Analog EQ

[NwbPwner]

I just bought a cheap analog mixer with high and low EQ. Reading around about EQ i think i got a fairly good sense of what it's purpose is, but as to the actual equalizing itself, I'm not so sure about what to do. Do you just experiment with the EQ to see what sounds good for your particular application or is there a more specific method?

 

[danny.guitar]

If the track sounds fine, leave it alone. Don't use an EQ just because you have one. Although, if using the analog EQ brings some sort of character, or "color" to the sound that you like, then by all means use it.

It's pretty simple though...if the track seems too bassy...turn down the lower frequencies. Same goes for the mids and highs. Learning how each band of the EQ effects the sound is important, so just mess with it.

 

[Jimbo Jones]

At this point, you are best off just experimenting and messing around.

You can find some EQing guidelines like, "On elec guitar, try boosting 2.5kHz for more sizzle." and the like. and thats all fine and dandy, but really a lot of the way EQ is used is different from project to project.

What are you plugging in to your mixer? a mic?

what are you plugging you mixer into? a soundcard on a computer?

IMHO, time learning/experimenting with microphone placement is more well spent than time tweaking a 2 band EQ.

 

[NwbPwner]

Yeah i've got an sm57 to the mixer which then goes through a soundcard. I kinda figured equalizing wouldn't make a whole lot of difference in a setup like that.

 

[Jimbo Jones]

Yeah i've got an sm57 to the mixer which then goes through a soundcard. I kinda figured equalizing wouldn't make a whole lot of difference in a setup like that.

Well, it'll make a difference. The question is do you want that difference captured forever by your computer? I save EQ for the mixing process and mess with mic positioning before tracking to capture the sound I am after, sans EQ.