Equalization
Shaping the tonal balance of each channel with surgical precision.
What Is Equalization?
Equalization (EQ) adjusts the amplitude of specific frequency ranges within a signal. Boosting a frequency makes it louder; cutting it makes it quieter. EQ can add warmth, clarity, or presence, or remove muddiness, harshness, and feedback frequencies. Most channel EQ sections offer four bands working together.
Low Shelf — Warmth & Rumble Control
A shelf filter boosts or cuts all frequencies below (low shelf) or above (high shelf) a fixed point. The low shelf on most consoles is set at 80–100 Hz. Cut the low shelf on vocal and instrument channels to remove stage rumble, HVAC noise, and subsonic energy that clouds the mix.
Parametric Mid Bands — Surgical Control
The two parametric mid bands each have two controls: FREQ (which frequency to target) and LEVEL (how much to boost or cut). Sweep the frequency knob while boosting to hear resonances ring — then cut that frequency to clean it up. Parametric EQ is the most powerful tool on the channel strip.
High Shelf — Air & Harshness
The high shelf (typically 12 kHz) boosts or cuts all high-frequency content. A gentle +2 to +4 dB boost adds 'air' and sparkle to vocals and acoustic instruments. A cut tames harsh-sounding sources, excessive sibilance on vocals, or feedback-prone high frequencies in a room with poor acoustics.
EQ In / Bypass & Best Practices
The EQ IN button (or bypass switch) lets you compare processed versus unprocessed signal in real time. Always A/B your EQ decisions. The golden rule: cut before you boost. Narrow cuts fix problems; broad boosts add character. Never add so much EQ that the bypass sounds dramatically different.