EQ and filters
EQ and filters, from the frequency spectrum to shelves, Q and dynamic EQ.
Frequency ranges in music, from sub bass to air
Sub bass, bass, low mids, mids, presence and air: what lives in each frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, what too much sounds like, and how to hear each one.
What is Q in EQ?
What Q means on an EQ, how it's worked out, how to convert it to octaves and which Q to use, with a lab where you hear wide and narrow bells on noise and music.
What is a shelf EQ?
A shelf EQ turns everything above or below a corner frequency up or down by one amount. Hear low and high shelves, and compare them with bells and low cuts.
What are high-pass and low-pass filters?
What high-pass and low-pass filters (low cut and high cut) remove, how cutoff, slope and resonance work, and where to set them on each sound, with an EQ lab.
What is a filter slope?
Filter slopes explained: what dB per octave means, 12 vs 24 vs 48 dB filters, poles, phase and which slope to use, with a lab you can hear on noise, bass and vocals.
What is filter resonance?
Filter resonance explained: the peak a filter adds at its cutoff, how Q sets its height, ringing and self-oscillation, with a lab where you hear it on real loops.
What is dynamic EQ?
Dynamic EQ cuts or boosts a band only when it gets loud. Learn threshold, ratio, range, attack and release, and hear one fix boomy notes and esses live.
What is linear phase EQ?
Linear phase EQ explained: how it differs from a normal EQ, what pre-ringing and latency cost, and when to use it, with a lab that plays both modes side by side
What is mid/side EQ?
Mid/side EQ gives the centre and the edges of a stereo mix their own EQ. Learn how it works and the common moves, and hear them in a free interactive lab.
What is subtractive EQ?
Subtractive EQ means cutting the frequencies that get in the way. Find rumble, boom and ringing notes by ear and cut them, in a live EQ lab on a real guitar.
What is a notch filter?
Learn what a notch filter does, how it differs from a narrow bell cut and how to set one on mains hum, with a live EQ lab to try it in.
What is a tilt EQ?
A tilt EQ turns one end of the spectrum up and the other down around a pivot. Hear it in a live EQ lab, and learn where to set the pivot and how much to tilt.
What is the Pultec low-end trick?
The Pultec low-end trick boosts and cuts the same low frequency at once for more weight and less mud. Hear why it works and copy it on any EQ in the free lab.
EQ vs filters: what's the difference?
Every EQ is built from filters. Hear how a high-pass keeps cutting while a shelf levels off, why only EQ can boost, and when to use a filter or an EQ band.
Linear phase vs minimum phase EQ
Linear phase vs minimum phase EQ compared in a live lab: same curve, different timing. Latency, pre-ringing, phase shift, and which to use for each job.
Additive vs subtractive EQ: should you boost or cut?
Additive EQ boosts, subtractive EQ cuts. Hear why a boost can be the same filter as a cut, why narrow boosts ring, and when to use each, in a live EQ lab.
Low cut vs low shelf
A low cut removes the bass below its cutoff and keeps falling; a low shelf turns it down or up by a set amount. Hear and compare both in a live EQ lab.
Parametric vs graphic EQ
A graphic EQ gives you fixed sliders, while a parametric lets you set frequency, gain and Q. Hear both in one lab and learn when each one is the right tool.
What is EQ?
EQ turns chosen frequencies up or down. Drag the bands on a live equaliser, hear each range of the spectrum on its own and learn when to cut, boost or filter.