The Behringer DEQ2496 is a high-precision digital 24-bit/ 96 kHz EQ/RTA mastering processor, ideal for sophisticated live sound trouble-shooting or audiophile mastering. Whether you’re putting the finishing touches on recorded material or creating an optimal live sound for a multi-way PA, the DEQ2496 is built to provide meticulous control.
The DEQ2496 is a whole rack of ultra-flexible equalization options, dynamics and time-correction solutions, all designed to optimize your rig’s sound quality like no other single piece of processing gear. Consider the DEQ2496 your audio engineer’s Swiss Army Knife – here are a just few examples: Dual 31-band Graphic Equalizers (stereo linkable) Dual 31-band Virtual Paragraphic Equalizers (stereo linkable) Dual 10-band Parametric EQ’s per stereo side Dynamically-activated EQ Feedback Destroyer with Learning Mode Stereo Imager Compressor/Expander Limiter Digital Delay RTA/SPL/FFT Analyzer with Auto EQ function.
Naturally, the DEQ2496 has a phase-neutral digital graphic EQ. But in addition, we’ve added a function that allows you to change the frequency bandwidths from 1/3, to as tight as 59/3. Or, if you prefer the old-school approach to variable bandwidth, we’ve included 10-bands of parametric filters that can be incrementally fine-tuned all the way down to 1/60 of an octave. Dynamic EQ (DEQ) automatically raises or lowers a defined frequency range based on volume level. It’s literally a combination of an equalizer (with frequency center and bandwidth controls) and a dynamics processor (with Attack, Release, Threshold and Ratio parameters). DEQ opens up a world of both creative mastering and PA problem solving possibilities. We’ve given you total control with multiple filter types including bandpass mode. And of course you can store DEQ settings for recall at any time manually or via MIDI.
The DEQ2496 Width processor provides control over Stereo Width (how clearly the two sides of the stereo image are separated from each other), Asymmetry (relative volume of left/right stereo signal), Rotation (panning of stereo + mono in the stereo image) and a multipart Shuffle function than can generate an additional low-frequency stereo width effect.
The DEQ2496 has a comprehensive set of dynamics processing tools that can be used as two independent channels or stereo linked. Everything you’d find on a dedicated compressor/expander is here, including variable ratios from 1:1.1 - 1:100, Attack times of 0 - 200 ms, 0 - 3 dB variable knee and 20 ms - 4 s Release times, all adjustable via a coarse/fine adjustment scale. The built-in separate Limiter features Threshold, Hold and Release functions.
You can delay either the DEQ2496’s Main or Aux outputs from 0 - 300 ms, and process left and right channels independently – and not only can you specify the time delay in feet or meters, you can even instantly compensate for changes in the ambient temperature.
The DEQ2496 features an FFT real time analyzer for precise graphic display of 61 frequency bands. You can monitor main or digital inputs and outputs, Aux/Digital Out, or a feed from an RTA microphone and display the results in a multitude of ways including funky retro VU meters. You get all of the usual peak/hold, display rate and scale features you would expect from a professional measurement tool, plus our user-definable AEQ (Auto EQ function), which allows you to analyze and adjust your system’s frequency response automatically (perfect for “roughing out” initial room adjustments). In Graphic EQ mode, you can choose between Uncorrected response, which shows the mutual influence of adjacent bands, or select True response to apply a specially developed algorithm that displays the actual results of the equalizer setting.
The DEQ2496 has balanced inputs and servo balanced outputs with gold-plated XLR connectors, stereo aux output, AES/EBU and S/PDIF inputs and XLR and optical output. Configuration is intuitive, with on-screen block diagram displays and you get a separate RTA mic/line input with phantom power, a professional wordclock input and MIDI connections for full remote control, as well as preset dumps and system updates. You can maintain up to 64 comprehensive user presets at a time and of course dump and load as needed. You can also save and recall individual modules such as DEQ, PEQ, Width or Dyn. These subsets of complete presets let you maintain most of a preset’s settings but vary a few (such as graphic EQ) without having to generate a whole new preset.
The DEQ2496 also features high-quality 24-bit/96 kHz A/D and D/A converters and two high-performance 32/40-bit floating-point digital signal processors for incredible sonic resolution and 113 dB dynamic range. The internal switch-mode power supply assures maximum flexibility (100-240 V~), noise-free audio, superior transient response, lowest possible power consumption and freedom from power surge damage.
