequency conflicts between tracks using multiple instances is a unique feature not found in other EQs.
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Pro-Q 3 offers extensive y-axis scale customization from 3dB to 30dB, which can be set as a default preset for consistent visual scaling.
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Users appreciate the ability to sidechain the EQ to different sources, enhancing flexibility in mixing scenarios.
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Pro-Q 3 includes a brick wall function, although it's advised to use it cautiously as it can cause phase issues.
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Dynamic EQ feature allows turning any band into a compressor, providing nuanced control over specific frequency ranges.
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Value and pricing
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Pro-Q 3 is considered a premium plugin, but its extensive feature set and usability justify the investment for many users, despite the availability of cheaper alternatives.
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FabFilter offers significant discounts for students and price reductions when purchasing multiple plugins, enhancing its affordability.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 63 Reviews and 443 Ratings
Perfect
Smooth!!! I love every thing about this eq, I used to enjoy using logic's channel eq, but the features on fabfilter's pro-q are second to none. The fact that you can split any of your "passes" into mid or side is just awesome, really nice for a clean mix in electronic music.
Version: FabFilter Pro-Q 11539
Glorious EQ
Best EQ I have used. Beautiful interface, amazing visual feedback, great for surgical applications and mastering as well as on individual tracks. Auto-gain feature is very useful as well. Essential!
Version: FabFilter Pro-Q 285
THE BEST EQ
Used plenty of EQ's in the past and this one is the best/easiest to use. This VST is got to be the necessary standard go to EQ Plug-In for all professional producers
618
Fabfilter Pro Q3
Unrivalled sound and workflow
An equalizer is probably the tool you use most while mixing and mastering, so you need the best of the best. With FabFilter Pro-Q 3, you get the highest possible sound quality, a very extensive feature set, and a gorgeous, innovative interface with unrivalled ease of use.
126
Stunning
This is really my favorite EQ. I ve tried many free EQ before that, and it seemed that they always had colour to the sound, which could be then difficult to mix. The processing is very professional though and can not be applied to filter effects as well.
Version: FabFilter Pro-Q 141029
Its VERY graphical, but I am not sure how it differs from all the other surgical parmetrics I have. Personally I like to paint in broad strokes with EQ most of the time, but I learned on analog. GML parametrics were way out of reach back then for all but the tip top studios. The SSL G series EQ felt like a serious luxury and half the time you would wind up using graphics to remove unwanted resonances and stuff.... those were the days, yes they were.
2049
Artist usage
Add artist
In this screenshot from a Martin Garrix Instagram story, he's "working on new show outro" and several of his plugins can be seen. Amongst them is FabFilter Pro-Q.
At 0:08 into the video, Hardwell can clearly be seen using the FabFilter Pro-Q 2 plugin in his Logic DAW session.
On the Splice page of Tiësto's song, Secrets, it lists FabFilter Pro-Q Equalizer as one of the plugins used.
Used on Sheeran's vocals for Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself", as stated by Purpose mix engineers Josh Gudwin and Andrew Wuepper in this May 2016 Sound on Sound interview about the mixing of the title track and others.
“Below the trumpet section are Ed’s vocals, on which I have the [Avid] BF76 compressor and a channel strip, and at the top is his vocal bus, on which I have the FabFilter Pro-2 EQ. I also had the Bricasti on Ed’s voice, as well as a UAD LA2."
His Twitter post : "I feel like FabFilter Pro-Q 2 made me a better producer and, probably, a better human being spiritually."
Used on "Hymn for the Weekend", as mentioned by A Head Full of Dreams co-producer Rik Simpson in this Sound on Sound article.
“The guitars have the Soundtoys PanMan to give them some movement, and also some corrective EQ from the Pro–Q 2, and the UAD SSL E Channel strip, which is one of my go–to plug–ins, because it sounds so similar to the original SSL, a desk I was brought up on. There’s also an eBow guitar hook at the end of the song that has the Wavesfactory TrackSpacer plug–in, which side–chains the guitar to the vocal, so it clears the space when the vocal is present.
W&W used the FabFilter Pro-Q 3 EQ plugin in their track "The One," as shown in their Instagram post announcing the release of a new track.
Used on "Hymn for the Weekend", as mentioned by A Head Full of Dreams co-producer Rik Simpson in this Sound on Sound article.
It was very important to get the development and arrangement of the vocals right. Many of the 45 tracks are effect tracks. There’s only one lead vocal track each for the verses [LV Verse], for the bridge [LV Bridge], and the choruses [LV Chorus], and then Chris sang a number of bridge and chorus vocal overdubs. The main verse vocal has the Avid Channel Strip, which is taking out some low end, an SPL TwinTube, which adds some saturation, the UBK1 compressor adding more crunch, and the UAD Fairchild 670 and SSL E Channel. I don’t use a great deal of compression from each unit. I will just tickle it a little bit with each one, and each one adds a different characteristic. I could just add a whole load of compression from one plug–in, but like this it doesn’t sound over–compressed. The Pro–Q 2 is, again, a high–pass filter. In the sends there’s a Waves H–Delay that I recorded elsewhere, and sends to a main D–Verb and two QL Spaces aux tracks. I have different reverbs and delays for each part of the song so that the vocal sound evolves during the song.
