If not, the following little snippet of Acoustics 101 will probably come in handy.
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If you’ve already got a firm grasp of what frequencies and decibels are, feel free to skip ahead to the “Playing with your EQ” section, or even our “Parametric EQ” examination (if you’re a heavy hitter). Bass frequencies start on the left, with midrange frequencies in the middle, and treble on the far right (like a piano). From left to right, you’ll find “sliders” that allow you to adjust certain frequency bands up or down along the dB scale. The graphical EQ - which is what we’re going to focus on for most of our walkthrough - looks like a graph (no kidding!) with frequencies on one axis and decibels (dB) on the other. If used properly, EQ can smooth out audio for just the right touch. But the kind of EQ we’re talking about here offers control over the different sound registers to achieve a refined result. Speaking more digitally, you may also associate EQ with effects like reverb or echo, or popular EQ presets like “Rock,” “Jazz,” or “Concert,” among others built into popular devices and headphones. They’re simple: if you wanted more low end, you goosed the bass if you like to hear the cymbals and wanted to add some shimmer to the sound, you’d likely add some treble. Most people are aware of the basic three levels of equalization - bass, mid, and treble - that you have likely seen on your parents’ home stereo receiver. The technology first took off as a piece of analog electronics that was initially used in recording studios before making its way into the home. Whether analog or digital, an EQ is used to adjust different elements of sound to achieve an end result that appeals to the listener. What does an equalizer do?Īt its most basic definition, an equalizer manipulates frequencies. Whether you’re looking for more punch, a warmer sound, or bass that will rattle your insides, an EQ can help you dial in the sound that suits you best. Or perhaps you listen to a lot of EDM, but the treble is too sharp and needs to be pulled back. Maybe you have a bass-heavy pair of headphones that you need to tone down a bit. With it, you could pull out the distinctive shimmer of high-hat cymbals otherwise drowned by a dominant vocal track, or even help mellow out the narrator’s voice in an audiobook. With these variables in play, an EQ serves an invaluable role for anyone serious about their jams. Not only do the natural sounds of the track respond uniquely to different EQ levels, but in the case of digital music, you may also need to cover imperfection introduced by certain file compression formats that can affect the overall audio quality. The music you’re listening to also plays a factor.
Many of us listen to music while commuting or exercising, where the shape of the room or ambient noise can each have a nasty effect on how our music sounds. Also, we don’t always get to listen to music in ideal environments. Browse related topicsĮlectronics manufacturers have their own ideas about what a piece of gear should sound like, but EQ lets you have your say. But it can be intimidating, so we’re here to help with our top-to-bottom guide to mastering your equalizer for the perfect sound. Understanding how exactly an EQ works and using it properly will put the power of sound-sculpting at your fingertips and can get you closer to the sound you want from your gear. The equalizer, or EQ, has come a long way since your dad’s graphic EQ with the tiny little sliders that you never quite understood - but somehow messing with them made his Zeppelin records sound “rad.” But for most devices you’ll encounter these days, it’s all done digitally.ĮQ settings can now be found in everything from phones and wireless speakers to home theater soundbars and streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, but often in the form of safe presets such as “Rock,” Hip-Hop,” or “Bass Booster.” Coaxing the best possible balance of tones out of a piece of music is an art form in and of itself, whether you’re a producer, engineer, DJ, or just a music lover with an iPhone and a Spotify account. Fitbit Versa 3Ĭontrary to what those bottle DJs on YouTube would have you believe, mixing sound isn’t just twiddling fake nobs and sliders to make you look cool on the internet.