Overlay a reference mic or intelligibility curve as a visual EQ target¶
This page shows you how to display a reference frequency-response curve—such as the AT&T 1959 intelligibility target or the response of a famous SSB microphone—on the EQ canvas while you tune bands. The curve is a visual guide only; it does not affect EQ math.
Before you start¶
- Open the Aetherial Parametric EQ editor by double-clicking the EQ stage in the CHAIN widget (TX or RX side).
- The editor window is titled "Aetherial Parametric EQ — TX" or "— RX" depending on which side you opened.
Steps¶
- In the floating editor's header strip, locate the Ref: combo box.
- Click the Ref: combo box and select one of the following:
- Off (default) — no reference curve
- AT&T 1959 — Bell Labs intelligibility target, +5 dB at 2.5 kHz
- Heil DX — aggressive presence boost for SSB contests
- Astatic D-104 — classic lollipop mic, sharp peak at 3 kHz
- Shure 444 — broadcast-style desk mic, gentler boost
- Heil HC-5 — modern dynamic SSB element
- The selected curve appears as a thin amber line on the EQ canvas.
- Adjust your EQ bands to match the reference curve, or use it as a rough shape for your target response.
- To remove the overlay, select Off from the Ref: combo box.
What each control does¶
| Control | Default | Valid range | Persisted setting key | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ref: combo | Off | Off | AT&T 1959 | Heil DX | Astatic D-104 | Shure 444 | Heil HC-5 | ClientEqReferenceCurve |
Overlays a reference target curve on the EQ canvas as a thin amber line. Shared between RX and TX editors. |
| Smoothing: combo | Off (1/96) | Off (1/96) | 1/24 | 1/12 | ⅙ | ⅓ | ClientEqSmoothingFraction |
Applies fractional-octave power-averaging to the analyzer trace for display. Does not affect EQ math. Shared between RX and TX editors. |
Tips¶
- The reference curve is display-only—it never changes the audio path, so feel free to experiment with different presets.
- The selection persists globally; choosing a curve in the TX editor also affects the RX editor's display.
- Combine the reference curve with Peak Hold to compare your band shaping against a sustained look at the audio actually passing through.