PreSonus RC 500 - Manual (Page 14)

3.2 Equalizers
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Shelving EQ
A shelving EQ attenuates or boost frequencies above or below a specified
cutoff point. Shelving equalizers come in two different varieties: high-
pass and low-pass. Low-pass shelving filters pass all frequencies below
the specified cutoff frequency while attenuating all the frequencies above
it. A high-pass filter does the opposite: passing all frequencies above the
specified cut-off frequency while attenuating everything below.
3.2.2 Equalization Settings: How to Find the Best and Leave the Rest
How do you find the best and worst each instrument has to offer and
adjust their frequency content accordingly? Here’s a quick guide:
• First, solo just the instrument with which you are working. Most engineers start
building their mix with the drums and work from the bottom up (kick, snare,
toms, hi-hat, overheads). Each instrument resonates primarily in a specific
frequency band, so if you are working on your kick-drum mic, start with the
lowest band of the EQ. Tune in the best-sounding low end and move on to the
attack. It is not uncommon to hear an annoying ringing or a “twang” mixed
in with your amazing-sounding low end and perfect attack, so your next
task will be to find that offending frequency and notch it out. Once you are
satisfied with your kick drum, mute it, and move on to the next instrument.
• Taking your time with equalization is well worth the effort.
Your mix will have better separation and more clarity.
Additional advice:
• You can only do so much. Not every instrument can or should
have a full, rich low end and a sharp attack. If every instrument is
EQ’d to have the same effect, it will lose its identity in the mix. Your
goal is not individual perfection, it is perfection in unity.
• Step away from the mix. Your ears get fatigued, just like the rest of
you. If you are working particularly hard on one instrument, your
ears will be quite literally numbed to that frequency range.
• Your memory is not what you think it is. Comparing a flat EQ and the
curve that you’ve created allows you to see and hear exactly what you’ve
done. So be honest with yourself. Sometimes that EQ setting you’ve
been working on for 15 minutes is not the right choice, so move on.
• Never be afraid of taking a risk. The best EQ tricks
were found by mad scientists of sound.
3.2.3 EQ Frequency Charts
With every instrument, there are frequencies that can be attenuated or boosted
to add clarity or fullness. Altering the wrong frequencies can make an instrument
shrill, muddy, or just downright annoying. The following two charts suggest
frequency ranges that should be accentuated or downplayed for the most
common instruments. These are just suggestions; the frequencies may need to
be adjusted up or down depending on the instrument, room, and microphone.