<scripttype=text/javascript>varbaseurl="https://prokoudine.github.io/ardour-tutorial/en"</script><scripttype=text/javascriptsrc=/ardour-tutorial/js/search.js?1650871830></script></div><sectionid=homelinks><ul><li><aclass=paddinghref=/ardour-tutorial/en/><iclass="fas fa-home"></i> Home</a></li></ul></section><divclass=highlightable><ulclass=topics><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/title=Introductionclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/><b>1. </b>Introduction</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/conventions/title=Conventionsclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/conventions/>Conventions</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/what-is-digital-audio/title="What is digital audio?"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/introduction/what-is-digital-audio/>What is digital audio?</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/title="Getting started"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/><b>2. </b>Getting started</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/starting-ardour-on-ubuntu/title="Starting Ardour"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/starting-ardour-on-ubuntu/>Starting Ardour</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/title="Overview of the Interface"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/>Overview of the Interface</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/editor-window/title="Editor window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/editor-window/>Editor window</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/mixer-window/title="Mixer window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/mixer-window/>Mixer window</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/recorder-window/title="Recorder window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/recorder-window/>Recorder window</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/cue-window/title="Cue window"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/overview-of-the-interface/cue-window/>Cue window</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/title="Creating tracks and busses"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/creating-tracks-and-busses/>Creating tracks and busses</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/importing-audio/title="Importing audio"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/importing-audio/>Importing audio</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/setting-up-the-timeline/title="Setting up the timeline"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/getting-started/setting-up-the-timeline/>Setting up the timeline</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/title=Recordingclass=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/><b>3. </b>Recording</a><ul><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/recording-audio/title="Recording audio"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/recording-audio/>Recording audio</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/understanding-routing/title="Understanding routing"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/understanding-routing/>Understanding routing</a></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/routing-between-applications/title="Routing between applications"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/recording-audio/routing-between-applications/>Routing between applications</a></li></ul></li><lidata-nav-id=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/title="Editing sessions"class=dd-item><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/editing-sessions/><b>4. </b>Editi
<spanclass=links><ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/>Home</a> > <ahref=/ardour-tutorial/en/mixing-sessions/>Mixing sessions</a> > Equalizing</span></div><divclass=progress><divclass=wrapper><navid=TableOfContents><ul><li><ahref=#3-band-equalizer>3-Band Equalizer</a></li><li><ahref=#multi-band-or-graphic-equalizer>Multi-Band (or Graphic) Equalizer</a></li><li><ahref=#parametric-equalizer>Parametric Equalizer</a><ul><li></li></ul></li><li><ahref=#an-example-of-using-an-equalizer>An Example of Using an Equalizer</a></li><li><ahref=#continuing>Continuing</a></li></ul></nav></div></div></div></div><divid=head-tags></div><divid=body-inner><h1>Equalizing</h1><p>An <em>equalizer</em> (or <em>EQ</em>) allows you to separately control the gain of different
frequency ranges of a sound.</p><p>This can be useful not only to sculpt the timbre of an isolated sound (for
example, to make it sound “sharper” or “smoother”), but also to make sounds of
various timbres to integrate better into the mix.</p><p>Often, even after adjusting levels and panning, different tracks with similar
frequency content (for example, a bass guitar and a kick drum) may be
difficult to tell apart in the mix. An equalizer is a good tool to address
this.</p><h2id=3-band-equalizer>3-Band Equalizer</h2><p>The simplest kind of equalizer is the one familiar to us from analog mixers. It
has three parameters, which adjust the levels of three <em>bands</em>, or frequency
ranges: one for the <em>bass</em> (low frequencies), one for the <em>middle</em> range
frequencies, and one for the <em>treble</em> (high frequencies). The <em>DJ EQ</em> plugin on
the screenshot below is just such an EQ. If you don’t have this particular
plugin on your computer, explore the ones you have that have “EQ” in the name;
you will likely find something similar.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/ardour7-dj-eq.pngalt="DJ EQ"></figure><h2id=multi-band-or-graphic-equalizer>Multi-Band (or Graphic) Equalizer</h2><p>A more complex <em>multi-band</em> (or <em>graphic</em>) equalizer often has a lot more bands.
