Alright, let's get started with the equalizer (EQ). The EQ can be used to accentuate or limit certain aspects of a sound. But before we talk about the different buttons on an EQ plugin, I want to make sure we understand what sound really is.
Sound
This might get a little boring, but honestly, I think it's really cool! Sound is created when an object, such as a guitar string or the head of a snare drum, moves. This movement creates waves in the air, which you can see in front of you as ripples in the water, for example. These waves are mathematically described as sine waves. So actually every sound is a combination of sine waves (this really blew my mind, haha).
When the waves reach our ears, we convert them into sound in our brains, so we can perceive it. So, in a nutshell, the process begins with the physical movement of an object, continues to create waves, and ends with our brains interpreting these waves as sound.
The Equalizer
Okay, so now let's take a look at a (graphical) EQ plugin. On the horizontal axis, we see all frequencies, the lowest frequency we can hear is about 20Hz, and these sound waves are about 17 meters long. Not everyone can hear frequencies that low, but you can probably feel them! The highest frequency on most EQs is about 20kHz, which is maybe 1,5 cm and also very hard to hear. On the vertical axis, we can read the DB, the centre line is neutral (0db), and the higher we go, the louder the frequency becomes.
Now we might know how an EQ works, but how do we use it? A lot of people online have made images of graphical EQs with different words written next to each frequency, these images are incredibly useful but also a little dangerous. For instance, I saw one image describing 40hz as "unwanted", which might be the case some of the time, but if I remove all the 40hz in my mix, I'll probably miss quite some power. So the thing that I recommend doing is making your own EQ sheet and describing different frequencies with your own language and associations.
6 steps to your own EQ sheet:
First, let's start with an empty sheet of paper, make sure to write on something that you can keep close by when mixing.
Now download three of your favourite tunes, make sure you've listened to these tracks a lot and make sure they differ a bit in style. Load them into your DAW and put a neutral graphical EQ on the master track. I'd go for the songs below, but those probably won't work for you, since these are very specific to me and my taste in music.
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
When the sun goes down - Arctic Monkeys
The Veldt - Deadmau5
Now we're going to remove 10 DB of 100Hz with a broad Q, and ask what vibes and emotions come to mind when that frequency is removed. For instance, I might feel that the body of the track changes, someone once said the track feels way more floaty when the bottom is removed. Write down your own associations!
Now let's add that same frequency and ask yourself the same question. "I suddenly feel like I'm standing outside ofa dance part". Let's write that down!
Now remove the 2 steps above for the following frequencies:
300Hz
800Hz
2kHz
5kHz
Next time you're working on a mix, listen to certain aspects of the arrangement and think of your own EQ associations, use those as a starting point and don't start EQ'ing before making a plan as to how to use the equalizer.
EZPZ right? I think the biggest problem a lot of people have with using EQ is using it without purpose, so make sure you're not one of those people, think before turning knobs!
Next week I'll talk about another power tool, probably compression, but I might surprise myself ;)