This guide aims to give you a better understanding of the different types and uses of equalizers used in music production as well as offers some basic EQing tips to maximize your music.
During the course of a project, mixing and equalization are often one of the most important processes that can ultimately make or break your tune. Proper EQing is essential to add clarity and depth to your music, balance elements in a mix, and enhance sounds. Equalization is commonly used in music production to boost or cut specific frequency ranges to create depth and space in a mix, improve or emphasize the sound of particular elements, isolate or remove specific frequencies, and fix sounds with competing frequency ranges to achieve clarity. Equalization is critical for creating a polished track and a professional sound.
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Equalizers Explained
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There are multiple types of equalizers, but the most common equalizers in music production are parametric, graphic, and shelving equalizers.
Shelving Equalizer
This type of equalizer is the most basic out of the three types and is commonly found in nearly all sound mixers and amplifiers. Shelving equalizers allow for cutting or boosting of the signal at fixed frequency ranges and often have predetermined filter curves. There are two different varieties: high-pass and low-pass. Low-pass shelving filters attenuate all frequencies above a specified cutoff frequency while retaining all the frequencies below the cutoff frequency. A high-pass filter does the opposite, by allowing all frequencies above the specified cutoff frequency to pass while attenuating everything below. The fixed frequency ranges for the low-shelf filter may begin to roll off around 150 Hz and below, while the high-shelf filter may begin to roll off around 10,000 Hz and above. Typically, shelving equalizers have ‘Low’ and ‘High’ knobs, and sometimes a ‘Mid’ knob for adjusting the midpoint frequencies. Analog shelving equalizers are great for adding color to your sounds in a musical way that enhances a sound. This is sometimes referred to as ‘sweetening.’
Graphic Equalizer
Graphic equalizers give you the ability to adjust a range of frequencies using a bank of slider controls that are evenly spaced to boost or attenuate the signal through the audio spectrum from around 20 Hz up to 20,000 kHz. Basic graphic equalizers will have two or three bands, while more advanced graphic equalizers can have up to 30 or more bands. Graphic equalizers with narrower bandwidths have greater precision and are generally used to fine-tune the overall mix. They are not as effective when mixing because there is no control over the filter shape, steepness of the filter shape, and bandwidth of each individual band. Yes, more sliders provide more accuracy, but for optimum control, a parametric equalizer is recommended. When working with a graphic equalizer, it’s better to make small, incremental adjustments over a wider spectrum to round out your final mix rather than making drastic adjustments to any particular frequency bands. Academic presenter for mac.
Parametric Equalizer
Parametric Equalizer
Parametric equalizers are the most common and flexible form of equalization. This multiband equalizer has fully configurable and adjustable frequency bands that can be individually enabled or disabled to cut, boost, and filter individual frequency ranges with the highest precision. Acer emachines e627 drivers download. Parametric equalizers are typically digital and offer the highest possible sound quality. This type of equalizer is often used to shape a sound precisely at each defined frequency and is recommended for doing any surgical work like cutting harsh or unpleasant frequencies.
Common parameters found on a parametric equalizer include:
- Frequency: Adjusts the frequency range for each selected band.
- Gain: Sets the level of the selected band. This parameter is often deactivated when the low-pass or high-pass filter shape is selected.
- Resonance or ‘Q’: Controls the bandwidth by allowing you to widen or narrow the selected frequency band.
- Filter Slope: Sets the steepness of the filter when either the low-pass or high-pass filter is selected.
- Filter Type: Allows you to choose the filter shape for the selected frequency band.
Common Filter Types
Understanding the different filter types and knowing how they change the signal is also key knowledge when treating sounds. Below are some common filter types used to shape your sounds.
Low-pass: Removes frequencies above the selected frequency cutoff and passes everything below.
Low Shelf: Passes all frequencies, but attenuates or boosts frequencies below the shelf frequency band by specified amount.
