EQ is an essential part of mixing and mastering.
If you're wondering how to use an equalizer, stick around, this tutorial is all about what
everything does and how to use it.
Don't worry, I've got two different EQ plugins to show you how it all works,
just in case you have one that looks like this.
Or one that looks like this.
[EQ Tutorial (How To Use An Equalizer) - 2018]
Hey, everyone, Jake from Transverse Audio here.
Chances are, you'll need to throw an EQ at least somewhere in every project.
It can be a bit difficult to know what everything does and where to make your adjustments,
so let's take a look at all of typical parameters and options you might come up against.
First thing's first.
What does an EQ actually do?
Well, the basics of it all is that it gives you control over the frequency spectrum of audio
(well, at least for what humans can hear).
This usually goes from 20 to 20 thousand hertz.
To give you perspective, the kick and bass are down here, which is known as the low end
[Low-end example]
vocals and a lot of leading instruments are in the mid section
[Mid example],
high-hats and cymbals are up here in the high end.
[High-end example]
As you may have noticed, there isn't only one location where a sound will have frequencies present.
A large part of the spectrum can be taken up by even just a single sound.
By using this filter effect you can kind of shape how things will sound by boosting or
cutting specific parts of the spectrum that's played back by instruments and effects.
The main reason you'd want to use EQ is that it helps everything fit together and can prevent
conflicts in frequency.
These problems could be certain instruments competing for attention like bass and percussion,
[Competing frequency example (bass/percussion)]
or resonance.
Think of it as a part of the sound that is kind of boosted on its own and might sound unpleasant.
[Resonance example]
A good rule of thumb is that you want to cut (or reduce the magnitude frequencies),
more than you want to be boosting them.
Bands are used to modify specific regions of the spectrum.
You can position bands horizontally, which controls the frequency affected,
and vertically, which determines the decibel level of the change the band applies.
There are seven types of bands that you can use to determine the way each one handles
cutting and boosting and you'll typically be able to disable bands that you don't need.
Any type can be applied to any band and nothing's stopping you from putting the same type on every band.
A Low Pass (also known as a high cut) is used to let the low frequencies pass through the filter
while rolling off the higher ones completely.
A High Pass filter (also known as a low cut) is used to do the opposite,
which rolls off the lower frequencies and applies the downward curve to the left side
of the band instead of the right on a low pass.
This curve here determines the decibel level at each given point.
A Band Pass only affects a specific band of frequencies.
This is like having a high and low pass, built into one band.
A Band Stop is an inverted band pass, only cutting a band of frequencies instead.
Low Shelf curves are used to increase or decrease the level of all frequencies
to the left of the band, which is where the low frequencies are.
A High Shelf does the opposite, again making a shelf to the right
either up or down.
The last band type is Peaking and is a very common type to use.
This can apply subtle changes to parts of the spectrum.
The name to all of these band types are quite self-descriptive.
Now, I want to go over a few techniques that you can apply when using your EQ.
The first is that it's important to roll off frequencies below 20 or 30 hertz on your master channel
if you expect it to be played at a venue that requires powerful speakers to reach the audience.
The reason for this is that frequencies below this level tend to be less audible and more physical.
This is where the bass just starts to shake everything up and can cause the low end to
sound muddy (which means lower frequencies start to blend together and sound less defined.)
Another tip is more of a mistake to avoid.
Don't fall into the trap of ONLY using your eyes to determine where to place a boost or a cut.
[Example only EQing visually]
Listen to how it sounds.
[Example of Equalizing a small track by listening]
It's also important to EQ while everything is played, rather than always just making
adjustments while soloing the sound.
You can definitely adjust frequencies while isolating the sound, it's just a good idea
to do most of it while everything is playing.
This will give you a good perspective of how everything will sound to the listener.
[Example of Equalizing a small track by listening]
And the key is to actually not change how it sounds that much.
Pay attention to where it starts to alter the sound,
around there is a safe place to start making cuts especially.
[Example of Equalizing a small track by listening]
Now, what I'm doing here is making over exaggerated boosts to help me hear any frequencies
that may cause problems (like resonance).
Then, I can apply a subtle change to trim it out a bit, all while being careful
not to destroy the original sound.
There are no hard and fast rules for this, but overall, it's good to make careful and
subtle changes with equalization.
Don't forget that all of this is simply raising or lowering the decibel level
of specific frequencies
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