BiquadFilterNode

The BiquadFilterNode interface represents a simple low-order filter, and is created using the AudioContext.createBiquadFilter() method. It is an AudioNode that can represent different kinds of filters, tone control devices, and graphic equalizers. A BiquadFilterNode always has exactly one input and one output.

Number of inputs 1
Number of outputs 1
Channel count mode "max"
Channel count 2 (not used in the default count mode)
Channel interpretation "speakers"

Constructor

BiquadFilterNode()
Creates a new instance of a BiquadFilterNode object.

Properties

Inherits properties from its parent, AudioNode.

Note: Though the AudioParam objects returned are read-only, the values they represent are not.

BiquadFilterNode.frequency Read only
Is an a-rate AudioParam, a double representing a frequency in the current filtering algorithm measured in hertz (Hz).
BiquadFilterNode.detune Read only
Is an a-rate AudioParam representing detuning of the frequency in cents.
BiquadFilterNode.Q Read only
Is an a-rate AudioParam, a double representing a Q factor, or quality factor.
BiquadFilterNode.gain Read only
Is an a-rate AudioParam, a double representing the gain used in the current filtering algorithm.
BiquadFilterNode.type
Is a string value defining the kind of filtering algorithm the node is implementing.
The meaning of the different parameters depending of the type of the filter (detune has the same meaning regardless, so isn't listed below)
type Description frequency Q gain
lowpass Standard second-order resonant lowpass filter with 12dB/octave rolloff. Frequencies below the cutoff pass through; frequencies above it are attenuated. The cutoff frequency. Indicates how peaked the frequency is around the cutoff. The greater the value is, the greater is the peak. Not used
highpass Standard second-order resonant highpass filter with 12dB/octave rolloff. Frequencies below the cutoff are attenuated; frequencies above it pass through. The cutoff frequency. Indicates how peaked the frequency is around the cutoff. The greater the value, the greater the peak. Not used
bandpass Standard second-order bandpass filter. Frequencies outside the given range of frequencies are attenuated; the frequencies inside it pass through. The center of the range of frequencies. Controls the width of the frequency band. The greater the Q value, the smaller the frequency band. Not used
lowshelf Standard second-order lowshelf filter. Frequencies lower than the frequency get a boost, or an attenuation; frequencies over it are unchanged. The upper limit of the frequencies getting a boost or an attenuation. Not used The boost, in dB, to be applied; if negative, it will be an attenuation.
highshelf Standard second-order highshelf filter. Frequencies higher than the frequency get a boost or an attenuation; frequencies lower than it are unchanged. The lower limit of the frequencies getting a boost or an attenuation. Not used The boost, in dB, to be applied; if negative, it will be an attenuation.
peaking Frequencies inside the range get a boost or an attenuation; frequencies outside it are unchanged. The middle of the frequency range getting a boost or an attenuation. Controls the width of the frequency band. The greater the Q value, the smaller the frequency band. The boost, in dB, to be applied; if negative, it will be an attenuation.
notch Standard notch filter, also called a band-stop or band-rejection filter. It is the opposite of a bandpass filter: frequencies outside the give range of frequencies pass through; frequencies inside it are attenuated. The center of the range of frequencies. Controls the width of the frequency band. The greater the Q value, the smaller the frequency band. Not used
allpass Standard second-order allpass filter. It lets all frequencies through, but changes the phase-relationship between the various frequencies. The frequency with the maximal group delay, that is, the frequency where the center of the phase transition occurs. Controls how sharp the transition is at the medium frequency. The larger this parameter is, the sharper and larger the transition will be. Not used

Methods

Inherits methods from its parent, AudioNode.

BiquadFilterNode.getFrequencyResponse()
From the current filter parameter settings this method calculates the frequency response for frequencies specified in the provided array of frequencies.

Example

The following example shows basic usage of an AudioContext to create a Biquad filter node. For a complete working example, check out our voice-change-o-matic demo (look at the source code too).

var audioCtx = new (window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext)();

//set up the different audio nodes we will use for the app
var analyser = audioCtx.createAnalyser();
var distortion = audioCtx.createWaveShaper();
var gainNode = audioCtx.createGain();
var biquadFilter = audioCtx.createBiquadFilter();
var convolver = audioCtx.createConvolver();

// connect the nodes together

source = audioCtx.createMediaStreamSource(stream);
source.connect(analyser);
analyser.connect(distortion);
distortion.connect(biquadFilter);
biquadFilter.connect(convolver);
convolver.connect(gainNode);
gainNode.connect(audioCtx.destination);

// Manipulate the Biquad filter

biquadFilter.type = "lowshelf";
biquadFilter.frequency.setValueAtTime(1000, audioCtx.currentTime);
biquadFilter.gain.setValueAtTime(25, audioCtx.currentTime);

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Audio API
The definition of 'BiquadFilterNode' in that specification.
Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
BiquadFilterNodeChrome Full support 14Edge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
BiquadFilterNode() constructorChrome Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes Before Chrome 59, the default values were not supported.
Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 53IE No support NoOpera Full support 42
Notes
Full support 42
Notes
Notes Before Opera 46, the default values were not supported.
Safari ? WebView Android Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes Before version 59, the default values were not supported.
Chrome Android Full support 55
Notes
Full support 55
Notes
Notes Before Chrome 59, the default values were not supported.
Firefox Android Full support 53Opera Android Full support 42
Notes
Full support 42
Notes
Notes Before Opera 46, the default values were not supported.
Safari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
Notes
Full support 6.0
Notes
Notes Before Samsung Internet 7.0, the default values were not supported.
QChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
detuneChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
frequencyChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
gainChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
getFrequencyResponseChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
typeChrome Full support 14Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 25IE No support NoOpera Full support 15Safari Full support 6WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 26Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also