This is the hands-on EQ — the tool for shaping the sound yourself. If TuneHub is the automatic fix, the parametric equalizer is the manual control panel: you decide which pitches to turn up or down, and by how much. New to this? It's worth a two-minute read of Sound basics first — but this article assumes nothing.
How it works
Sound is a blend of low pitches (bass — kick drums, bass lines), middle pitches (mids — voices and most instruments) and high pitches (treble — cymbals, sparkle). An equalizer lets you turn any of those ranges up ("boost") or down ("cut").
Parametric just means you get full control over each adjustment — called a band. Each band has three settings: a frequency (which pitch you're affecting — low for bass, high for treble), a gain (how much you boost or cut, measured in decibels), and a width (how big a slice around that pitch you affect — wide for a broad, gentle change, narrow for a pinpoint fix).
You can add several bands and combine them into any shape you like, and the app draws a live curve of exactly what you've built. On the free version you can use up to 5 bands — plenty for most tuning. More bands (up to 20) and the ready-made starting points like "Rock" and "Jazz" are Premium.
What you can use it for on your phone
- Calm one specific annoyance — a sharp cymbal, a boomy note — by cutting a narrow slice exactly there.
- Add a broad, pleasing bass lift or a touch of vocal clarity, then save it as your own preset.
- Re-create an EQ setting a reviewer recommended for your headphones.
- Make a dull recording brighter, or a harsh one smoother, to taste.
How to use it
Tap EDIT BANDS to open the full editor, then:
- Drag a point on the curve up to boost that pitch, or down to cut it.
- Move it left to affect lower (bass) pitches, right for higher (treble) pitches.
- Make a band wider or narrower to affect a bigger or smaller range around that point.
- Save your result as a preset so you can reuse it. (The parametric EQ lives in the Advanced interface; the Basic interface offers the simpler 3-knob Tone Control instead.)
Why it helps
It's the most direct way to fix a precise problem or craft a signature sound — once you know what you want to change, you can change exactly that and nothing else.
Settings explained
- Bands — Each band is one adjustment. It has a frequency (which pitch), a gain (how much — up to ±15 dB, which is about as strong as you'll ever need), and a width/Q (0.3 = very wide and gentle, 3.0 = very narrow and surgical; 1.0 is a sensible middle).
- Preamp — Moves the entire curve up or down at once. If you've added several boosts, lower the preamp a little to make "room" so the sound doesn't distort.
What the live display shows
The curve is a live picture of everything you've set — the exact shape being applied to your music. Bass is on the left, treble on the right; bumps are boosts, dips are cuts.