During the course of my placement, I have been understanding more and more mixing techniques used within a sonic process. One of those being equalization, something I previously knew about but never really truly understood properly. Through shadowing and asking questions I have begun to understand EQ from the perspective of an entire audio piece down to its most definitive elements. Where certain sound sits within a mix is just as important as what sounds are boosted.
Equalization (EQ) is a plug-in designed to change the frequency content of your recordings and assist all of the aspects of your production function musically together. Every note played by an instrument has a basic frequency and overtones above it that give it a distinctive timbre and make it identifiable. The process of raising a frequency or frequency is known as additive EQ.
Boosting is not intrinsically superior or worse than subtractive EQ (cutting). However, it is true that an EQ boost increases the level of a signal and must thus be regulated to avoid distortion. Furthermore, most equalizers change the harmonic balance, which can cause slight phase abnormalities. Large enhancements tend to make this more noticeable.
Low boosts in the 40-100 Hz region offer that bottom-end boom that is so important for current kick, bass, and tom sounds. Lower-mid boosts in the 200-600 Hz region can give warmth to a sound, such as a thin voice track, but can also introduce undesired muddiness. Midrange boosts in the 1,000-4,000 Hz range can add presence, bringing a track forward and defining it, but if used excessively, they can add a nasal, honking quality.
