Audio Processing
Parametric Equalizer (per-pad)
Each pad can have its own 4-band parametric equalizer, similar to those found on professional mixing consoles. This equalizer works directly on the audio source, before the volume fader and before the master EQ. Think of it as preparing and correcting each track individually: removing unwanted rumble, taming harsh frequencies, or adding warmth: regardless of how loud or quiet the final output will be. Just like a sound engineer would EQ each channel on a mixing desk before adjusting the master output.
Enable the equalizer with the Enable Equalizer checkbox, then select a band (LOW, LOW MID, HIGH MID, HIGH) and adjust its settings.
Filter Modes
Choose the filter type for each band. The available modes depend on the band:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Low Cut | Removes all frequencies below the cutoff frequency. Useful for cleaning up low-end noise or unwanted bass in a recording. |
| Low Shelf | Boosts or cuts all frequencies below the set frequency. Use it to add warmth or reduce muddiness. |
| High Cut | Removes all frequencies above the cutoff frequency. Useful for taming harsh high frequencies or reducing hiss. |
| High Shelf | Boosts or cuts all frequencies above the set frequency. Use it to add brightness or reduce sibilance. |
| PEQ (Parametric EQ) | Boosts or cuts a specific frequency range, with the Q parameter controlling how narrow or wide the affected area is. The most precise mode for surgical corrections. |
| VEQ (Vintage EQ) | Similar to PEQ, but with a wider, more musical response. Behaves like classic analog equalizers: better for broad tonal shaping. |
| Off | The band is bypassed. |
Band Availability
| Band | Available Modes |
|---|---|
| LOW | Off, Low Cut, Low Shelf, PEQ, VEQ |
| LOW MID | Off, PEQ, VEQ |
| HIGH MID | Off, PEQ, VEQ |
| HIGH | Off, High Cut, High Shelf, PEQ, VEQ |
Controls
- Frequency: Set the center or cutoff frequency for the band.
- Gain: Boost or cut the selected frequency range (from -15 to +15 dB).
- Q: Adjust the bandwidth of the filter. A low Q value gives a wide, gentle curve that affects many surrounding frequencies. A high Q value gives a narrow, sharp curve that targets a precise frequency.
Use the +/- buttons to adjust each parameter. Hold the button for faster adjustments.
Frequency Response Graph & Spectrogram
A frequency response graph shows the combined effect of all four bands in real time. During preview playback, a live spectrogram scrolls across the graph, showing the actual frequency content of the audio. This lets you see the effect of your EQ settings and compare with/without equalization by toggling the checkbox.
EQ settings are saved per pad and applied during playback, including during crossfade transitions where each track keeps its own EQ settings.
Master Equalizer
In addition to the per-pad EQ, BlackBox Cue provides a master 4-band parametric equalizer that applies to the entire audio output. Click the EQ button in the main interface to open the master EQ panel.
The master EQ works identically to the per-pad EQ (same bands, same filter modes, same controls), but serves a completely different purpose. While the per-pad EQ corrects each audio source individually, the master EQ shapes the final output that reaches the speakers. It applies after the per-pad EQ and the volume fader in the audio chain, and affects all pads and SFX simultaneously.
Use Cases
- Room acoustics: Reduce boomy low frequencies in a reverberant space, or add bass in an outdoor setting.
- Sound system compensation: Correct for speakers that are too bright, too dull, or have a specific frequency signature.
- Volume-dependent adjustments: At low listening volumes, the human ear perceives less bass and treble (the Fletcher-Munson effect). The master EQ lets you compensate by gently boosting lows and highs when playing at lower levels.
Real-Time Spectrogram
A real-time spectrogram on the master EQ panel shows the actual frequency content of the main audio output, including all pads and SFX currently playing. When the master EQ is enabled, the EQ curve is displayed over the spectrogram.
Master EQ settings are saved with your project.
