What is EQ used for in mixing? (2023)

What does EQ do on a mixer?

Equalization – or EQ – is one of the most well-known forms of audio processing in music production. With EQ, you can adjust the volume level of a frequency (or range of frequencies) within a sound, which in turn allows you to cure a sound – or sometimes even entire songs – of its imperfections.

Many tools are available to us when mixing a track, but one of the most important is EQ. EQ can be used in all kinds of subtle (and not so subtle) ways, but at its most basic, it offers a highly effective way of cleaning up mix elements to help them sit together better.

EQ can help you improve the sound of your headphones with little effort. You can make the sound clearer in the spots you want by reducing or boosting some audio frequencies. Since EQ is adjustable, you can always alter the settings to get the best sound for what you're listening to.

A graphic equalizer (EQ) offers a simple solution: boost or cut (make louder or softer) a specific range of frequencies to improve sound quality.

Boosting vs Cutting EQ

If there is a frequency that sounds harsh on a particular track then we may want to cut that frequency. Alternatively, if a specific frequency range of your kick is masking the main tones of your bass, then you'll also want to cut it.

Try dialing in the 500 to 1,000Hz range. If you want to hear the sparkling highs of music across genres, you should focus your efforts on the 5,000 to 10,000Hz range. It may be tempting to crank up the decibel ranges you want, but sometimes, you need to use more finesse to get the best audio equalizer settings.

Bass exists between about 20Hz and 200Hz.

Every musical note corresponds with a frequency. If you want to maximize your bass-heavy music, you need to adjust your equalizer within the 20-200Hz range by boosting the decibels (dB) in that range.

600 Hz–3,000 Hz (Mids)—the range that humans can hear the best. The majority of the sound of vocals is here, so EQing this range represents the perfect equalizer settings to play with if you want to affect someone's voice. 3,000 Hz–8,000 Hz (Upper Mids)—most audiophiles handle this range with care.

Getting started with EQ

Set the centre, corner or cutoff frequency you want to adjust for a given band, then raise or lower the gain control to cut or boost the volume of that frequency and a range of frequencies adjacent to it, as determined by the bandwidth or 'Q' control.

Equalization is one of the primary weapons in the mastering arsenal, where it is used to add warmth, “air,” and tonal balance. EQ can also be used to correct problems like overly loud frequencies that pop out and overwhelm the rest of the mix.

Can you have too much EQ?

Too much EQ can make your vocal sound much worse. And once the vocal sounds worse, it's easy for that to turn into a vicious cycle. You start adding more and more EQs to “fix” the sound when the problem was too much EQ in the first place.

An equalizer is simply a tool that lets you adjust the volume of the individual frequencies within an audio source. Rather than a volume fader, which would allow us to adjust the overall volume, an equalizer allows us to just turn up or turn down individual frequencies and individual elements of that sound.

You should not EQ every track in your mix automatically. Each track should be listened to on its own merits, and if it requires some EQ to sit in the mix well, then apply some to that track. If a track sits well in the mix without any EQ, then do not apply any.

And it's a very important thing. You should mix in mono before you add any EQ, compression, or other plugins. And you should do this with every mix if you want an industry-standard track.

Insert an EQ plugin before the reverb plugin. It's important to insert this EQ before the reverb, because you want to tame frequencies that are hitting the reverb to begin with.

EQ is used in mixing to help reduce the effect of masking so that each instrument can be heard clearly. Remember: EQing doesn't create new frequencies. Think of EQing as sculpting… You're working with raw material—the existing frequencies of your sound.

However, the most common types of EQ used in music production are parametric, semi-parametric, dynamic, graphic, and shelving.

The different types of EQs in audio are as follows: Graphic EQ. Parametric EQ. Shelving EQ.

Key Frequency Ranges to EQ Bass

80 – 200 Hz: Fullness. Boosting here adds depth and body, solidifying a robust low end. 200 – 300 Hz: Muddiness loves to live in the 200 to 300 Hz range. If you find your bass guitar lacks clarity, try cutting frequencies in this range to clear things up.

Should treble be higher than bass?

The treble level should be set slightly higher than the bass, and should be increased until it sounds bright but not harsh. In the case of bass, frequencies can range from 150hertz to 150 oscillations per second. There are 'low' sounds that you can make when it is loud.

Bass frequencies are generally between 60 to 120 hertz, mids between 400 to 2,500 hertz, and treble between 8,000 to 15,000 hertz. EQs with more bands offer a finer division of frequency groups (i.e. 13 instead of 3 divisions of frequency). This provides greater control over your stereo's sound.

The one, indispensable tool you'll want for EQing vocals is a parametric equalizer. Since you found this article, I'm assuming you know your way around a DAW and know what that is (your recording software). The best DAWs will have a parametric EQ plugin. Find that and place it on your vocal track in the mixer.

An equalizer will alter the color of an audio signal. It could make vocals more articulate by boosting the treble frequency range. It could make a song sound “heavier” by boosting bass frequencies.

Each position, EQ pre (before) or EQ post (after) compression produces a distinctly different sound, a different tonal quality, and coloration. As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.

The knobs on your mixer will be labeled treble (high), midrange (mid) and bass (low). These represent the various ranges on the frequency spectrum: the high frequency sounds, the mid frequency sounds and the low frequency sounds. The low is normally going to affect the bass and maybe some of the kick drums.

An equalizer (EQ) is a type of filter that corrects for losses in the transmission of audio signals, making the output equal to the input, or making an otherwise inconsistent frequency response "flat," giving all frequencies equal energy.

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What are 3 things someone with a High EQ does?

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Self-knowledge: Being more aware of what you are feeling allows you to understand yourself more deeply. Self-control: Being aware of your emotions also allows you to develop your self-control abilities.

Adjust iPhone EQ

Go into Settings > Music > EQ and turn it on, then check out all of the new equaliser settings you can use. What you want is the Late Night setting, which jacks up the volume of quieter sounds, making the overall music louder. It's the easiest way to boost your music's loudness.

Equalization is pretty straight forward. Equalization simply affects the volume in dB of a specific frequency or range of frequencies.

Auto-Tune Vocal EQ is the world's first dynamic equalizer with built-in Auto-Tune Pitch Tracking technology!

In essence, EQ allows you to manipulate the tone or timbre of a sound, curing its imperfections and accentuating its good sides. The process of EQing starts with cutting unwanted frequencies and boosting those that sound good, all to balance sounds so that they mesh well with each other in the mix.

So long as EQ-ing does not increase distortion, degrade the soundstage, reduce clarity, or grossly exagerate frequency bands.. It can be done with very good results.

Generally speaking, EQ will not damage equipment, but volume can. When using EQ, it's easy to increase the volume of the mix as an unintended consequence. Adjusting the presence of a frequency will probably not damage speakers or headphones but making them unreasonably loud definitely can.

An EQ will adjust the balance in your audio signal that will allow you to boost or cut certain frequencies, essentially volume control for bass (lows), mids or treble (highs).