The EQ Process

Hi to all. I was just wondering what all is involved in the EQ process, what it is, and what its good for. I also would love to know how to do it, what programs to use, and mainly, is it necessary? Is it tha same as "mastering">? Peace. -= R O M A N =-

so many uses that one could start a whole eq forum. An eq is a frequency range dependent amplifier. Its main two uses are shaping sounds & reducing problematic components of a sound. There are many different types of eq's the most popular in mixing studios are parametrics which allow you to set your frequency range.

The easiest eq trick is adding highs to your sound.
Mid range eqing involves a real good ear. Learn how to solo in on problematic or good frequencies to do this.

People tend to have different views when it comes to eq. Some people use it religiously while others try to use it as little as possible. Some people eq their drums some don't. Although I'm not a pro, I just eq a little and get fairly good results.

Eq is NOT mastering. Eq is only a small part of mastering. Mastering is a combination of multband compression/expanding, eqing, and editing.

Be careful when eqing bass frequencies. Eq really isn't good for bass frequencies unless you are reducing bass but if you are increasing bass this can get you into trouble. One of the main causes for muddy mixes is too much bass. Mastering get your bass sounding right but the best thing to do in the studio is listen to a CD that beats in a car while you are mixing and compare your track to that. This is what most professional engineers do. A good tool for shaping bass sounds is a multiband compressor.

a good trick is to turn the Q all the way down... this makes the frequency that you are effecting very small like a notch filter. anyhow, close the frequency with the Q, turn the gain all the way up , like 18 dB up, and then turn the frequency all the way up to like 20K. Now slowwly turn the freq. down and down sweeping the sound looking for the sounds fundamental tone. once you have found that tone, open up the q a bit, and either decrease below 0 and gain frequencies around it, or gain it depending on the sound you are looking for. every sound is different and once you do it for a while you will understand what freqeuncies you want and which ones you dont want depending on how they warble when you pass them while sweeping.

ryan

This is good info, so is this really like what an engineer does in a studio? Im getting ready to attend Full Sail Technical School here in the next 6 months (www.fullsail.com), and im going to be going for audio engineering. I love music production and engineering, but im mainly clueless to all the technical things they include. I mean i started making music in like middle school, and love me some oldies R&B, Funk...etc. So i am really trying to learn as much as possible before i start school, just to get ahead of myself, instead of walking in there brainless. Deffinitely check out that school website, and tell me what you guys think. I am always asking people's opinions about the school, and especially those with knowledge in the music field. Thanks... -= R O M A N =-

if you have a kick drum with a hi hat mixed in, you are better off eqing the high sounds out of the sound, giving a less "messed up" and tighter kick noise. if you crank up the bass to highlight the bass over the high, from my experience anyway, it will sound flabby.
also when sampling drums to your mpc from vynil, do not eq them through the mixer at all. this way if you want to add finishing touches later in the mix, you can.
i tend to avoid eqing because the whole point of mixes (on monitors) is to get a "natural" and acurate sound. you are trying to reproduce it as close to reality so peoples stereos can "funk" the sounds up later. This info has been gained only from messing with eqs on my monitors then realising that compression does a whole lot more for a sound, for me any way. read this sites info on compression, good stuff!
peace!

EQ is truly a necessity in any modern type of music. Tracking, mixing, mastering - it all involves eq. It takes years to not only understand frequencies, but to actually hear them as well.

Turn those knobs as often as possible, because familiarity with frequency range is gonna be the key to using eq. During the tracking process, I use eq to eliminate unwanted frequencies from going to tape/disk. If you're tracking live instruments, try to do natural eq with mic placement first. In mixing, I use eq to make individual tracks/sounds work together, and to put on that little extra juice that gets me paid. I use a lot sometimes, and little or none othertimes.

Compression and eq together is really the trick. I'll give up some more game in my DVD coming out this year. Look for it!

I engineer in a heavily active studio in philly. www.studiocrash.com, it is mostly jazz rock hip hop and r-b. All of the interns that came to train with me that went to full sail hadnt a clue of waht they were doing. it was really suprising, they even said they were the ones that didnt slack off, and worked hard at the shit. they saidt it was overcrowded and had to take classes at 4 in the morning ,full sail saying that is what the real world of engineering is all about. Anyhow, full sail is a over crowded money making scheme. i would be weary.

good EQ techniques are what makle a track tight, dont leave things flat, compression can also make you shit flat if you over compress. watch your gain reductions to make sure it is nt to extreme. with EQ what you need to do is "dig eq holes" and in those holes is where aother instruments sit. Giving each instrument its fundemental frequency range to sit. basically as the differnt instruments play, the different frequency spectrums dance. use the techniques i discussed above to find what frequencies you should dig out or which you should boost up. Dig with a low Q (short bandwidth) and boost with a wider one.

those pics are not of me

Hmmm...interesting
*taking detailed notes*

The schools are a good way to go only if you really apply yourself. Most of the students are people who really aren't cut out for this shiz. More important (at first, at least) than your ear is your ability to hang and stay focused for many hours. Most people can't work for 15 hours straight day after day...

My best friend, who attended Full Sail, just got back from the Grammy's where his work was nominated for 3 Grammys. He says that Full Sail, and similar institutions, is the first stage of the "filter" for engineers. Many students realize by the end of their course, that they're not going to succeed in the game. The next "filter" would be the major recording studios. Most don't make it past studio runner status. The next "filter" would be the transition from assistant engineer to freelance. Then, staying in the game as a freelancer.

I never went to any school. I've been absorbing sound my whole life, and I have an unrivaled passion for becoming the undisputed champion of sonic integrity. I've got about 8 million more credits than my buddy who went to Full Sail.

Keep in mind that most of the great producers in music are/were engineers.

i`ve been to sae couple of years ago, and i would`nt do it again. most of the private schools are primarily intended to make money, so they would have too much students, not enough gear and strange so called experts hanging around. i would not recommend institutes like that. also it is true, eq and comp are THE tricks, and you will only learn it by doing it for years using your ears. but i`m not an engineer, would never dare to call myself one. most truly working engineers do not consider it an asset if you been to a place like that, as far as i know. and, most of them are right, i think. peace.