EQ Sweep Technique

[brandondrury]

This issue has popped up way too often. I cover it Killer Home Recording, but I figured I'd go ahead and give this one away here too.

People are always asking for EQ charts.

For EQ, I don't believe in charts. They don't help. You need to master the sweep technique. Once you have that down, life gets much easier.

1) Don't think of EQing as something you are supposed to do like X. It's not like you are trying to do the Electric Slide on a wedding dance floor where every move is choreographed. (I have to be really crushed for that one! What a stupid dance! I'll do my own dancing thank you very much and it won't involve Nazi-style no-brained marching moves!)

2) Listen to a track. If it sounds good, don't do anything to it.

3) If there is something that sucks about it, identify the problem in your head. Let's say the vocals are kinda boxy sounding. Say to yourself "that boxy stuff sucks".

4) Grab a parametric EQ. Boost by 8-12dB with a kinda sorta narrow Q / bandwidth. Start at 20Hz and increase the frequency until you start to hear that problem get WAY WORSE. Granted, you will be causing other problems by boosting so much that were otherwise fine. Ignore them. That's why #3 is so important. When you make the problem worse, stop increasing the frequency. You've found it.

5) Now, instead of idiotically boosting 12dB, try cutting. Start small (1-2dB) because your ears will be goofed from the sweep. If you want more of the frequency at hand, boost it a few dB. (Definitely do not start with 12db!)

6) Keep mixing

7) If that same problem pops up again in a minute or two, just use more.

Brandon

[TonyB]

+1

Applying EQ should not be automatic. Fight the urge!

[Basil1963]

Your explanation on how to sweep and cut freqencies using an EQ is very clear and well writen. Your sense of humor cracks me up

Basil

[garageband]

It's also important to learn the frequency of certain sounds so I if you hear a dense spot, you have an idea of where it is and what's causing it.

[brandondrury]

I think that by using the sweep technique over the course of years, you do begin to learn the frequencies.....until you run live sound, can't use this tactic, and realize you don't know shit.

I think the alternative of just assuming you are dealing with 400Hz and cutting it 2dB is little more than guessing.

Brandon

[Basil1963]

I found this chart and it has some helpful hints on what frequencies to cut and what to boost. I know every mix is different but this might help to narrow some of the frequencies down.

http://soundsector.net/wp-content/up...cy_ranges1.pdf


I can't wait for the Supreme Overlord Commander's Book Murduerous Mixing to be unleashed!

[brandondrury]

Thanks for the link. However, when a person fully grasps the sweep technique a person will never need these charts again.

Brandon

[Basil1963]

Yeah...I have alot to learn before I could just pick out what frequenices are causing the problems.

[ryanoliver]

Yeah...I have alot to learn before I could just pick out what frequenices are causing the problems.

Not many of us can, there's more than 20,000 to choose from . When you do the sweep technique and you find that nasty freq, lower it back down to 0 and have a listen. Can you hear it now? Focus on that frequency before you start cutting it, listen to it as you slowly pull it down until it sits where you want it to. The more you do this the more your ears will become sensitive to these harsh frequencies and you'll be able to pick em out easy.

[Basil1963]

Hi ryanoliver,

Thanks...good tip. Mixing is alot of trial and error for me. I can get some parts of my mix to sound good and than when I work on the weaker sounding parts it effects the good sounding parts. It can get very frustrating