Update Equalizing

content/mixing-sessions/equalizing/index.en.md

@@ -2,107 +2,115 @@
 title = "Equalizing"
 chapter = false
 weight = 7
-#pre = "<b>1. </b>"
 +++
 
-An **Equalizer** (or **EQ**) allows
+An _equalizer_ (or _EQ_) allows you to separately control the gain of different
-you to separately control the gain of different frequency ranges of a sound.
+frequency ranges of a sound.
 
-This can be useful not only to sculpt the timbre of an isolated
+This can be useful not only to sculpt the timbre of an isolated sound (for
-sound (for example, to make it sound 'sharper' or 'smoother'), but also
+example, to make it sound "sharper" or "smoother"), but also to make sounds of
-to make sounds of various timbres to integrate better into the Mix. 
+various timbres to integrate better into the mix. 
 
-Often, even after adjusting Levels and Panning, different tracks with
+Often, even after adjusting levels and panning, different tracks with similar
-similar frequency content (for example, a bass guitar and a kick drum)
+frequency content (for example, a bass guitar and a kick drum) may be
-may be difficult to tell apart in the Mix. An Equalizer is a good tool
+difficult to tell apart in the mix. An equalizer is a good tool to address
-to address this.
+this.
 
 ## 3-Band Equalizer
 
-The simplest kind of Equalizer is the one familiar to us from analog
+The simplest kind of equalizer is the one familiar to us from analog mixers. It
-mixers. It has three parameters, which adjust the Levels of three
+has three parameters, which adjust the levels of three _bands_, or frequency
-**Bands**, or frequency ranges: one for the **Bass** (low frequencies),
+ranges: one for the _bass_ (low frequencies), one for the _middle_ range
-one for the middle range frequencies and one for the **Treble** (high
+frequencies, and one for the _treble_ (high frequencies). The _DJ EQ_  plugin on
-frequencies). The "*DJ EQ*" Plugin is just such an EQ. If you don't have this
+the screenshot below is just such an EQ. If you don't have this particular
-particular plugin on your computer, explore the ones you have that have "EQ" in 
+plugin on your computer, explore the ones you have that have "EQ" in the name;
-the name; you will likely find something similar.
+you will likely find something similar.
 
-![dj eq](en/Ardour4_EQ_DJ.png)
+![DJ EQ](en/ardour7-dj-eq.png)
 
-## Multi-Band (or Graphical) Equalizer
+## Multi-Band (or Graphic) Equalizer
 
-A more complex **Multi-Band (or Graphical) Equalizer** often has a lot more
+A more complex _multi-band_ (or _graphic_) equalizer often has a lot more bands.
-bands. Each Band is centered on a frequency, and the Level of each band can be 
+Each band is centered on a frequency, and the level of each band can be
-independently adjusted. In some Multi-Band EQs, such as the "*TAP Equalizer*"
+independently adjusted. In some multi-band EQs, such as the _LSP Graphic
-plugin shown below, the center frequency of each Band can be defined by the
+Equalizer_ plugin shown below, the center frequency of each band can be defined
-user. This allows you to either attenuate (or remove) an unwanted frequency,
+by the user. This allows you to either attenuate (or remove) an unwanted
-or to reinforce (boost) a desired one.
+frequency, or to reinforce (boost) a desired one.
 
-![tap eq](en/Ardour4_EQ_TAP_Equalizer.png)
+![tap eq](en/ardour7-lsp-graphic-16-band-eq.png)
 
-The overall "curve" of the Bands can also be used to determine the
+The overall "curve" of the bands can also be used to determine the general tone
-general tone of your Track or Mix. In the example above, the lower part
+of your track or mix. In the example above, the lower part of the mid-range
-of the mid-range frequencies have been "scooped out" a bit (note how
+frequencies have been "scooped out" a bit (note how bands 1,2 and 15,16 are left
-Bands 1 and 8 are left untouched at 0 dB, while intermediary Bands 2 to
+untouched at 0 dB, while intermediary bands 3 through 14 draw an attenuation
-7 draw an attenuation curve, with Band 4 at -15 dB as the lowest point).
+curve, with band 7 at -13.5 dB as the lowest point).
 
