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2/22/2014 The Ultimate EQ Guide

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07-10-2008, 06:56 PM #
JackRobinSon
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The Ultimate EQ Guide
Please Note - The values below are merely guides, each mix is unique and individual so
experimentation is advised.
Low Bass: anything less than 50Hz
This range is often known as the sub bass and is most commonly taken up by the lowest part
of the kick drum and bass guitar, although at these frequencies it's almost impossible to
determine any pitch. Sub bass is one of the reasons why 12" vinyl became available: low
frequencies require wider grooves than high frequencies - without rolling off everything below
50Hz you couldn't fit a full track onto a 7" vinyl record. However we do NOT recommend
applying any form of boost around this area without the use of very high quality studio
monitors (not home monitors - there is a vast difference between home nearfield and studio
farfield monitors costing anywhere between 5,000 and 20,000). Boosting blindly in this area
without a valid reference point can and will permanently damage most speakers, even PA
systems. You have been warned!
Bass: 50-250Hz
This is the range you're adjusting when applying the bass boost on most home stereos,
although most bass signals in modern music tracks lie around the 90-200Hz area with a small
boost in the upper ranges to add some presence or clarity.
Muddiness/irritational area: 200-800Hz
The main culprit area for muddy sounding mixes, hence the term 'irritational area'. Most
frequencies around here can cause psycho-acoustic problems: if too many sounds in a mix are
dominating this area, a track can quickly become annoying, resulting in a rush to finish mixing
it as you get bored or irritated by the sound of it.
Mid-range: 800-6kHz
Human hearing is extremely sensitive at these frequencies, and even a minute boost around
here will result in a huge change in the sound - almost the same as if you boosted around
10db at any other range. This is because our voices are centred in this area, so it's the
frequency range we hear more than any other. Most telephones work at 3kHz, because at this
frequency speech is most intelligible. This frequency also covers TV stations, radio, and electric
power tools. If you have to apply any boosting in this area, be very cautious, especially on
vocals. We're particularly sensitive to how the human voice sounds and its frequency
coverage.
High Range: 6-8kHz
This is the range you adjust when applying the treble boost on your home stereo. This area is
slightly boosted to make sounds artificially brighter (although this artificial boost is what we
now call 'lifelike') when mastering a track before burning it to CD.
Hi-High Range: 8-20kHz
This area is taken up by the higher frequencies of cymbals and hi-hats, but boosting around
this range, particularly around 12kHz can make a recording sound more high quality than it
actually is, and it's a technique commonly used by the recording industry to fool people into
thinking that certain CDs are more hi-fidelity than they'd otherwise sound. However, boosting
in this area also requires a lot of care - it can easily pronounce any background hiss, and using
too much will result in a mix becoming irritating.
----------------------
Kick Drum
Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. Try a small boost around 5-7kHz to
add some high end.
50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom to the sound
100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area
5-8kHz ~ Adds high end prescence
8-12kHz ~ Adds Hiss
Snare
Try a small boost around 60-120Hz if the sound is a little too wimpy. Try boosting around 6kHz
for that 'snappy' sound.
2/22/2014 The Ultimate EQ Guide
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100-250Hz ~ Fills out the sound
6-8kHz ~ Adds prescence
Hi hats or cymbals
Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. To add some brightness try a small
boost around 3kHz.
250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness
Bass
Try boosting around 60Hz to add more body. Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around
300Hz.If more presence is needed, boost around 6kHz.
50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom end
100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area
800-1kHz ~ Adds beef to small speakers
1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
6-8kHz ~ Adds high-end presence
8-12kHz ~ Adds hiss
Vocals
This is a difficult one, as it depends on the mic used to record the vocal. However...Apply either
cut or boost around 300hz, depending on the mic and song.Apply a very small boost around
6kHz to add some clarity.
100-250Hz ~ Adds 'up-frontness'
250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
6-8kHz ~ Adds sibilance and clarity
8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness
Piano
Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. Apply a very small boost around
