Recommendations on using Equalizers
An overview of frequencies and examples for possible processing
(Here we provide approximate values which may expand to adjacent areas)
50 Hz – cut: | Reduces boominess in all lower instruments (basses, kick drums, toms) |
| whose function also implicitly increases the relative level of harmonics |
| and improves the presence of bass lines. |
50 Hz – boost: | Fuller sonic qualities for all lower frequency instruments. |
100 Hz - cut: | Limits boominess, greatly increased guitar clarity and limits sustain with |
| Toms. |
100 Hz – boost: | Firmer bass sound for all low frequency instruments, adds more warmth to |
| piano and horns. |
200 Hz – cut: | Less muddiness with voices and middle instruments, while helping to elim- |
| inate the “gong” resonance with cymbals. |
200 Hz – boost: | Fuller sound for voices, snare drums and guitars. |
400 Hz – cut: | Limits hollower sound qualities in lower drums. |
400 Hz – boost: | Clearer bass lines. |
800 Hz – cut: | Diminishes the “cheap” sound of some guitars. |
800 Hz – boost: | Noticeably clearer, punchier bass lines. |
1.5 kHz – cut: | Reduces an uninteresting sound in guitar tracks. |
1.5 kHz – boost: | Clearer, cleaner basses. |
3 kHz – cut: | Hides badly tuned guitars or other problems with poor intonation. |
3 kHz – boost: | Better bass guitar attacks, more attack with electric and acoustic guitars, |
| snares and other percussion as well as lower piano parts, more voice |
| clarity. |
5 kHz – cut: | Softens thinner or tiny sounding guitars. |
5 kHz – boost: | Improves voice presence and brightens guitars, gives more attack to low |
| frequency drums, piano, and acoustic guitars. |
7 kHz – cut: | Reduces sibilants. |
7 kHz – boost: | Provides more attack with percussive instruments. |
10 kHz – cut: | Also reduces sibilants. |
10 kHz – boost: | Brightens voices, similarly brightens guitar, piano and harder cymbals. |
15 kHz: | Boosts in this range brighten most sounds, but be careful with hidden |
| dangers such as emphasizing noise, hiss and/or creating excessive sibi- |
| lance. The rule always applies: Before reaching for the knob to boost |
| levels, first try cutting frequencies elsewhere for accentuations. |
Passeq | 19 |
