Applications – TOA Electronics 1000 Series User Manual
Page 8

Applications
Equalization for music
The Graphic Equalizer is designed not only for use in preventing feedback and
equalizing uneven room frequency response to be flat, but also for equalizing
frequency response to your tastes and producing favorable sound for you. Fig.1 shows
each frequency band and its corresponding auditory feeling. Fig.2 and Table 1 show
the relation between each musical instrument and its frequency band. They can be of
great help in the equalizer operation. (They are referenced from a book entitled
"Practical Guide for concert")
EQUALIZATION CHART
These sounds
are felt more
than really
heard. They
give a sense
of power.
Too much
produces a
muddy sound.
The rhythm sec-
tion
appears
here. Either a fat
or thin sound
can be heard by
mis-EQ here. Too
much becomes
boomy. Bass gui-
tar-Snare-Toms.
Probably the most im-
portant of all. Most all
instruments contain
harmonics here. 300 Hz
boosting can cause horn
like sounds. 1 k to 2 k
sounds tinny. Too much
here sounds like the tel-
ephone.
Upper vocal region.
Too much here will
cause great fatigue,
and loose speech in-
telligence. Reducing
3 k can bring vocals
on top.
Presence
range.
Great achievement
in overall level can
be had here. Too
little causes a "far
away" sound.
Sibilance
levels can be
controlled
here.
Bright,
clean defini-
tion.
Fig.1
INSTRUMENT CHART
Fig.2
INSTRUMENT EQUALIZATION CHART
Table 1
Acoustic guitar
Bass strings resonate between 70 to 120Hz, body around 300Hz.
Avoid boosting these to stop feedback. 3kHz and 5kHz gives
great "clarity".
Electric guitar
Resonances differ-depending on type. Good full sounds around
300 to 500Hz. Clarity at 3kHz.
Bass guitar
Extreme lows are at 60 to 90Hz. "Pick" or "pluck" sounds are
around 800 to 1200Hz. Upper harmonics clarified about 3kHz.
Human voice
Good fullness at 150Hz. Watch for "boominess" around 250Hz.
Mid-range 10kHz.
Piano (Acoustic)
Bass strings responate around 100Hz. Watch for subharmonics at
30 to 50Hz.
Piano (Electric)
Good mid-clarity at 3kHz to 5kHz thins out rapidly in high end. Be
careful around 1.5kHz to 2.5kHz to avoid the "bar room sound".
Organ
Usually dies under 200Hz. Has great mid-sounds around 1200 to
2000Hz. Top end cuts off at 6kHz.
Violin
Richfullness at 400Hz. Natural mids around 1500 to 2500Hz. Avoid
"scratch" sounds at 8kHz.
Brass instruments
Watch for "hot" mids around 2kHz. Low end boost around 400Hz.
Top end clarity at 6kHz.
Bass drum
Great low "kick" at 40Hz. The mids at 2kHz gives the familiar
"punch".
Snare drum
Good fullness at 100Hz. The "crack" is boosted at 2kHz. Real
easy. The snares extend to above 4kHz.
Tom Tom
The main fullness is around 200Hz. The mid punch extends to
4kHz.
Floor Tom
Same as tom, but extends down to 80Hz.
Hi Hat
Watch for the "gong" sound around 300Hz. Good "shimmer"
sounds are around 8kHz to 10kHz.
Cymbal overhead
About the same as hi-hat only has more low end around 150Hz.
Talk Box
Depending on the guitar sound driving it and the resonance of
each player's mouth, should have great "bite" around 1200Hz and
dies above 6kHz.
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