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Basic EQ Theory In professional audio applications such as live sound and studio sound we use equalizers to solve problems. That's all an EQ is - a problem solver. It's not a bass booster. In every frequency band there is noise. There is low frequency noise, mid-range, and high frequency noise too. If you go around boosting everything, you are also boosting all the associated noise in that frequency band. The general rule with EQ's is CUT - DON'T BOOST. Find the frequencies that sound bad, and cut them to clean the sound up. This is a much more professional approach than finding the good stuff that you like, and boosting it. The effect is the same, but your mix will be cleaner with this approach. It may not seem like much to boost a little here and there, but it's a little bit of noise. If you multiply a little bit of noise by 24 channels it's a big problem. If you have sweepable EQ's on your channel strips on your mixing board, listen to the channel, turn the boost knob up and sweep the frequency knob from low to high. Find the frequency range that sounds like absolute crap! Then cut some of it out. Be careful not to cut too much of it out or it will sound unnatural. Now if you need more volume, then turn up the volume, but don't go boosting frequencies. Just like boosting a little on each channel can add a lot of noise to your mix, cutting a little on each channel can remove a lot of noise from your mix. Just don't cut too much. It should still sound natural - only cleaner. |
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