0.6.0 Pre Release

This version includes BREAKING changes. DO NOT UPDATE before you finishing current projects which use any previous version of ZL Equalizer.

• BREAKING: use the new compressor model from ZL Compressor
  • dynamic filters will sound a bit different
  • dynamic filters (especially if under dynamic high-quality mode) become more efficient
  • dynamic filters will produce expected results under extreme knee width settings (see #156)
• BREAKING: smooth filter frequency/gain/Q changes
  • quick move/automation of frequency/gain/Q will have fewer artifacts
  • filter parameter automation will take more CPU usage cause it now changes filters per sample (see the manual)
• change the external side-chain button position to the top-right corner
  • since it is not a per-band parameter, top-right corner seems to be a better place
• change several button icons (see the manual)
  • the old ones are not intuitive enough
• add FFT db scale choice (see #147 and the manual)
• add loudness match (see #154 and the manual)
• add solo shortcuts (by right-mouse-button double-clicking with Ctrl/Command on the band button)
• add side-chain swap (see the manual)
• fix macOS standalone audio input permission request (see #146)
• fix curve db scale (see #148)
• fix multi-band selection (see #149)
• improve GUI performance
• improve DSP performance (especially for high-order filters and dynamic filters)
• improve stability

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read

• the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/
• the plugin installation help page: https://zl-audio.github.io/help/plugin_installation/

WARNING for Pro Tools users

Current AAX versions have bugs. I will fix them in the formal release.

WARNING for Windows users

Use the installer ZL.Equalizer-0.6.0-Windows.exe if possible. The GUI performance has been hugely improved. I may discontinue the support of the software rendering version ZL.Equalizer-0.6.0-Windows-Software.exe.

WARNING for Linux users

Now the plugin is built with JUCE 8. If you observe a significant drop in GUI performance, please report it back to me.

0.5.0

0.6.0 Pre-Release is available here https://github.com/ZL-Audio/ZLEqualizer/releases/tag/0.6.0-Pre.

This version includes a big new feature: Equalization Match. This new feature is really fun to play with :) Feel free to open an issue/discussion if you have any suggestions.

• BREAKING: change dynamic link to UI setting (the parameter is now shared across all instances)
• add Equalization Match (See the manual for details)
• add UI setting import/export
• fix incorrect channel layout (See #138)
• fix incorrect solo display (See #138)
• fix double-click behaviour (See #141)
• improve solo display
• improve GUI performance (especially when you open the UI setting panel)

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read

• the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/
• the plugin installation help page: https://zl-audio.github.io/help/plugin_installation/

WARNING for Windows users

You may try ZL.Equalizer-0.5.0-Windows.exe (with the Direct2D rendering) and ZL.Equalizer-0.5.0-Windows-Software.exe (with the software rendering) to see which one performs better on your computer.

WARNING for Linux users

If you build it locally, please pull the whole commit history.
ZL.Equalizer-0.5.0-Linux-ARM64.zip is built on the public preview of GitHub-hosted Linux ARM64 runner (see https://github.blog/changelog/2025-01-16-linux-arm64-hosted-runners-now-available-for-free-in-public-repositories-public-preview/). I have not tested the plugin on Linux ARM64 runners thoroughly.

0.4.5

0.5.0 is available here: https://github.com/ZL-Audio/ZLEqualizer/releases/latest

• fix uninitialized static gain compensation in some edge cases
• fix data race in some edge cases
• fix nlopt library linking issue in 0.4.4 (See #132) which breaks Linux and macOS binaries
• fix incorrect license in installers
• improve DSP stability

If you modify/distribute the code/binaries, please pay attention to the change of the license: https://github.com/ZL-Audio/ZLEqualizer?tab=readme-ov-file#license.

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read

• the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/
• the plugin installation help page: https://zl-audio.github.io/help/plugin_installation/

WARNING for Windows users

I can confirm that the plugin installed by ZL.Equalizer-0.4.5-Windows.exe is highly likely to freeze the plugin & DAW on some machines, especially those without powerful CPU & GPU. Please try the installer ZL.Equalizer-0.4.5-Windows-Software.exe first. The Direct2D feature from the current JUCE version causes this issue. JUCE team is working on a fix.

WARNING for Linux users

If you build it locally, please pull the whole commit history.

0.4.3

The latest version is here: https://github.com/ZL-Audio/ZLEqualizer/releases/latest

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/

WARNING for Linux users

If you build it locally, please pull the whole commit history.

WARNING for Windows users

Please use the installer ZL.Equalizer-0.4.3-Windows.exe FIRST! The C++ runtime is now statically linked. However, you may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

It is possible that your computer is not happy with the Direct2D feature from JUCE (e.g., #85). In such case, you may try ZL.Equalizer-0.4.3-Windows-Software.exe instead (AAX not included), which uses the software renderer. Please be aware that the software renderer is slower than the hardware renderer (w.r.t. UI).

WARNING for Pro Tool users

AAX is updated in this version.

• change the top panel layout (move global bypass and sgc buttons outside)
• change the UI setting panel layout
• add the resizing to default size function to UI button
• add default pass filter order & slider double-clicking to the UI setting panel
• add colour maps to the UI setting panel
• add fft resolution to the UI setting panel
• fix incorrect latency when the samplerate changes after loading the plugin
• fix combobox displays in Standalone
• improve matched phase mixed phase under high samplerates
• improve spectrum display accuracy in the high-end

0.4.2

0.4.3 is available at here.

Fix some small bugs AND macOS compatibility issue #116 in this patch version.

