Equalization less capable under Mac OSX?

[Gordon Coates]

I have an equalization curve for 24/192 files which I use to very good effect in a chain in Audacity 2.0.2 under Windows 7, but I cannot create the same, or even a fairly similar, curve in Audacity 2.0.3 (installed from the dmg file under the latest Mac OSX Mountain Lion) on a MacBook Pro. The combination of about 8dB of bass cut at 90Hz with a very steep recovery in both directions (back to zero at about 60Hz and 130Hz respectively, as shown by the fine green line) just seems to be impossible to achieve on my Mac. As I do all my recording on the Mac (so that I can use an Apogee Duet 2 USB audio interface) this means that I have to transfer all my flac files to the Windows computer in order to equalize them to suit my loudspeakers (Quad ESL 57s) before finally transferring them to the NAS drive connected to my audio system. Is there any way around this? For example, is it possible to save some sort of data file representing the curve on the Windows machine and use it to create the same curve on the Mac? Or is there perhaps an Eq add-in that provides much finer control than the one provided by default? Although the present workaround is effective, it is rather slow and clumsy...

[steve]

I don't think that the Equalization effect has changed since Audacity 2.0 came out. Perhaps you have moved the "Length of Filter" slider.
To make the green line follow the blue line more closely, move the "Length of Filter" slider to the right (longer filter). Moving the slider too far to the right may adversely affect "pulse response" (a slight ringing on transients if there is a sudden jump in the filter) but it does not sound like that is relevant to your specific case.

[kozikowski]

Did you try to export your known, good, working filter (as I think an XML file) and import it into the new Audacity? That's not particularly straightforward, but it does work and you will not have to juggle settings.

Koz

[Gordon Coates]

Perhaps you have moved the "Length of Filter" slider.

Many thanks, steve. However, I always move the slider all the way to the right for the LF cut curves, otherwise I can't get anywhere near the ball park at all. A good thought, though...

[Gordon Coates]

Did you try to export your known, good, working filter (as I think an XML file) and import it into the new Audacity? That's not particularly straightforward, but it does work and you will not have to juggle settings.Koz

Many thanks, Koz. I haven't tried that - do you know where I can find the method? It would be great if the filter I use under Windows could be imported into the Mac installation - though the Eq curves do seem to work quite a bit differently under the Mac, so perhaps it might still not put that elusive green line quite where I want it...

[steve]

the Eq curves do seem to work quite a bit differently under the Mac,

That could be a bug. As far as I'm aware they should be the same, but I don't have a Mac to compare.
Could you post a screen shot to illustrate what is happening on your Mac.

Note that there is a known bug in the current version in which curves are not converted accurately when switching between "Graphic" and "Draw" modes.

Instructions for importing /exporting Eq curves are here: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/eq ... tml#manage

[Gale Andrews]

Note that there is a known bug in the current version in which curves are not converted accurately when switching between "Graphic" and "Draw" modes.

For most purposes (for example, if you want to reuse the curve you just applied, or import a curve) don't use "Draw Curves" in 2.0.3.

Correction: The bugs are with

• switching between Graphic EQ and Draw Curves Mode
• applying an EQ starting in Graphic EQ Mode and then reopening EQ and reapplying the effect (the slider values have changed)

A fix for these problems has been committed at r12290 ( http://code.google.com/p/audacity/source/detail?r=12290 ) .




Gale

[Gordon Coates]

Many thanks steve and Gale. I have imaged and exported the curve from the Windows machine - I'll see what happens when I import it under Mac, and I'll post screenshots as soon as I find the image editor (or maybe install one?) on the MacBook...

[Mr. Pickles]

Many thanks steve and Gale. I have imaged and exported the curve from the Windows machine - I'll see what happens when I import it under Mac, and I'll post screenshots as soon as I find the image editor (or maybe install one?) on the MacBook...

Hey Gordon,
If you press command+shift+4 the screen grab cross-hairs dialog will appear in place of your mouse cursor. Now hit the space bar and a camera icon will replace the cross-hairs. Move the camera cursor over the eq dialog window you want to grab (it will appear sort of greyed out when you do) and tap the track pad or click your mouse and a screen shot of that window will be saved on your desktop.

[Gordon Coates]

If you press command+shift+4 the screen grab cross-hairs dialog will appear in place of your mouse cursor. Now hit the space bar and a camera icon will replace the cross-hairs. Move the camera cursor over the eq dialog window you want to grab (it will appear sort of greyed out when you do) and tap the track pad or click your mouse and a screen shot of that window will be saved on your desktop.

Many thanks, Mr. Pickles. I've actually just been doing that, and I found I could re-save the screenshots (which don't seem to have a file extension) as .jpg files by opening them with ColorSync Utility --> Save As. I'll upload the results in my next post...