frequency, or to reinforce (boost) a desired one.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/ardour7-lsp-graphic-16-band-eq.pngalt="tap eq"></figure><p>The overall “curve” of the bands can also be used to determine the general tone
of your track or mix. In the example above, the lower part of the mid-range
frequencies have been “scooped out” a bit (note how bands 1,2 and 15,16 are left
untouched at 0 dB, while intermediary bands 3 through 14 draw an attenuation
curve, with band 7 at -13.5 dB as the lowest point).</p><h2id=parametric-equalizer>Parametric Equalizer</h2><p>The <em>parametric equalizer</em> is the most versatile type of EQ used for mixing
because of its extensive control over all types of EQ parameters. Ardour ships
with a parametric equalizer plug-in called the <em>ACE EQ</em>. It looks like this:</p><figure><imgsrc=en/ardour7-ace-eq.pngalt=a-eq></figure><p>Others may have shinier graphical interfaces like the <em>x42 EQ</em> by Robin Gareus,
parameters you can control are likely very similar.</p><figure><imgsrc=en/ardour7-x42-eq.pngalt="x42 eq"></figure><p>In both screenshots above (<em>a-EQ</em> and <em>x42 EQ</em>), there are options you can
adjust for each frequency band. Each of the three bands has a <em>level</em> (dB)
adjustment to cut or boost frequencies, a <em>frequency</em> (Hz) adjustment to select
center frequency, and a some form of <em>Q</em> adjustment which determines how wide
the range of frequencies to be affected will be.</p><h4id=high-shelf-low-shelf>High Shelf, Low Shelf</h4><p>Both plugins shown above (<em>a-EQ</em> and <em>x42 EQ</em>) also contain a <em>high shelf</em> and
<em>low shelf</em>. A <em>shelf</em> cuts or boosts everything above (high shelf) or below
(low shelf) a specific frequency. For example, a low shelf can be used to remove
unwanted rumbling sounds, and a high shelf can be used to reduce hiss. The
frequency control of a shelf determines the cut-off frequency. for example,
a low shelf with cut off frequency 200 Hz means that the equalizer will
attenuate everything below that frequency. The amount of attenuation is
controlled by the level knob.</p><p>Note that for ACE EQ, there’s no <em>Q</em> parameter for either the high shelf or the
low shelf, but <em>x42 EQ</em> has it.</p><h2id=an-example-of-using-an-equalizer>An Example of Using an Equalizer</h2><p>In order to achieve a better separation of two instruments in the mix through
the use of EQ, you first need to find out where the two instruments overlap.</p><p>Here’s one approach.</p><ol><li><p>Using <em>ACE EQ</em> or any equivalent EQ plugin, select an appropriate band for
one of the instruments. In the case of a bass guitar, it would be a low
frequency band (start at, say, 100 Hz).</p></li><li><p>Boost the gain to 10dB, change the <em>Q</em> (also called “bandwidth”) so that is
a narrower range, and then adjust the frequency upwards and downwards slowly.
You’ll hear a pitch move up and down.</p></li><li><p>Bring it down slowly until you hear the frequency range where the two
instruments overlap. Now simply reduce the gain to -5dB, and you will hopefully
hear the instruments a bit clearer. Next, apply the same process to the other
instrument.</p></li></ol><p>There are many approaches to EQ. Hopefully this will provide one example of
how to begin EQ’ing tracks in your mix. But most importantly, when it comes to
EQ, it is better to use too little than too much, unless you’re intentionally
using extreme EQ as a compositional parameter.</p><h2id=continuing>Continuing</h2><p>You should have enough tools now to create a clean, well-balanced stereo mix of
your session. However, if you want the parameters of your faders, panning or
plugins to change over time, then you will want to explore the next chapter on
automation. If not, then skip ahead to learn how to <em>export sessions</em> in the
next section.</p><p>Next: <ahref=../using-automation>USING AUTOMATION</a></p><footerclass=footline></footer></div></div><divid=navigation></div></section><divstyle=left:-1000px;overflow:scroll;position:absolute;top:-1000px;border:none;box-sizing:content-box;height:200px;margin:0;padding:0;width:200px><divstyle=border:none;box-sizing:content-box;height:200px;margin:0;padding:0;width:200px></div></div><scriptsrc=/ardour-tutorial/js/clipboard.min.js?1650871830></script>