Nominations for KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2024 are currently open! If you like this plugin, please nominate/vote it at the voting page. Thank you so much!

You can verify the integrity of the installers with artifact attestations.

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/

WARNING for Linux users

If you build it locally, please pull the whole commit history.

WARNING for Windows users

Please use the installer ZL.Equalizer-0.4.2-Windows.exe FIRST! The C++ runtime is now statically linked. However, you may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

It is possible that your computer is not happy with the Direct2D feature from JUCE (e.g., #85). In such case, you may try ZL.Equalizer-0.4.2-Windows-Software.exe instead (AAX not included), which uses the software renderer. Please be aware that the software renderer is slower than the hardware renderer (w.r.t. UI).

WARNING for Pro Tool users

AAX is updated in this version. Occasionally you may have to remove the old version manually.

• add & change slider value editor shortcuts
  • open value editor with Ctrl/Command + mouse double-clicking for ALL sliders
• fix incorrect curve display when adjusting scale
• fix macOS compatibility issue (now it should support macOS 10.13 and above)
• improve mixed phase phase shift continuity

0.4.1

0.4.2 is available at here.

This release is almost identical to 0.4.0. However, I have removed some debug code that could SIGNIFICANTLY slow down the dynamic effect 😓 (I should have removed it in 0.4.0)

Cause lots of things have been added, I think it is a good chance to release a new version and postpone the EQ matching feature to 0.5.0 (or later) :) If you encounter a bug, you are encouraged to submit an issue!

BTW, nominations for KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2024 are currently open! If you like this plugin, please nominate/vote it at the voting page. Thank you so much!

You can verify the integrity of the installers with artifact attestations.

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/

WARNING for Linux users

If you build it locally, please pull the whole commit history.

WARNING for macOS users

See #116 for more info about compatibility with macOS 12.

WARNING for Windows users

Please use the installer ZL.Equalizer-0.4.0-Windows.exe FIRST! The C++ runtime is now statically linked. However, you may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

It is possible that your computer is not happy with the Direct2D feature from JUCE (e.g., #85). In such case, you may try ZL.Equalizer-0.4.0-Windows-Software.exe instead (AAX not included), which uses the software renderer. Please be aware that the software renderer is slower than the hardware renderer (w.r.t. UI).

WARNING for Pro Tool users

AAX is updated in this version.

• add parallel filter structure
• add match-phase filter structure
• add mixed-phase filter structure
• add linear-phase filter structure
• add & change shortcuts
  • fine-adjust dragger with Shift
  • find-adjust slider with Shift (changed from Ctrl/Command)
  • add a dynamic filter with Ctrl/Command + mouse double-clicking
  • turn on/off dynamic with Ctrl/Command + mouse double-clicking on the dragger
• change real curves to ideal curves
• change default FFT order to 12 to increase low-frequency details
• add phase-flip button and change the Output panel layout
• add more freedom to the plugin window size
• improve solo and global bypass
• improve DSP & GUI stability
• improve DSP & GUI performance

0.3.5

0.4.1 is available at here.

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read the manual: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/

WARNING for Linux users

If you build it locally, please pull the whole commit history.

WARNING for Windows users

Please use the installer ZL.Equalizer-0.3.5-Windows.exe FIRST! The C++ runtime is now statically linked. However, you may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

It is possible that your computer is not happy with the Direct2D feature from JUCE (e.g., #85). In such case, you may try ZL.Equalizer-0.3.5-Windows-Software.exe instead (AAX not included), which uses the software renderer. Please be aware that the software renderer is slower than the hardware renderer (w.r.t. UI). If this one works for you while the default one does not, you are encouraged to open a discussion.

WARNING for Pro Tool users

AAX is updated in this version.

Changelog:

• BREAKING: add auto dynamic threshold. When you press the dynamic threshold learning button, it will not only start the threshold learning but also automatically adjust the threshold. See the manual for more information.
• BREAKING: fix the reset button in the UI setting panel. When you press the reset button, it will reset colours to defaults.
• add standalone to releases
• change the plugin logo

0.3.4

0.3.5 is available at here.

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

WARNING for Linux users: If you build it locally, please build with juce7 branch.

WARNING for Windows users: The C++ runtime is now statically linked. However, you may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

WARNING for Pro Tool users: AAX is not updated in this version.

• BREAKING: remove light/dark colour modes
• add text/background/shadow/glow colours to UI setting panel
• add multiband bypass/off
• add gain tag
• change bypass buttons LAF (now the light is off when the filter is bypassed)
• improve performance slightly

0.3.3

0.3.4 is available at here.

After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

Please read the MANUAL: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/

WARNING for Linux users: If you build it locally, please build with juce7 branch.

WARNING for Windows users: The C++ runtime is now statically linked. However, you may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

WARNING for Pro Tools users: This is the first AAX plugin from me. If Pro Tools cannot recognize the plugin (or display an error message), please open an issue/discussion.

• add zero latency mode
• add AAX to macOS & Windows release

0.3.2

0.3.3 is available at here.

Please read the MANUAL: https://zl-audio.github.io/plugins/zlequalizer/

Several dependencies have been updated. After installation, please load the plugin in an empty DAW session and check its functionality.

WARNING for Linux users: If you build it locally, please build with juce7 branch since JUCE 8 has some issues on Linux.

WARNING for Windows users: You may have to install the Latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (if you are not able to open the plugin).

• bump to JUCE 8 (except for Linux)
• improve multi-band selection
• improve GUI performance