Bell Curve: Attenuates or boosts frequencies over a determined range. Bell curves can be wide or narrow.
Notch: Attenuates frequencies over a determined range allowing low and high frequencies to pass on either side of the cutoff. Also referred to as a band-rejection filter.
Band-pass: Passes frequencies within a certain range and removes frequencies outside that range.
High Shelf: Passes all frequencies, but attenuates or boosts frequencies above the shelf frequency band by specified amount.
High-pass: Removes frequencies below the selected frequency cutoff and passes everything above.
General EQ Tips and Techniques
To further explain equalization, we will use Ableton Live’s ‘EQ Eight’ device to show some basic EQing techniques and explore some common features found on most EQ plugins. These tips apply to any DAW program or parametric equalizer.
The goal when using an equalizer is to either boost, cut or attenuate certain audio frequencies of sounds to give them depth and space in a mix, emphasize certain characteristics of sounds so they cut through the mix better, isolate or remove specific frequencies, and reduce muddiness with competing frequency ranges to achieve clarity.
Cut Unwanted Frequencies
A great way to begin EQing sounds, so they sit better in the mix is to first remove any unnecessary frequencies using either a low-pass or high-pass filter. For example, high-hats usually sit higher in the frequency spectrum but may produce unnecessary low frequencies that can be removed using a high-pass filter. This approach will clean up the sound and help the high-hats cut through the mix better. Using a similar technique, you could use a low-pass filter to remove any unnecessary high frequencies from your bass, which will open up space and allow a lead sound that has higher frequency content to cut through the mix better.
Subtractive EQ
Subtractive EQing is an equalization technique where you reduce frequencies instead of boosting them to allow a sound stand out better in the mix. Give subtractive EQing a try and you may find out that less is more. Often, many of us want to boost frequencies to emphasize certain characteristics of sounds so they cut through the mix. This is fine, but sometimes reducing frequencies is better than adding them. For example, say you have a high lead synth and a low lead synth playing together, and at the moment it’s hard to distinguish them apart. One option could be to boost the high frequencies of the high lead synth to make it stand out more. This would work, but there is also another option. Try instead adding a high-shelf filter to the low lead synth to cut away some high frequencies, which will make the high frequencies of the high lead synth seem brighter. The high lead synth will also retain a more natural and realistic sound compared to boosting it.
In addition, if you tend to boost a lot of frequencies then the end result will leave you with a lot of competing frequencies, which will ultimately muddy up the mix or create a more sharp and thinner sound. Avoid the temptation to boost the same frequencies on every instrument or track as well because those frequencies will collectively overwhelm the mix and once again muddy things up. Using subtractive EQing will help give your mix added clarity and separation, allowing individual sounds to be heard clearly. This technique may be a bit more tedious, but the end result will leave you with a warmer, more natural mix.
Mixing in Context
A common mistake that can be hard to break, and what I still do at times, is to EQ instruments or tracks separately in isolation to make them sound as awesome as possible. Although this might make an instrument sound great while soloed, it may sound like rubbish once the other elements of the mix are brought into play. It’s recommended to make EQ moves in context of a mix because that’s where things need to sound good, right? It’s important to use the solo button sparingly and make your EQ adjustments while all your tracks are playing at the same time to get your sounds sitting in the mix properly.
Up Front or Back Seat
Equalization is also great for achieving depth. For example, boosting high frequencies bring sounds forward in the mix and makes them sound more present. Reducing high frequencies has the opposite effect and makes sounds seem further back in the mix and more distant. Boosting low frequencies has a different effect and can make sounds warmer or more full while reducing too many low frequencies can make a sound thin, shrill or less powerful.
Sound Separation
When writing a tune, try to remember to give everything it’s own place in the mix. Try EQing every instrument with slightly different frequency ranges to give them separation so that they won’t clash with each other. As a whole, this will help your mix have clarity and sound full across the frequency spectrum.
