Video: EQ-Learning Trick

1band-eq Learning EQ can be tricky, especially if your starting out. Or perhaps you’ve been recording for quite a while, but you could use a little more ear training when it comes to EQ.

If you’re like me, you may not be as familiar with the frequency spectrum as you’d like to be. Do you know what 100 Hz sounds like? How about 300 Hz? Or 14 kHz?

In this video I’ll show you a little trick I came across a while back when I was trying to gain a better understanding of EQ in general. It turns out what I thought was 100 Hz was more like 60 Hz. What I thought was 1 kHz was more like 500 Hz.

Using this technique, you can hone in on specific frequency ranges and take a listen. What does 400 Hz sounds like in the context of an entire mix? Find out for yourself. It’ll help you make more educated decisions as you mix.

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http://kyleshevlin.com Kyle Shevlin

Joe, great tip. Should have thought of this one myself, it’s so obvious. Gah! Thanks for the video.

http://kyleshevlin.com Kyle Shevlin

Actually, trying that out, I think it might be better to sweep a cut rather than a boost. Instead of boosting what isn’t in the song at you, if you cut you “reveal” what is in the song, for a more natural way to explore the frequencies.

http://rebuffi.com.ar Mario

Amazing, i used to use a certain eq plugin that had a feature like this, but was damn cpu heavy and i just used it to hear the freq ranges, but eq’d with a diff eq after that so it was pretty frustrating yeah… Thanks a lot for the amazing tip!
Francois Du Plessis

What i have learnt by listening toa album through headphones is i could hear the panining of certain instruments very clearly,effects,comprecion and the eq of the album aswell.
http://www.poodiemusic.com KanareK

Thanks for the trick. Makes alot of sense. Sometimes proper EQ settings become so elusive,especially late at night after working on a tune all day.

all the best
http://www/getangrywithme.com jackie sheeler

joe, i cannot tell you how helpful this video is for me. i am struggling with exactly this right now with some recordings — and knowing that you need a better-trained ear doesn’t help you to GET one. this will. thank you!

http://www.homestudiocorner.com Joe Gilder

Thanks Jackie! I’m so glad it helps!!

http://www.theautumnwindow.com Josh

I just hold Shift+Windows key (PC) and that allows me to just hear the frequency bell curve I have selected. I don’t know what it is for Macs, but mess around with it cause I’m pretty sure it works for you guys too.

Note: I’ve found it only works in the EQ 3 plug-ins.

http://www.homestudiocorner.com Joe Gilder

Thanks Josh. I actually just discovered that little trick myself. I think it’s Shift + Control on the Mac. Actually, I just came across this article today that explains it: http://musformation.com/2009/06/pro-tools-tip-of-the-day-use-eq3-for-effects-in-band-solo-mode.html