6kHz to add some clarity.
50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom
100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness
250-1kHz ~ Muddiness area
1-6kHz ~ Adds presence
6-8Khz ~ Adds clarity
8-12kHz ~ Adds hiss
Electric guitars
Again this depends on the mix and the recording. Apply either cut or boost around 300hz,
depending on the song and sound. Try boosting around 3kHz to add some edge to the sound,
or cut to add some transparency. Try boosting around 6kHz to add presence. Try boosting
around 10kHz to add brightness.
100-250Hz ~ Adds body
250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
1-6Khz ~ Cuts through the mix
6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
8=12kHz ~ Adds hiss
Acoustic guitar
Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off between 100-300Hz. Apply small amounts of cut
around 1-3kHz to push the image higher. Apply small amounts of boost around 5kHz to add
some presence.
100-250Hz ~ Adds body
6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness
Strings
These depend entirely on the mix and the sound used.
50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom end
100-250Hz ~ Adds body
250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area
1-6hHz ~ Sounds crunchy
6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity
8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness
-----------
50Hz
1. Increase to add more fullness to lowest frequency instruments like foot, toms, and the
bass.
2. Reduce to decrease the "boom" of the bass and will increase overtones and the recognition
of bass line in the mix. This is most often used on bass lines in Rap and R&B.
__________
2/22/2014 The Ultimate EQ Guide
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100Hz
Increase to add a harder bass sound to lowest frequency instruments.
Increase to add fullness to guitars, snare.
Increase to add warmth to piano and horns.
Reduce to remove boom on guitars & increase clarity.
__________
200Hz
1. Increase to add fullness to vocals.
2. Increase to add fullness to snare and guitar (harder sound).
3. Reduce to decrease muddiness of vocals or mid-range instruments.
4. Reduce to decrease gong sound of cymbals.
__________
400Hz
1. Increase to add clarity to bass lines especially when speakers are at low volume.
2. Reduce to decrease "cardboard" sound of lower drums (foot and toms).
3. Reduce to decrease ambiance on cymbals.
__________
800Hz
1. Increase for clarity and "punch" of bass.
2. Reduce to remove "cheap" sound of guitars
__________
1.5KHz
1. Increase for "clarity" and "pluck" of bass.
2. Reduce to remove dullness of guitars.
__________
3KHz
1. Increase for more "pluck" of bass.
2. Increase for more attack of electric / acoustic guitar.
3. Increase for more attack on low piano parts.
4. Increase for more clarity / hardness on voice.
5. Reduce to increase breathy, soft sound on background vocals.
6. Reduce to disguise out-of-tune vocals / guitars
__________
5KHz
1. Increase for vocal presence.
2. Increase low frequency drum attack (foot/toms).
3. Increase for more "finger sound" on bass.
4. Increase attack of piano, acoustic guitar and brightness on guitars.
5. Reduce to make background parts more distant.
6. Reduce to soften "thin" guitar.
__________
7KHz
1. Increase to add attack on low frequency drums (more metallic sound).
2. Increase to add attack to percussion instruments.
3. Increase on dull singer.
4. Increase for more "finger sound" on acoustic bass.
5. Reduce to decrease "s" sound on singers.
6. Increase to add sharpness to synthesizers, rock guitars, acoustic guitar and piano.
__________
10KHz
1. Increase to brighten vocals.
2. Increase for "light brightness" in acoustic guitar and piano.
3. Increase for hardness on cymbals.
4. Reduce to decrease "s" sound on singers.
__________
15KHz
1. Increase to brighten vocals (breath sound).
2. Increase to brighten cymbals, string instruments and flutes.
3. Increase to make sampled synthesizer sound more real.
--------------------------------------
80hz - rumble of the bass
100hz - thump of the kick
200hz - bottom of the guitar
250hz - warmth of the vocal
350hz - bang of the snare
400hz - body of the bass
500hz - clang of the high hat
600hz - clang of the cymbals
800hz - ping of ride cymbal
1000hz - meat of the guitar
1200hz - body of the snare
1400hz - meat of the vocal
1600hz - snap of the kick/plectrum on guitar (attack)
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2500hz - wires and snap of snare
3000hz - presence of the vocal
4000hz - ring of ride cymbal/top end of bass guitar
6000hz - sizzle of the high hat
7000hz - sizzle of the cymbals
8000hz - top end of the kick
9000hz - brightness on snare and cymbals
10000hz - brightness on vocal
12000hz - air on vocal
14000hz - air on cymbals
Last edited by JackRobinSon; 07-11-2008 at 03:36 AM..
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07-11-2008, 12:42 AM #
warjianrumoelliu
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
quite exhaustive, nice work
do you follow these guidelines yourself to a T?


