Equalization for music
The Graphic Equalizer is designed not only for use in preventing feedback and equalizing
uneven room frequency response to be flat, but also for equalizing frequency response to your
tastes and producing favourable sound for you. Fig.
1 shows each frequency band and its
corresponding auditory feeling. Fig. 2 and Table 1 show the relation between each musical
instrument and its frequency band. They can be of great help in the equalizer operation. (They
are referenced from a book entitled "Practical Guide for Concert".)
EQUALIZATION CHART
These sounds
are felt more
than really
heard. They
give a sense of
power. Too
much produces
a muddy
sound.
The rhythm
section appears
here. Either a fat
or thin sound can
be heard by mis-
EQ here. Too much
becomes boomy.
Bass guitar-Snare-
Toms.
Probably the most
important of all. Most
all instruments
contain harmonics
here.
300Hz boosting can
cause horn-like
sounds. 1k to 2k
sounds tinny. Too
much here sounds
like the telephone.
Figure 1
Upper vocal region.
Too much here will
cause great fatigue,
and loss of speech
intelligence. Reducing
3k can bring vocals
on top.
Presence range.
Great achievement
in overall level can
be had here. Too
little causes a "far
away" sound.
Sibilance
levels can be
controlled
here. Bright,
clean defini-
tion.
INSTRUMENT CHART
INSTRUMENT EQUALIZATION CHART
Figure 2
Acoustic guitar
Electric guitar
Bass guitar
Human voice
Piano (Acoustic)
Piano (Electric)
Organ
Violin
Brass instruments
Bass drum
Snare drum
Tom Tom
Floor Tom
Hi Hat
Cymbal overhead
Talk Box
Bass strings resonate between 70 to 120Hz, body around 300Hz.
Avoid boosting these to stop feedback. 3kHz and 5kHz give great
"clarity".
Resonances differ — depending on type. Good full sounds around
300 to 500Hz. Clarity at 3kHz.
Extreme lows are at 60 to 90Hz. "Pick" or "pluck" sounds are
around 800 to 1200Hz. Upper harmonics clarified about 3kHz.
Good fullness at 150Hz. Watch for "boominess" around 250Hz.
Mid-range 10kHz.
Bass strings resonate around 100Hz, Watch for sub-harmonics at
30 to 50Hz.
Good mid-clarity at 3kHz to 5kHz thins out rapidly in high end. Be
careful around 1.5kHz to 2.5kHz to avoid the "bar room sound."
Usually dies under 200Hz. Has great mid-sounds around 1200 to
2000Hz. Top end cuts off at 6kHz.
Rich fullness at 400Hz. Natural mids around 1500 to 2500Hz.
Avoid "scratch" sounds at 8kHz.
Watch for "hot" mids around 2kHz. Low end boost around 400Hz.
Top end clarity at 6kHz.
Great low "kick" at 40Hz. The mids at 2kHz gives the familiar
"punch."
Good fullness at 100Hz. The "crack" is boosted at 2kHz. The
snares extend to above 4kHz.
The main fullness is around 200Hz. The mid punch extends to
4kHz.
Same as torn, but extends down to 80Hz.
Watch for the "gong" sound around 300Hz. Good "shimmer"
sounds are around 8kHz to 10kHz.
About the same as hi-hat but has more low end around 150Hz.
Depending on the guitar sound driving it and the resonance of each
player's mouth, should have great "bite" around 1200Hz and dies
above 6kHz.
Table 1
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Channel and Graphic Equalizers
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