

Now, none of us will actually be able to hear 20 kilohertz. Then on the right we’ve got 20,000 hertz, or 20 kilohertz. We go from left to right, and we start with 20 hertz. You could use an EQ chart for this, but let’s just take a look at an EQ plugin instead… How to Use an Equalizer by Learning the Frequency Spectrumīefore you can truly learn how to use EQ, you need to understand the frequency spectrum. In the recording phase, you decide what tone you want, and then you use EQ to scope that and make small changes to take it further towards your end goal.

All you can do is work with what’s already there. Now, it’s important to bear in mind that you can’t completely change the sound of an instrument with EQ alone. That’s what gives an instrument its tone or its character, its timbre, and that’s why a bass guitar, for example, sounds different to an organ.īy adjusting these frequencies, by cutting certain frequencies or boosting others, we can adjust that tone and change the timbre of the instrument. As well as that fundamental note, it has overtones. 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.Įvery instrument has a fundamental note. So, I'm gonna open up the EQ by choosing Effect + Equalization.So, what is EQing? An equalizer is simply a tool that lets you adjust the volume of the individual frequencies within an audio source. Simply increasing it's volume isn't going to increase the snap of the drum, just it's amplitude. (drum beat) So, the snare drum sounds okay, but it doesn't have a lot of punch. I've opened up the file called snare drum.wav and let's take a listen to it. So, let's take a look at a couple of examples of ways you can use an EQ. EQ effects are often also referred to as filters, because they filter specific frequencies relative to the rest of the signal. You can boost the low levels to get more bass, or cut the high end back if your recording sounds too trebely. EQs allow you to get fine grain control over a very specific range of frequencies. Equalizers, or EQs, allow you to filter your audio to emphasize or de-emphasize various frequencies across your recording. Probably one of the most useful tools in your aresenal for improving the sound of your recordings is the equalization effect.
