Using the Equalizer
- If it sounds muddy, cut some at 250Hz.
- If it sounds honky, cut some at 500Hz.
- Cut if you’re trying to make things sound better.
- Boost if you want to try to make things sound different.
- You can’t boost something that’s not there in the first place.
Magic Frequencies
| Range | Description | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 16-60Hz Sub-Bass | Sense of power; felt more than heard | Too much makes the music sound muddy |
| 60 – 250Hz Bass | Contains fundamental notes of rhythm section; makes music fat or thin | Too much makes the music boomy |
| 250-2kHz Low Mids | Contains the low order harmonics of most instruments | Boosting 500 – 1kHz sounds hornlike; 1 – 2kHz sounds tinny |
| 2kHz – 4kHz High Mids | Contains speech recognition sounds like “m,” “b” and “v” | Too much causes listener fatigue |
| 4kHz – 6kHz Presence | Responsible for clarity and definition of voices and instruments | Boosting makes music seem closer |
| 6kHz- 16kHz Brilliance | Controls brilliance and clarity | Too much causes vocal sibilance |
Instrument Magic Frequencies
| Instrument | Magic Frequencies |
|---|---|
| Bass Guitar | Bottom at 50 – 80Hz; attack at 700Hz: snap at 2.5kHz |
| Kick Drum | Bottom at 80 – 100HZ: hollowness at 400Hz; point at 3 – 5kHz |
| Snare | Fatness at 120 – 240Hz: boing at 900Hz: crispness at 5kHz; snap at 10kHz |
| Toms | Fullness at 240 – 500Hz: attack at 5 – 7kHz |
| Floor Tom | Fullness at 80 – 120Hz; attack at 5kHz |
| Conga | Ring at 200Hz: slap at 5kHz |
| Hi Hat & Cymbals | Clang at 200Hz: sparkle at 8 – 10kHz |
| Electric Guitar | Fullness at 240 – 500Hz: presence at 1.5 – 2kHz: reduce 1kHz for 4 X 12 cabinet sound |
| Acoustic Guitar | Fullness at 80Hz: body at 240Hz; presence at 2 – 5kHz |
| Organ | Fullness at 80Hz: body at 240Hz: presence at 2 – 5kHz |
| Piano | Fullness at 80 Hz: presence at 2.5 – 5kHz: honky-tonk at 2.5kHz |
| Horns | Fullness at 120 – 240Hz: piercing at 5kHz |
| Voice | Fullness at 120Hz: boommess at 240Hz; presence at 5kHz; sibilance at 5 kHz: air at 10 – 15kHz |
| Strings | Fullness at 240Hz; scratchiness at 7 – 10kHz |
Additional related content:
Visit the MECA bonus tracks list
Purchase the Tantric Tuning CD
