Nov
1
Written by:
masterblogger
11/1/2011 12:43 PM
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Each audio channel in Steinberg Cubase 6 includes four bands of EQ, and each band can have any of eight possible responses.
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From everything I’ve
heard, equalization
is crucial to getting a
good mix, and I want
to become more
proficient at using
it. But what with the
different responses
(shelving, notch,
bandpass, etc.),
and even different
categories like
“character” EQ vs.
“surgical” EQ, I could
use some help sorting
this all out.
TOMMY BEHR
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
VIA EMAIL
Check out the
screenshot at right for
a whirlwind tour. A
shelving response (1)
drops the response at
a particular frequency,
but then the response
flattens out again.
This provides a gentle
overall emphasis
(or in this case, deemphasis)
of the bass
and/or treble ranges.
The peak/dip (also
called bandpass/notch) response
fixes problems in
specific frequency
ranges, like reducing
a resonance with a
dip (2), or improving
intelligibility of a
muffled vocal with
a moderate boost at
3.5kHz (3). A peak
or dip’s Q setting
determines the range
it covers—(2) shows
a high Q for a narrow
dip, while (3) shows
a low Q for a broad
boost.
A lowpass filter
(4) reduces response
more as the frequency
increases, which can
help remove hiss or
excessive brightness; a
highpass filter works in
the opposite manner,
reducing response
more as the frequency
decreases—great for
attenuating room
rumble or subsonics.
“Character” EQ
refers to a response
like that of the classic
Pultec hardware
equalizer, which
imparted a unique
character that was
more about a gentle
tonal change than
extreme technical
accuracy. “Surgical”
EQ generally means
highly precise EQ
intended primarily
to solve particular
frequency response
problems. You
might also see the
term “phase-linear”
EQ, which means
there’s no phase shift
between the input
and output, as was
often present in older
analog gear.
To translate this
theory into practice,
tweak, listen, tweak,
listen, then tweak and
listen some more . . .
before too long, you’ll
learn how EQ affects
the sound, and know
which type of EQ is
optimal for particular
situations.
The Editors
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