ENSONIQ EPS-16 PLUS, Musician'S Manual

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Section 5 — Sampling EPS-16 PLUS Musician's Manual
Using Equalization
Probably the single most valuable tool for shaping a sampled sound is a good
equalizer. Best for this purpose is a parametric EQ that allows precise control
over center frequency and bandwidth, but excellent results can be obtained with a
10- or 27-band graphic EQ, or even with the channel EQ on a mixing console.
Often a sound contains some overtones or harmonics which sound normal on one
note but unnatural when transposed over a range on the keyboard. Or it might be
necessary, when trying to match up the different samples in a multisampled
sound, to apply some drastic EQ to one or more of those samples. The answer is
to equalize the signal on the way into the EPS-16 PLUS. Here's a little trick for
finding the proper EQ settings (again, we assume a repeatable signal source such
as a tape, CD or synthesizer):
First, sample the sound flat, without any EQ or other processing:
Play the sample on various notes, listening to the overall tonal balance — does it
need some added highs, or perhaps a little less midrange, etc. Listen particularly
for frequencies that seem to stand out unnaturally when the sound is transposed.
Now connect the equalizer between the audio output of the EPS-16 PLUS and
the mixer or amplifier
Play the root key of the new sample (it's very important that you play the root key
during this process so that you'll be equalizing exactly the pitch you sampled).
While playing the root key, adjust the equalizer, zeroing in on the problem areas
and cutting or boosting those frequencies, until the sample sounds just the way
you want it to.
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Using Equalization