WHAT IS EQUALISATION-(EQ) ?

1-Overall volume = all frequencies change gain equally 2-EQ = only some frequencies change gain
G A I N G A I N

LOW

MIDS FREQUENCY

HIGH

LOW

MIDS FREQUENCY

HIGH

VOLUME

EQ

EQ basic Terminology Gain = Amount of signal strength Boost = add gain, Cut = decrease gain, Centre frequency = fundamental frequency to be changed. Turnover frequency = fundamental frequency minus 3 dB EQ Frequency Ranges Subs 20Hz-50Hz 1-Exremely low audio frequencies 2-Adds power and depth to the music 3-Can become boomy Bass 50Hz-250Hz 1-Fundamental frequency of bass and kick drum 2-Affects thickness of sound Low mids or (lower midrange) 250Hz-1kHz 1-Fundamental frequency of many instruments 2-Lower order harmonics 3-Excess of 400-800 Hz can produces boxiness Upper mids or (upper midrange)

1kHz-6kHz 1-Higher order harmonics 2-This band is ear sensitive particularly 1k-4k(Hz) 3-3-4k for vocal clarity 4-4k-6k for presencetoo much can cause sibilance (ss sound on vocals) 5-1-2k for telephone effect Treble or Highs 6kHz-20kHz 1-Higher order instrument harmonics 2-Adds sparkle and airiness to the sound EQ CURVES PEAKING CURVES 1-Like the shape of a bell has a centre frequency, gain, and width. 2-Centre frequency may be boosted or cut 3-The peaking or bell curve is often found on the LOWER MID + UPPER MID bands of an equalizer
+10dB 0dB -10dB CENTRE FREQUENCY 1kHZ

20 Hz FULL +10dB 0dB -10dB

1kHz FREQUENCY RANGE

20kHz

50Hz

100Hz

10kHz

15kHz

LOW SHELF =100 Hz BOOST / CUT = 10 dB

HI SHELF = 10KhZ BOOST / CUT = 10 dB

SHELVING CURVES 1-The concept is. to progressively boost or cut from a certain frequency and then continue to the end of its respective range. 2-The shelf or shelving curve is often found on the Low frequency + High frequency bands of an equaliser, or a home stereo
+0dB - 3dB

-10dB

BANDWIDTH= 150Hz 50Hz = 100Hz Q = 100Hz/100Hz =1

50Hz 100hZ 150Hz CENTRE FREQUENCY = 100 Hz

BANDWIDTH & Q VALUES BANDWIDTH (BW) 1-Equalisation affects frequencies either side of the centre frequency. 2-Bandwidth describes the number of frequencies included in an EQ action 3-Its the frequency difference between the turnover points(2 frequencies which are 3dB lower than the centre frequency) Q VALUES (Q = QUALITY OR SELECTIVITY) 1-Measures the shape (broad or sharp) of the EQ curve 2-The higher the Q value the narrower the curve Q=CF 3-Most Q values are between 0.5-5.0 BW 4-Low Q value = wide bandwidth

TYPES OF EQUALISER SWEEPABLE EQ 1-Peaking curve 2-Variable Centre Frequency (CF) (sweep = continuously variable, as opposed to selectable) 3-Variable cut or boost 4-Q is non adjustable PARAMETRIC EQ 1-Peaking curve 2-Variable centre frequency (sweep) 3-Variable cut or boost 4-Variable Q GRAPHIC EQ (Frequency Analysis) 1-Many fixed frequency bands (+/- 20) each with peaking curve 2-Variable cut/boost 3-Fixed Q 4-Types: Octave -20Hz 40Hz 80Hz 160Hz 320 Hz 640Hz etc Half octave -20Hz 30Hz 40Hz 60Hz 80Hz 120Hz 160 Third octave -20Hz 25Hz 31Hz 40Hz 50Hz 63Hz 80Hz USE OF EQUALISATION 1-Adjusts the tonal balance of a sound. 2-Sound matching and blending 3-Accentuate certain instruments in a mix-( Mastering ) 4-Compensate for deficiencies in a sound system. 5-Create special effects-eg telephone effect 6-Reduce background rumble and hiss (filters) DISADVANTAGES OF EQUALISATION 1-Difficult to undo after it has been recorded 2-Too much can distort, or make it sound unnatural ie: thin or boomy

FILTERS 1-Filters attenuate or cut frequencies only, they dont boost 2-Filters are named after their turnover frequency 3-Filters may be passiveno powered components 4-Filters are used to remove or emphasize upper harmonics 5-Filtes may also employ a resonance control for added brightness 6-Roll off rates (ROR or slope) are quoted in orders: 1st order = 2nd order = 3rd order = 4th order = 6dB/octave 12dB/octave (Oberheim, Korg) 18dB/octave (Roland TB-303) 24dB/octave (Moog, ARP)

High Pass Filter (HPF) 1-High Pass Filters cut low frequencies only 2-Frequencies above the turnover frequency pass at full level 3-Frequencies below are cut to the end of the audio spectrum 4-Used to eliminate low frequencies, a common effect to cut the kick/bass

0dB -3dB -9dB -15dB TURNOVER FREQ = 700Hz ROLL-OFF RATE = 6dB/OCT = 1ST ORDER

175Hz

350Hz 700Hz

LOW FREQUENCIES

Low Pass Filter (LPF) 1-Low pass filters cut high frequencies only 2-Frequencies below the turnover frequency pass at full level 3-Frequencies above are cut to the end of the audio spectrum 4-Used to filter high frequencies, common for vocals and drum loops

0dB -3dB TURNOVER FREQ = 4k ROLL OFF RATE = 18dB/OCT = 3rd order -21dB -39dB

4k

8k

16k

HIGH FREQUENCIES

Band Pass Filter-BPF 1-Combination of HPF+LPF 2-2 turnover frequencies 3-Used for shaping sounds

HPF: TURN OVER = 700Hz ROR = 6dB / OCT-1 st order

LPF: TURNOVER = 4kHz ROR = 6dB / OCT-1 st order

-3dB -9dB -15dB

-3dB -9dB -15dB

175Hz

350Hz

700Hz

4k

8k

16k

LOW FREQUENCIES

HIGH FREQUENCIES

Notch Filter 1-Notch filters cut a very narrow band of frequencies 2-Used to eliminate unwanted frequencies

-3 dB

100 200 300Hz

Resonance 1-Resonance on a filter is created by connecting the output of the filter to its input, creating a "feedback loop" 2-When you apply resonance, the frequencies around the cutoff point of the filter will be emphasized (louder), and sound brighter 3-At full setting, the filter may self-oscillate, producing a sound of its own