However, giving instruments their own space in the mix can be accomplished with little or no EQing. Try instead, panning instruments to improve clarity. Having too many instruments in the same panning location can create conflicting frequencies as well. In addition, try using a plugin such as Ableton Live’s Utility device to widen or narrow the stereo width of an instrument to give the sound it’s own place in the mix.
Fixing Unpleasant Frequencies
At times you may hear a sound with some unpleasant frequencies that you’re not sure how to eliminate. Well, one easy method to fix problem frequencies is to find the parts of a sound that need to be removed by using a parametric EQ. Try boosting the gain way up on one band with a narrow ‘Q’ and then using the frequency knob to ‘sweep’ across the frequency spectrum until the problem sound becomes prominent. The unpleasant elements should really stand out because the gain is so high. When you find the frequency where the problem is at it’s worst, reduce the gain to cut that frequency and adjust the ‘Q’ until you have happily removed the problem.
Boost Wide and Cut Narrow
When EQing it’s more often better to make subtle moves to avoid diminishing a sound. When cutting frequencies, try to make narrow cuts by increasing the ‘Q’ instead of having wide cuts. Wider cuts will remove too many frequencies and ultimately make a sound dull or weak. When boosting frequencies, try using a wider ‘Q’ while increasing the ‘Gain’ slightly to achieve more natural results. Narrow boosts sound more harsh and unnatural. Also, you could run into problems with high spikes in the overall mix signal.
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It is also ok to use several equalizers in a chain to reach your desired results. In addition, using multiple equalizers will spread out the workload. You could even use different types of equalizers that each color the sound differently to achieve a more enhanced sound.
Lend an Ear
Lend a helping ear to your buddy. Getting a second opinion on your mixing and EQing from someone that isn’t too close to the project helps tremendously.
Conclusion
Applying this basic knowledge to proper EQing is important for today’s music production process. It can be used to correct problems, improve sounds, allow elements to have their own space in the mix, or in a more creative manner, allow you to shape sounds in a less natural, but in a musically creative way. Use these tips as needed, but whatever you do, try not to get into the habit of thinking that radical amounts of EQing will help fix an imperfect sound during the mixing stage.
EQ Frequency Chart
Future Music has created a useful EQ frequency chart which should give you a rough idea about the frequency ranges for different sounds. Keep in mind that EQ moves will vary depending on the sounds you’re using and most importantly your ears!
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Movie junkies are in for a fun ride this month with the Avengers Endgame release and A Game of Thrones coming towards its epic end. When’s a better time than now to set up your own home theater? Even if you already have one, revamping it with the best graphic equalizer will give you the theater feel at home!
A home audio system is incomplete without a graphic equalizer. Not only does it maximize your audio experience, but it also allows you to adjust the frequencies for different channels according to your preferences. Which brand to choose to make a perfect purchase, though?
Best Graphic Equalizer Reviews
In this article, we’ve rounded up the three graphic equalizers that we liked best to help you make your choice.
1. EMB EB831EQ Graphic Equalizer
This is the latest model in EMB’s range of premium-quality graphic equalizers. EMB produces the best equalizers for professional use. You can use it to pump up your indoor party or your personal home theater.
Features
- Sleek Appearance
Overall, this model gives a sleek, professional look. The compact, sturdy construction will fit easily in your system and complement other components.
In addition, you don’t have to worry about making extra space for it. 5409 new idea disc mower repair manual. Measuring only 21 inches, it will easily pair up with a home theater or sound system to give your audio quality a boost.
- Professional Operation
Operating this graphic equalizer is very easy. You can control the input with rotating controls at the front, and this will help you change the settings on the basic audio system.
Apart from that, it has a state-of-the-art noise reduction system. This means that the circuit will omit any background sounds to make sure your audio is crystal clear.