Audio Effects
Each pad can have an audio effect applied on top of its EQ. Enable the effect with the Enable FX checkbox, then choose a mode and preset.
| Effect | Description | Presets |
|---|---|---|
| Reverb | Adds a sense of space to the sound. | Room, Hall, Cathedral, Plate |
| Delay | Creates echoes and repetitions. | Slapback, Echo, Long Delay |
| Flanger | Produces a sweeping, jet-like sound. | Subtle, Medium, Deep |
| Lo-Fi | Degrades the audio quality for a vintage or stylized effect. | Radio, Telephone, Vinyl, 8-Bit |
| Robot | Modulates the sound for a robotic voice effect. | Low, Mid, High |
| Distortion | Adds saturation and grit. | Light, Medium, Heavy |
| Vocal Remover | Reduces center-panned content (typically vocals) from a stereo track. | Remove, Bass Keep |
Use the Level control (0-100%) to adjust how much of the effect is mixed in. Each effect is heard immediately during preview playback, so you can fine-tune your settings before going live.
Effect settings are saved per pad and applied during playback, including during crossfade transitions.
Speed Control
Each pad has a Speed setting that lets you change the playback tempo from 50% to 120% without altering the pitch. The technology used (time-stretching) preserves the original pitch of every instrument and voice: slowing down a track sounds like the musicians are playing more slowly, not like a vinyl record being slowed down. The music remains natural and musical at any speed: only the tempo changes.
Speed is part of the FX settings: it only takes effect when the Enable FX checkbox is checked. Use the +/- buttons to adjust the speed value.
This is particularly useful for dance schools and choreographers: slow down a piece to learn or rehearse a choreography at a comfortable pace, then set the speed back to 100% for the performance. The same pad, the same track, two different tempos: no need to prepare separate audio files.
The speed can be changed in real time during preview playback, so you can hear the result immediately. Speed settings are saved with the pad.
How Speed Interacts with Other Features
- Elapsed and remaining time: The time display always shows the source time (position in the original track), not the real elapsed wall-clock time. A track played at 50% speed will show 02:00 elapsed after 4 minutes of real time, because only 2 minutes of the original track have been played. This means that a specific musical moment always corresponds to the same displayed time, regardless of the playback speed: which is essential for dance schools and choreographers who use time markers as reference points during rehearsal.
- Control cues: The TIME positions of your control cue events always refer to the original track timeline, regardless of speed. A cue set at 01:30 will still trigger at the 1-minute-30 mark of the original track, even if the playback is slower or faster.
- AUTO crossfade: In AUTO mode, the crossfade uses the effective BPM (the detected BPM adjusted by the speed factor) to calculate transitions. The BPM shown in the editor always reflects the detected BPM of the original track.
Volume
Use the vertical volume fader on the right side of the screen to adjust the output volume. Drag it up to increase volume, down to decrease. You can also use the mouse wheel over the fader for quick adjustments.
Listen Volume
Double-click on the VOL label above the fader to switch to LSTN mode. The fader smoothly slides to the listen (preview) volume position. You can then adjust the preview volume independently from the main output. Double-click again to switch back to VOL mode. The main playback volume and the preview volume are always independent: changing one never affects the other.
Audio Output Selection
Double-click on the MASTER OUT label above the volume fader to choose which audio output device to use. This lets you route the sound to a specific sound card or audio interface without changing your system settings.
Mono / Stereo
Double-click on the STEREO label to switch the output to MONO. In mono mode, both channels are mixed together, which is useful when the sound system is mono or when speakers are placed far apart and stereo separation would be distracting. Double-click again to switch back to stereo.
Volume Normalization
Enable the Normalize checkbox to automatically balance the volume across all your tracks. Audio files are often recorded at different levels, which can cause jarring volume jumps when switching between pads.
When normalization is enabled, BlackBox Cue analyzes the level of each audio file and adjusts the playback gain so that all tracks are perceived at a consistent volume.
VU Meter
The LED-style VU meter shows the real-time audio output level, with a peak indicator.