07-11-2008, 01:18 AM #
JackRobinSon
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
this list is to show you the frequency range and where these elements/instrument's live in
your mix
it's meant to be use as a guide while you mix your track
every mix is diffrent depending on the genre of music you are trying to create
and yes i use the guide


07-26-2010, 12:14 PM #
fomq
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by JackRobinSon
5-8kHz ~ Adds high end prescence
6-8kHz ~ Adds prescence
you spelled presence wrong.


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07-26-2010, 02:28 PM #
warehau5mafi
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
repped, good thread. this is essential learning for all of us.
EDIT: it wont let me rep you haha
------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evelon
Oh, the "audio engine" card.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Automageddon
Real men glitch manually!


07-26-2010, 02:30 PM #
NeuralPunk
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by warehau5mafi
repped, good thread. this is essential learning for all of us.
EDIT: it wont let me rep you haha
Maybe because they are Banned?
Could explain it.
------------------
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I got bored and made some mixes. Click here for their thread


07-26-2010, 02:32 PM #
warehau5mafi
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by RuralMonk
Maybe because they are Banned?
Could explain it.
haha, yeah just realised
------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evelon
Oh, the "audio engine" card.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Automageddon
Real men glitch manually!


07-27-2010, 04:40 AM #
Intrepid
Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by fomq
you spelled presence wrong.
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I love that this is what revived a 2 year old thread.
------------------
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07-28-2010, 04:38 AM #
rodan
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
This is an awesome guide! Thank you so much!


07-28-2010, 06:37 AM #10
astroidmist
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
The original post should be taken with some qualified salt; the fundamental frequencies of the
music at hand per section are what matter most. You can't just scoop out "mud", for example if
that's where your fundamental frequencies exist as pitches.
Pitch and frequency go hand in hand.


08-02-2010, 06:27 AM #11
Jrogin2
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
so how do you do this in fl studio? is it by filters or simply using the para eq2 and cutting off all
other sounds leaving the ones you want to play with ?????????? please explain if someone
knows


08-02-2010, 01:25 PM #12
gbsr
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmfidm
The original post should be taken with some qualified salt; the fundamental frequencies of
the music at hand per section are what matter most. You can't just scoop out "mud", for
example if that's where your fundamental frequencies exist as pitches.
Pitch and frequency go hand in hand.
i realise that this thread is very old, but i would like to emphasize what he said above.
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08-02-2010, 03:41 PM #13
bandcoach
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jrogin2
so how do you do this in fl studio? is it by filters or simply using the para eq2 and cutting
off all other sounds leaving the ones you want to play with ?????????? please explain if
someone knows
You can do it either way
If you use a filter you will be attacking more than just the bit you want removed, but the
sound may be desirable nonetheless.
If you a use a parametric eq, you can target specific freqs, with less overall affect on the
signal.


08-03-2010, 11:08 AM #14
gbsr
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
an eq is a filter
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08-03-2010, 02:22 PM #15
bandcoach
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Yes, it is!
However, the distinction between a parameteric eq and regular eq is still valid enough.
However, I still tend to think of filters as being mostly cut oriented because of my initial
exposure to them in 1970's being one of using a filter to remove high frequencies.
EQ on the other hand is both cut and boost, with a predefined curve, bandwidth and center
freq. Parametric EQ adds the ability to target the freq., change the curve (Q) and more finely
control the overall impact of the filter/EQ.


12-23-2011, 04:22 AM #16
Convergence
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbsr
i realise that this thread is very old, but i would like to emphasize what he said above.
I'd emphasize it too. one of those "ah hah!" moments for me was realizing how important
frequency was in relation to pitch and harmonics. Cutting/boosting too much outside the
fundamental and its harmonics drastically alters the characteristics of a sound.
Strangely, this piece of advice was given by the super helpful Astroidmist who for some reason is
banned after 4,190 posts? He was like the most helpful guy when i first joined here!


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12-25-2011, 12:40 PM #17
Someone19
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
thank you for this very essential for the beginner to read when starting out mixing


12-27-2011, 05:17 AM #18
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
I've seen pictures and read about instruments and their frequencies, but this is broken down very
well and with great detail.
Thank you very much.
edit: Holy shit this is old. I even tried to rep the guy.
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12-27-2011, 08:58 AM #19
Tristride
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Not bad, thanks for taking the time to share with us
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01-15-2012, 06:44 PM #20
TDTL!
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Re: The Ultimate EQ Guide
Sorry I know its an old post but I've found it really helpful. Thanks.
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