Starter EQ Settings

[Rakie]

That depends on the rest of the mix.

There's not really an exact system, but every frequency range has a different result. I'm going to put down the 10 octaves of the spectrum. And give you a general description of how that sound might be described. So we start with the Octave, go into the Frequency range, then the Center frequency(s) of the octave. Go into descriptors, then the Benefits of these frequencies, and the cautions of using too much of them.



Octave 1 - 20Hz-40Hz - Center 32Hz - (31.5, 31.25, 31)

Description: Chest, Sub-bass, Rumble, Thump

Benefits: all extremely low-frequency instruments (kick,bass, organ) that need a feel of power added.

Caution: causes rumble (cool for FX - post production)
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Octave 2 - 40Hz-80Hz - Center 64Hz (63.5, 63)

Description: Bass, Full/Fat/Round Bass.

Benefits: all low-frequency instruments (kick, bass, etc.) that need more fulness.

Caution: only add to ONE instrument, otherwise you will lose the definition in the low end.
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Octave 3 - 80Hz-160Hz - Center 125Hz

Description: Full, Fat, Body, Boomy

Benefits: Piano, Low Strings, Floor tom, Snare drum Low male vox (around 100)

Caution: cut on kick drum, bass guitar (boomy)
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Octave 4 - 160Hz-320Hz - Center 250Hz
Description: muddy, muffled, ****

Benefits: all mid-range instruments (including vocals) that require some **** and natural feel to the sound

Caution: use on fewer instruments in the mix, in order to keep the definition.
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Octave 5 - 320Hz-640Hz - Center 500Hz

Description: horn-like, boxy, honky, tubey, raspy

Benefits: when cut, it will make things sound more transparent.

Attack (raspy) bass guitar.
Horns (lower brass)
- Megaphone/TV effect
- Honky-tonk piano

Caution: kick/snare drums sound BOXY when there is too much 500Hz
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Octave 6 - 640Hz-1.25kHz - Center 1kHz (actual center of the frequency spectrum. 1kHz is often used as the reference frequency when doing psycho-acoustic measurements)

Description: Aggressive, Attack, Distortion, Nasal

Benefits: Distorted guitar, snare, anything that
needs more aggressive feel to it. (Screaming low vocals)
- Telephone effect

Caution: higher pitch vocals - nasal sound
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Octave 7 - 1.25kHz - 2.5kHz - Center 2kHz

Description: Crunchy, Gritty, Noisy, Grainy

Benefits - Background instruments, including BG Vox. (synths, strings, etc.)

Caution: too much of 2kHz will reduce the smoothness of a sound.
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Octave 8 - 2.5kHz - 5kHz - Center 4kHz (Human Speech Recognition)

Description: Sharp, Edgy, Presence, Definition, "ouch"

Benefits: Lead VOCALS and soloing instruments.

Caution: too much can cause listener's fatigue
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Octave 9 - 5kHz - 10kHz - Center 8kHz

Description: Metallic, Brilliant, Sizzling, Sibilance

Benefits: all instruments with metallic parts (cymbals, hats), shakers, snare bottom, etc., sax and trumpet

Caution: causes sibilance in vocals (extremely sharp S and T sounds). String noise.
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Octave 10 - 10kHz - 20kHz - Center 16kHz

Description: Bright, Airy, Open, Hissy

Benefits: all acoustic instruments, creates a feeling of openness and air.

Caution: tape (analog) hiss. Careful with samples that were taken from vinyl/tape




I really, really hope this helps somebody ! Again, these are generalizations, it's not a map to success with every mix, but it might point you in the right direction.

Cheers.

[brandondrury]

I went ahead and made a sticky of this because this is what quite a few beginners are wanting to see.

With that said, I think it's 95% unnecessary. Fire up a mix. On every track, take a narrow parametric EQ (with a "Q" or "bandwidth of about 7 or so) and boost it 10dB. Slowly scroll from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.

Do this on kick drum, snare, overheads, bass, electric guitar, vocals, etc.

It won't take long to figure it out.

Brandon

[isbister1500]

thanks for the helpful post!

[KEVIN BALLARD]

uSE EQ SPARELINGLY, CUT WHEN YOU CAN THAN RATHER BOOST, FIDDLE WITH Q OF YOUE EQ

[greg.carroll]

good post. actually pretty helpful

[HBM]

I keep a very similar list printed out on my studio desk as a quick reference.

I agree that EQ is more effective when cutting freq's, rather than adding. I usually only add some low-end to a lacking bass, when needed. And I like adding some air to the featured event at any given moment (lead singer, acoustic instrument solo).

[garageband]

Say... isn't this nicked from Bob Katz' book?

[zlobisha]

I would really like, and it would be tons of help for us beginers if we had an example of the EQ(pic of the curve, or anything). I get this is helpful and helps separating a lot of things, but i wouldn't really know how to use it... :S
Thanks!

[sebastianadams]

this is the kind of post that really helps newbies! but make sure you only use it as a guideline and not as rules! your own discretion is the most important factor for eqing!

[CyberCat]

Good post, thanks.