Why I went back from FabFilter Pro-Q4 to Pro-Q3

Recently, my inbox has been buzzing with messages about my switch: after a month using Pro-Q4, I switched back to Pro-Q3. Some of you are worried I’ve lost my mind.

Let me explain why it wasn’t a downgrade for me. It was a decision that aligns perfectly with my current workflow.

Spectral processing

First off, when it comes to spectral processing, my go-to is Soothe2. It simply sounds better and delivers exactly what I need, every time.

Pro-Q4 might have added some cool features, but for this purpose it doesn’t match up. Spectral processing adds a lot of latency, and I am not fully convinced about its “sterile” sound in the mid area.

Dynamic EQ

When I need a dynamic EQ, I reach for MAutoDynamicEQ or Multiplicity. They’re just superior tools for dynamic adjustments. I just want to set my attack and release times in ms, not %. For God’s sake…

Workflow

Last but not least, I was so used to quickly adding bands and filters the “old way” that every time I tried to add a filter in the new version, I ended up with a shelf instead. Additionally, the new “sketch” function is not for me at all.

The dealbreaker

But there was something even more important: Pro-Q4 started acting weird during offline rendering.

I noticed artifacts popping up in my tracks, which is a big no-go. That alone was enough to make me rethink its role in my workflow. Most of the new features in Pro-Q4 didn’t add anything significant to how I work daily, so unless they fix this in the next updates, I think I am OK without it.

Will I revisit Pro-Q4 in the future? Most likely. If updates make it worth the switch, I’m open to giving it another shot. For now, Pro-Q3 is holding down the fort.