diff --git a/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.cpp b/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.cpp
index e04f3287c..b0875d98b 100644
--- a/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.cpp
+++ b/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::setBandOnOff (int band, bool
 }
 
 template <typename FloatType, size_t numBands, typename EQBandType>
-void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::prepare (const juce::dsp::ProcessSpec& spec)
+void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::prepare (const juce::dsp::ProcessSpec& spec, bool useInternalArena)
 {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < numBands; ++i)
     {
@@ -55,10 +55,11 @@ void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::prepare (const juce::dsp::Pro
     }
 
     const auto paddedChannelSize = Math::round_to_next_multiple (static_cast<size_t> (spec.maximumBlockSize), SIMDUtils::defaultSIMDAlignment);
-    const auto requiredMemoryBytes = paddedChannelSize * sizeof (FloatType) * 3 // per-band smoothed values
-                                     + paddedChannelSize * spec.numChannels * sizeof (FloatType) * 2 // per-band fade and bypass buffers
-                                     + 32; // extra padding
-    arena.reset (requiredMemoryBytes);
+    requiredMemoryBytes = paddedChannelSize * sizeof (FloatType) * 3 // per-band smoothed values
+                          + paddedChannelSize * spec.numChannels * sizeof (FloatType) * 2; // per-band fade and bypass buffers
+
+    if (useInternalArena)
+        internalArena.reset (requiredMemoryBytes + 32);
 }
 
 template <typename FloatType, size_t numBands, typename EQBandType>
@@ -70,6 +71,12 @@ void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::reset()
 
 template <typename FloatType, size_t numBands, typename EQBandType>
 void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::processBlock (const BufferView<FloatType>& block) noexcept
+{
+    processBlock (block, internalArena);
+}
+
+template <typename FloatType, size_t numBands, typename EQBandType>
+void EQProcessor<FloatType, numBands, EQBandType>::processBlock (const BufferView<FloatType>& block, ArenaAllocatorView arena) noexcept
 {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < numBands; ++i)
     {
diff --git a/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.h b/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.h
index a2605a3ee..3afa46558 100644
--- a/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.h
+++ b/modules/dsp/chowdsp_eq/EQ/chowdsp_EQProcessor.h
@@ -51,20 +51,32 @@ class EQProcessor
     void setBandOnOff (int band, bool shouldBeOn);
 
     /** Prepares the EQ to process a new stream of audio */
-    void prepare (const juce::dsp::ProcessSpec& spec);
+    void prepare (const juce::dsp::ProcessSpec& spec, bool useInternalArena = true);
 
     /** Resets the EQ state */
     void reset();
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the maximum amount of memory needed by the EQ processor in bytes
+     * If using the EQ with it's internal arena, then this memory will already be
+     * allocated, otherwise it is the user's responsibility to allocate this amount
+     * of memory ahead of time.
+     */
+    [[nodiscard]] size_t getRequiredMemoryBytes() const noexcept { return requiredMemoryBytes; }
+
     /** Processes an audio block */
     void processBlock (const BufferView<FloatType>& block) noexcept;
 
+    /** Processes an audio block */
+    void processBlock (const BufferView<FloatType>& block, ArenaAllocatorView arena) noexcept;
+
 private:
     std::array<EQBandType, numBands> bands;
     std::array<BypassProcessor<FloatType>, numBands> bypasses;
     std::array<bool, numBands> onOffs = { false };
 
-    ArenaAllocator<> arena;
+    size_t requiredMemoryBytes = 0;
+    ArenaAllocator<> internalArena;
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (EQProcessor)
 };