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ULTRACURVE PRO DEQ2496 User Manual

On pages 1 and 2 of the DEQ menu you can adjust the necessary settings to 

determine the threshold and the way of sound processing. Additionally, you will 

find a graphic representation of the control curve with regard to THRESHOLD, 

GAIN and RATIO. In the center of the display, the LEVEL meter (left) indicates the 

filtered DEQ input level (control signal), while the GAIN meter (right) shows how 

much boost/cut is applied to the signal.
Page 3 includes a frequency diagram showing the filter curves with regard to 

frequency and threshold. The current DEQ input level can be seen from the LEVEL 

meter on the right.

Fig. 3.4: DEQ menu (page 1)

The make-up gain parameter 

M-GAIN

 on page 1 allows you to set the amount 

of boost/cut for the filter with the upper data wheel. The setting range is from 

-15 to +15 dB. 

THRESHOLD

 (large data wheel) defines the threshold as of which 

the filter function is activated. If the filter has been set to attenuate the signal 

(M-GAIN < 0), then the desired frequency range (see page 3) will be lowered 

in level as soon as it exceeds the threshold. If boost is required (M-GAIN > 0), 

the frequency range will be raised in level as soon as the signal drops below the 

threshold. The 

RATIO

 parameter (lower data wheel) determines the amount 

of boost/cut applied to the respective frequency range, if the signal exceeds or 

drops below the threshold. The setting range is from 1:2 to 1:100.

Fig. 3.5: DEQ menu (page 2)

On the second page of the DEQ menu (accessed by pressing the DEQ or PAGE key), 

you can define two additional dynamics parameters.

ATTACK

 (upper data wheel) determines how fast the dynamic EQ starts 

processing when the signal exceeds or drops below the threshold. The ATTACK 

times available range from 0 to 200 milliseconds. Press this control to select a 

coarse or fine adjustment scale.
The 

RELEASE

 parameter (lower data wheel) lets you adjust the time needed by 

the EQ to “release” the sound after the signal has exceeded or dropped below 

threshold (depending on the GAIN setting). The RELEASE times available range 

from 20 to 4,000 milliseconds. Here, too, you can press the control to select a 

coarse or fine adjustment scale.
It is on this page that you can also edit the 

THRESHOLD

 value (large data wheel), 

so as to be able to make some readjustments without having to change to 

another page.

Fig. 3.6: DEQ menu (page 3) 

As mentioned before, page 3 includes a frequency diagram and the gain 

reduction meter. 

MODE

 (upper data wheel) defines the filter type, and you can 

choose from high-shelving, low-shelving and band-pass filters.

The 

FREQUENCY

 parameter determines the center frequency of the filter 

(large data wheel). In the case of low-shelving and high-shelving filters, this is 

the cut-off frequency as of which the low or high frequencies are processed. 

The entire frequency spectrum ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Press the data wheel 

to select a coarse (1/6 oct. per step) or fine adjustment scale (1/60 oct. per step).
If you selected “bandpass” under MODE, the parameter 

BW(OCT)

 appears in the 

lower right part of the display. Here, you can use the lower data wheel to adjust 

the bandwidth of your choice and thus determine the “width” of the filter curve 

(1/10 oct. to 10 oct.).
The B key selects which of the dynamic EQs is displayed. Three EQs are available 

for each stereo side. Keep the key pressed to reset the settings of the currently 

selected DEQ.
This table shows an example with extreme settings, thus illustrating how a 

dynamic EQ works:

Settings

MODE

BP

FREQ

1.00 kHz

M-GAIN

+15 dB > continuous line

0 dB > broken line

-15 dB > dotted line

BW(OCT)

0.1

THRESHOLD

-40 dB

RATIO

1:100

Tab. 3.1: Bandpass with extreme settings (see also fig. 3.7)

0 dB

0 dB

-40 dB

Positive gain > gain boost

after dropping below threshold

-40 dB

Threshold

Negative gain >

gain reduction

after exceeding

threshold

Fig. 3.7: Filter curves with signal above/below the threshold 

3.2.4  FBD menu

The DEQ2496 features a “Feedback Destroyer” function, which corresponds 

largely to the PEQ menu as far as operation and choice of parameters are 

concerned. However, the FBD menu has some additional functions and therefore 

comprises three pages rather than just two.
The Feedback Destroyer allows you to apply heavy attenuation (no boost) 

to specific frequency ranges, so as to remove certain frequencies that are liable 

to cause feedback. With its extermely narrow-band filters it hardly affects the 

overall sound at all.

Fig. 3.8: FBD menu (page 1)