PRESONUS Studio Channel [23/30] Operation

OPERATION

21 | PreSonus 2007

Shelving EQ

A shelving EQ attenuates or boost frequencies above or below a specified cutoff point. Shelving equalizers

come in two different varieties: high-pass and low-pass.

Low-pass shelving filters pass all frequencies below the specified cutoff frequency while attenuating all the

frequencies above it. A high-pass filter does the opposite: passing all frequencies above the specified cut-off

frequency while attenuating everything below.

3.3.2 How to find the best and leave the rest

Included at the end of this section are some general frequency principles to guide you through the wonderful

world of equalization, but these are far from set in stone. So how do you find the best and worst each

instrument has to offer and adjust them accordingly? Here’s a quick guide:

Each instrument resonates most in a specific bandwidth, so, for instance, if you are working on your kick

drum mic, you would start with the lowest bandwidth and tune in the best sounding low end and move on to

the attack. It is not uncommon to hear an annoying ringing or a ‘twang’ somewhere mixed in with your

amazing sounding low end and perfect attack, so your next task will be to find that offending frequency and

notch it out. Once you are satisfied with your kick drum, mute it and move on to the next instrument.

Taking your time with equalization is well worth the effort. Your mix will have better separation and more

clarity when each instrument’s EQ is set so that it shines through the mix. Here are some things to keep in

mind as you venture on into equalization:

 You can only do so much. Not every instrument can have a full rich low end and a sharp attack. If

every instrument is EQ’d to have the same effect, it will lose its identity in the mix. Your goal is not

individual perfection, it is perfection in unity.

 Step away from the mix. Your ears get fatigued just like the rest of you. If you are working

particularly hard on one instrument, your ears will be quite literally numbed to that frequency range.

 Your memory is not what you think it is. Comparing a flat EQ and the curve that you’ve created

allows you to see exactly what you’ve done. So be honest with yourself. Sometimes that EQ setting

you’ve been working on for 15 minutes is not the right choice, move on.

 Never be afraid of taking a risk. The best EQ tricks were found by mad scientists of sound.

“Playing” applies to engineers as well as musicians.