In addition, it has a frequency cut filter that ranges up to 40Hz. With this control, you can adjust the different frequencies on different audios individually. Also, you can access its built-in limiter, which sets a certain threshold for the adjustment range so that the audio won’t go beyond that limit to distort the original sound or harm your hearing.
- Accessibility
The best part about this model is that it’s easy to set up and use. It has two ¼-inch USB sockets in the front and two at the back. This means that you can just plug in any device that is USB-compatible and regulate your audio system.
Also, multiple sockets mean multiple devices. This graphic equalizer allows you to connect more than one device at a time to achieve clear, high-quality audio for everyone at home.
Pros
- Includes woofers and subwoofers
- Amazing bass
- LED light equalizers light up when in use
Cons
- Uses a lot of power
- The fans are too loud at times
2. Rockville REQ231 Graphic Equalizer
Rockville is another well-known brand when it comes to high-quality graphic equalizers. This graphic equalizer from Rockville has all the features you need to complete your home theater set up. Let’s take a closer look.
Features
- Simple Yet Professional Look
This lightweight Rockville model will revamp your home theater in the most aesthetic and productive way. In addition, it sports a dual-channel equalizer system. With each channel, you will get 31 bands, maximizing your audio integration to the optimum level.
- Easy Operation
Easy operation is one of this equalizer’s best traits. Firstly, it has a crossover switch equipped with LED lights. This filter switch helps omit the disturbances and distortions from mics and other audio generating devices.
Secondly, It has a bypass switch also adorned with LED lights for level notifications. This switch helps you double-check the sound systems before you’re ready to go.
- Accessibility
To maintain the perfect audio frequency, you will need to check the level regularly. This model is equipped with sub output and sub input controls to give you leverage over the frequency, so you can set it to your preference.
Also, you can select whether you want to cut or boost a certain clip according to your needs through its 6dB to 12dB selectors.
Pros
- 600 ohms output impendence
- Subwoofers output
- Q filters
- High equalization range
- Less noise distortion
Cons
- Cannot be used to convert or combine to stereo input
- Creates a slight buzz during operation
3. Behringer MiniFBQ FBQ800 Graphic Equalizer
This Behringer model has all it takes to be the best graphic equalizer. Its amazing features will work together effectively to balance out sound levels to give you a flawless audio experience.
Features
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- Stylish Appearance
This compact, stylish model is the addition you need to make your sound system perfect. It will easily fit into the trickiest spaces and won’t look bulky at all.
In addition, the flashy LED light controls give an illuminated touch to the overall design. The illuminated faders, potentiometers, and switches emit indicator lights when you operate them, making your sound system come to life.
- Beginner-friendly Operation
If you’re a beginner, this equalizer is the one for you. The setup and operating system are easy. To balance out every aspect of your sound, you need to pay attention to the bass, frequency, and any background disruptions. In this device, the equalizer does that for you.
Once it’s connected to your desired device, the lights will show you how much you need to regulate the switches and sliders until you’re at the optimum level. This means that you don’t have to be an expert in order to create the perfect audio through this device.
- Accessibility
Moreover, this model features a Feedback Detection Technology. This points out the critical problems in the frequency levels and analyzes the audio in order to omit them.
Also, it sports a low-cut filter system. This filters out the extra background noise that distorts the original audio, producing clear, audible sounds.
Apart from that, the sliders can help you work your magic in almost any way. You can increase or decrease the bass, balance the mix and the vocals, and regulate the frequency with a flick of a finger.
Pros
- RCA inputs and outputs
- Low noise operation
- Nine bands
- 9.5-inch compact body
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Cons
- Comes with a silver front only
- Frequent usage may wear the sliders out
Our Pick
All of the abovementioned products show great potential through their features and specifications, but which one is our top choice? The one that ticks all the boxes and comes at a reasonable price is the Rockville model.
Not only does the REQ231 has LED notification systems on the controls, but it comes with the highest amount of bands as well. Also, you can operate multiple channels through one device. This makes it stand out from its counterparts.