A Newbie wants to know why there are 7 numbers in EQ?

[rodkneekeeng]

Hi I had a question

Boost means to increase the volume
And Cut means to decrease the volume right?

I read a tutorial on EQ from a site


My software EQ has 7 numbers lined side by side in the center of a graph
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

And it has these options and I will put a definition of what I think next to the items.

Disabled - (Is this to get rid of the sound in that area? But which number should I use 1 2 3 or 7?

Low Pass - (Is this only to allow low sounds to be heard? Like drums and bass?)

Band Pass - (Is this to make all mid sounds be heard??)

High Pass - (Is this to make the high sounds to be heard like hi-hats and claps?)

Notch - (I'm not sure what this is)

Low Shelf - (Not sure what this is)

Peaking - (Not sure what this is)

High Shelf - (Not sure what this is)


I did reading about it, but I still don't get it
When do you use them properly, and why are there 7 numbers to use ? Which number do you use? I know the whole idea of EQ is to place different instruments from interfering with each other in space, but still I lack the understanding of all these definitions, can a master help me?


Thanks, stacy

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

It's hard to tell unless you provide the make and model of the EQ, or provided a screen shit of what it looks like, but my guess is that you're looking at a "paragraphic" style EQ like RND's Dynamizer, for example.

If so, basically it sounds like you have an EQ that has 8 seperate bands of EQ or filtering on it, numbered 1 through 8. You're probably looking at a graph that shows the current equalization curve for the overall EQ based upon the way each of those bands is bending it. You're only seeing 7 because one of them is currently disabled, according to you list, and it won't appear on your list until it is enabled again.

I'd stick with simpler EQs like graphics and simple parametrics and get your ears wet first, while doing some basic research to learn your basic terms like "low pass" and *when to use them* before you take on something that fancy.

Low pass rolls off sounds above a certain selectable frequency (it lets the lower frequencies "pass").

High pass rolls of sounds below a certain selectab;e frequency (it lets the higher frequencies "pass").

Bandpass rollls off frequencies on either side of a certain selectable frequency (lets the stuff in the midlle of the selected band "pass").

Notch is a deep cut of a very narrow range of frequencies (like cutting a "notch" in the spectrum).

Shelves are for boosting or cutting a range of frequencies either on the low end or high end of the spectrum by an equal amount (like raising them up to the next shelf or dropping them down to a lower shelf volume-wise.

You have a whole lifetime ahead ofyou of learning when and where to use and not use each one of those equalization tools; you are asking questions that cannot be answered in one post. Keep reading and start practicing and experimenting with what you read.

G.

 

[danny.guitar]

I'm not an expert at EQs, but here's my attempt. I also attached some screenshots as examples so you can see what they look like.

Band - A "band" type is basically a normal EQ curve. The frequency where the band starts (the middle of it) is the frequency that gets effected. The frequencies around the middle point also get effected. The wider the curve (known as "Q" or "bandwidth"), the more frequencies that get effected.

Band Pass - All frequencies except the band pass frequency (and surrounding frequencies (bandwidth) are muted. Good for "sweeping" through the spectrum to find trouble frequencies.

High Pass - When using a high pass at say, 20Hz, all frequencies above 20Hz "pass through" uneffected, while frequencies 20Hz and lower are decreased in volume if not entirely muted.

Notch - From my experience with my EQ, a notch completely removes that frequency. The frequencies on either side also get effected depending on the Q or bandwidth.

Low Shelf - A low shelf is like a "band" except all frequencies less than that frequency are lowered the same.

Peaking - (Not sure what this is either)

High Shelf - Opposite of Low Shelf.

 

[dementedchord]

sorry you couldn't follow the other explanation... tried to help... but maybe danny's screen shots will make thing s clear... good luck...