EQ

An equalizer, or an EQ, is primarily a tone-based plug-in, although it can also be used to affect the volume of a track. It is one of the most valuable tools in your DAW and plays a crucial role in shaping the tone of your tracks, as well as the tone of your mix as a whole.

An EQ’s primary function is to adjust the timbre of a track by manipulating the level of particular ranges, or bands, of frequencies.

There are two basic types of EQs: single-band and multi-band. A single-band EQ will affect only one range of frequencies at at time, while a multi-band EQ can affect any number of bands at the same time.

Each band of an EQ will usually have the following set of parameters: “frequency,” “gain,” and “Q factor.” Frequency determines the center frequency of a band, or the frequency most affected by the second parameter, gain. Gain determines the number of decibels by which the center frequency will be increased or decreased. Q factor determines the width of the band. A lower Q will make the band wider and flatter, while a higher Q will make it more narrow and focused.

Most multi-band EQs will also have "shelves" and "filters."

A shelf is an additional band that extends to one end of the frequency spectrum or the other. A high shelf, for instance, will affect all of the frequencies between a particular frequency and 20 kHz, which is the upper limit of human hearing. Shelves usually have all of the same parameters as regular bands.

A filter is a limit on the frequency spectrum as a whole, either from one end or the other, eliminating all frequencies above or below a particular frequency. A high-pass (or low-cut) filter at 200 Hz, for instance, will eliminate all frequencies between 20 Hz, the lower limit of human hearing, and 200 Hz, leaving everything above 200 Hz. Filters do not have a “gain” parameter, since they effectively reduce the level of the affected frequencies by infinity, but additional parameters like “slope” or “Q factor” can control how abruptly or gradually the level will change beyond the chosen frequency.

Most EQs will also have a final "gain" parameter, used to adjust the overall volume of the frequency spectrum as a whole in order to make up for any loss or gain due to cuts or boosts.

If an EQ has been used only to make cuts to the tone of a track, for instance, and not boosts, the overall volume of that track will be lower, even if the rest of the frequency spectrum remains unchanged. Make-up gain can be used to adjust the overall volume of the track back up to its original level so that it can be properly compared with the plug-in disabled. This allows the producer to hear the change in timbre without hearing a change in loudness.

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Big thanks to my friend Joel, a.k.a. Master Mooo, for the shoutout he gave me on his vlog this week and the rendition he did of one of my old songs. You can check out the video on his YouTube channel.