“The main chorus lead vocal has the FabFilter Pro–Q 2 EQ, the Waves Rennaissance Vox, again the UBK1, two instances of the FabFilter Pro–DS de–esser, two instances of the UAD Pultec EQP–1A, and the FabFilter Pro–MB multi–band compressor. I like the FabFilter de–esser. I am still trying to find the ultimate de–esser, because it’s quite a hard thing to do right. I have two because one is doing high top sibilance, and the other lower stuff around 2kHz. The sends on chorus lead vocal go to aux tracks with the Waves H–Delay, the FXpansion Bloom with a lush, wide stereo delay, a small chamber from the QL Spaces plug–in, a mono delay from the UAD Echoplex, and several other delays. The sends to the delays are all automated independently, with different words getting different delays.
“One thing of note is that there also is a ‘Hope House M80’ vocal track, recorded when Chris was still using the Telefunken M80, and it’s mixed in very low. There’s also a lead-vocal double that has ‘251’ marked, indicating that Chris was also using that mic. But the main vocals were recorded using the Soyuz. There are two tracks marked ‘251 Melo Lead’ and ‘251 Melo Double’, again mixed in low. ‘Melo’ stands for Melodyne, and these tracks are raised two semitones. They were recorded in a different key for a different version of the song, and detuning them added a certain alien quality to these vocals which we really liked. At the bottom of the session are the Beyoncé vocal tracks, on which I mainly used the SSL E Channel strip, UBK1, L2, SoundToys Echo Boy, Avid ModDelay and the QL Space.”
Album Usage
The FabFilter Pro-Q 3 has been featured on the following albums:
bittersweet
Madison Beer (2025)
Are We There
Breaka (2025)
american dream (nightcore version)
21 Savage (2024)
Open Your Eyes
Funkin Matt (2024)
Modern Girl
Bleachers (2023)
Lucky
Bad Snacks (2022)
snowfall
Øneheart (2022)
Neon Medusa
The Midnight (2021)
Good News
Megan Thee Stallion (2020)
Exciting New Sound
Will Sparks (2020)
Ex Machina
Metrik (2020)
Say So (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Nicki Minaj & Doja Cat (2020)
Old Town Road (Remix)
Billy Ray Cyrus & Lil Nas X & Mason Ramsey (2019)
Echoes
Ben Duffy & Kove (2019)
Obsidian
Huminal (2019)
KIRK
DaBaby (2019)
Gravity
Metrik (2019)
Can't Erase
Rebecca & Fiona & Nause (2019)
bad guy (with Justin Bieber)
Justin Bieber & Billie Eilish (2019)
Be Honest (feat. Burna Boy)
Jorja Smith (2019)
Crumbling
Mid-Air Thief (2019)
Macropsia
Huminal (2018)
How Does It Feel
M-22 (2018)
Dead Inside
Taska Black (2018)
All The Stars (with SZA)
Kendrick Lamar & SZA (2018)
Sober
Cat Dealers (2017)
Lots to Say
Mark Villa & Keanu Silva (2017)
Bodak Yellow (feat. Kodak Black)
Cardi B & Kodak Black (2017)
Breathe
Jonas Aden (2016)
Is It Love
3LAU (2016)
Blau & Pink
Dat Adam (2016)
Sweet & Sour (Extended Mix)
Mike Williams & Mike Williams (2016)
Memories (feat. Sirah) [Radio Edit]
Bassjackers & KSHMR (2015)
Secrets (Remixes)
Tiësto & KSHMR & Vassy (2015)
Secrets (Diplo Remix)
Tiësto & KSHMR & Vassy (2015)
Secrets (Radio Edit)
Tiësto & KSHMR & Vassy (2015)
Edge EP
Neonlight (2015)
See You Soon
Michael Brun (2015)
The One
W&W (2015)
The End (Megaphonix Remix)
Lucky Date & Megaphonix (2015)
Memories (feat. Sirah)
Bassjackers & KSHMR (2015)
Heartbeats
Matt Nash (2015)
Here Comes The Sun
Will K (2015)
Rattlesnake
Rogue (2015)
A Head Full of Dreams
Coldplay (2015)
Purpose (Deluxe)
Justin Bieber (2015)
Turn It Around
DubVision (2014)
Turn It Back
Deepend (2014)
Party Face
Victor Porfidio (2014)
Max Ammo
Firebeatz (2013)
Retaliate
Angerfist (2012)
In The Mode
Roni Size & Roni Size / Reprazent (2000)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use FabFilter Pro-Q 3, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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