EQ Training Series Part 1 - What Is EQ?

Over the next few weeks I'll be doing a series on how to use EQ. We'll be covering all kinds of topics and questions!

• What is EQ?
• How do I use EQ?
• How do I EQ vocals?
• How many EQ bands do I need?
• How do I use EQ to create balance?

We'll be looking at all of these questions and answering them thoroughly with step by step guides on how you can get better with EQ and have a better understanding of how it works. 

Today we're going to start with the first part of the series.

What is EQ?

First off, EQ refers to the word equalization. EQ is a tremendous tool in audio engineering that is used for live sound, recording, mixing, and mastering. It has many different uses and is probably one of the most, if not THE most, common plugin and tool used today. 

Whether you are on a sound board or in a DAW, adjusting the EQ will allow you to alter certain frequencies on a track. It gives you the option to either boost or subtract volume from a particular frequency. Whenever something makes a sound, it falls within a certain frequency range. Different frequency ranges have different sounds, usually referred to as low, low-mid, mid, high-mid, and high. Depending on which frequency you decide to alter, you will change the sound of one of those ranges. 

Looking at an EQ plugin in a DAW can be kind of daunting if you don't know what is going on. Generally, on the left side you will see the db levels (adding or boosting volume), and on the bottom you will see the frequency ranges in hz, (generally 20 to 20k.) In the middle you will see a band with multiple nodes on it, depending on how many bands your EQ has. By adjusting these bands, you adjust the frequency range either boosting or lowering when you pull the band up or down. You can also adjust the width of the band to lower or widen the range. 

EQ is a tool and is used for many different things in the audio world. It can be used to alter the sound of instruments, such as taking out muddiness or making a track more bright. It can be used to create balance with multiple instruments and tracks so that they sit will together. It can be used to get rid of certain frequencies or polish a track in mastering. It's an extremely useful tool and one that every audio engineer should be familiar with. 

In the next post, we'll be looking at how you can use EQ with a step-by-step guide on how to use it for high pass filters, cutting out mud, adding high end, and more. 

See you next time!