An equalizer or EQ for short is one of the most important types of audio processing in mixing. Outside of audio production, most audio players physical and digital feature an equalizer so that you can customize the sound of what you’re listening to to your taste. The process is the same either way, so let’s talk how to use an equalizer regardless of what form it takes.
How to Use an Equalizer
The principles of equalizers are always the same no matter what form they take.
You can raise the volume of a particular frequency or frequency range. This is also referred to as “boosting” that frequency, and it will give that frequency range a greater influence over the sound and tone.
Alternatively, you lower the volume of a particular frequency or frequency range. This is also referred to as “cutting” that frequency, and it will give that frequency range a diminished influence over the sound and tone.
While there are exceptions, it’s generally preferable to cut the frequencies you don’t want rather than boost the ones you do as cutting serves two purposes versus the one you get from boosting.
When you cut, you remove what’s not working and, as an effect, you enhance and prop up the frequencies which are working. This is a also known as subtractive EQ.
Every instrument has a different sound profile, but generally favoring the lower frequencies gives it more bass and warmth, favoring the mid frequencies gives it a fuller sound, and favoring the higher frequencies gives it a brighter, more presence filled sound.
Here is a snapshot of the frequency chart acoustic guitar to give you an idea of what’s happening at each frequency block and the sound you’d be emphasizing or attenuating with a boost or cut at each area, respectively.
With that overview of equalization in general in mind, there are a few different types of EQ, so let’s take a quick look at each one.
Parametric EQ
Parametric EQ is arguably the most common type used in audio production. The reason for this is in its name – parametric refers to the multiple parameters available for tailoring the sound (see my overview on parametric EQ).
This type of plugin can come in a variety of forms, from analog (looking) dials:
… to more of a completely, visual leaning interface like featured in my favorite plugin, EQ or otherwise, is a parametric EQ called FabFilter Pro-Q 3:
This is the type of EQ I typically cover here on this site in my many EQ tutorials because of its versatility, and specifically Pro-Q 3’s ability to do things like create dynamic EQ bands and sidechain EQ bands to dictate a cut or boost in proportion based on the behavior of a different track.
Semi Parametric EQ
Semi-parametric EQ is like the “lite” version of parametric EQ.
My DAW of choice, Ableton Live, has a very simplified semi-parametric EQ called “EQ Three”:
You’ll see this type of EQ and setup a lot more for controlling frequencies in the everyday world outside of DAWs.
The presentation may be slightly different, but generally it’s a semi-parametric EQ when it’s just three simple controls over the bass, mids, and treble (which I referred to earlier).
For instance, in most sound systems, you’ll have a very simplified three options to adjust the influence of each of those “bands”. In most cases you don’t even get to designate where one band begins and another ends and that’s up to the designers of that sound system.
Graphic EQ
More of an old school analog option, a graphic EQ is where specific frequencies are controlled by individual sliders which are tied to them:
Pictured above is the GEQ from Waves, and admittedly it features control over more individual frequencies than most graphic EQs.
If you find yourself with access to a graphic equalizer like you’ll likely find on more classic analog sound systems, check out my overview on the best graphic equalizer settings.
There are additional types of EQ which fall into subsets of these groups, so again refer to my types of EQ overview for more information.
If you’re looking to improve the sound of your mix, refer to my free EQ cheat sheet for detailed graphic tutorials on how to best EQ every single instrument in your next mix with the absolute best settings.