 ## Parametric Equalizer
 
-The **Parametric Equalizer** is the most versatile type of EQ used for
+The _parametric equalizer_ is the most versatile type of EQ used for mixing
-Mixing because of its extensive control over all types of EQ parameters.
+because of its extensive control over all types of EQ parameters. Ardour ships
-Ardour ships with a Parametric Equalizer plug-in called the "*a-EQ*". It looks like this:
+with a parametric equalizer plug-in called the _ACE EQ_. It looks like this:
 
-![a-eq](en/Ardour5_a-EQ.png)
+![a-eq](en/ardour7-ace-eq.png)
 
-Others may have shinier graphical interfaces like this one from the Calf Plugins package, but they all essentially do the exact same thing. You may have EQ plugins on your computer that look a bit different than these screenshots, but the parameters you can control are likely very similar.
+Others may have shinier graphical interfaces like the _x42 EQ_ by Robin Gareus,
+but they all essentially do the exact same thing. You may have EQ plugins on
+your computer that look a bit different than these screenshots, but the
+parameters you can control are likely very similar.
 
-![calf eq](en/Ardour4_EQ_Calf.png)
+![x42 eq](en/ardour7-x42-eq.png)
 
-In both screenshots above (a-EQ and Calf EQ), there are options you can adjust for each frequency band.
+In both screenshots above (_a-EQ_ and _x42 EQ_), there are options you can
-Each of the three bands has a "*Level (dB)*" adjustment to cut or boost frequencies, a
+adjust for each frequency band. Each of the three bands has a _level_ (dB)
-"*Frequency (Hz)*" adjustment to select center frequency, and a
+adjustment to cut or boost frequencies, a _frequency_ (Hz) adjustment to select
-"*Q*" adjustment (between 0 and 1) which determines how wide the range of
+center frequency, and a some form of _Q_ adjustment which determines how wide
-frequencies to be affected will be.
+the range of frequencies to be affected will be.
 
 #### High Shelf, Low Shelf
 
-Both plugins shown above (a-EQ and Calf) also contain a **High Shelf** and **Low Shelf**. A **Shelf** cuts or boosts everything above (High Shelf) or below (Low Shelf) a specific frequency. For example, a
+Both plugins shown above (_a-EQ_ and _x42 EQ_) also contain a _high shelf_ and
-Low Shelf can be used to remove unwanted rumbling sounds, and a High
+_low shelf_. A _shelf_ cuts or boosts everything above (high shelf) or below
-Shelf can be used to reduce hiss. The "*Frequency*" control of a Shelf determines the cut-off frequency.
+(low shelf) a specific frequency. For example, a low shelf can be used to remove
-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. Notice that neither the High Shelf nor the Low Shelf have a Q parameter.
+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.
+
+Note that for ACE EQ, there's no _Q_ parameter for either the high shelf or the
+low shelf, but _x42 EQ_ has it.
 
 ## An Example of Using an Equalizer
 
-In order to achieve a better separation of two instruments in the Mix
+In order to achieve a better separation of two instruments in the mix through
-through the use of EQ, you first need to find out where the two
+the use of EQ, you first need to find out where the two instruments overlap.
-instruments overlap.
 
 Here's one approach.
 
-1. Using a-EQ or any equivalent EQ plugin, select an appropriate band for one
+1. Using _ACE EQ_ or any equivalent EQ plugin, select an appropriate band for
-of the instruments. In the case of a bass guitar, it would be a low frequency
+one of the instruments. In the case of a bass guitar, it would be a low
-band (start at, say, 100 Hz).
+frequency band (start at, say, 100 Hz).
 
-2. Boost the "*gain*" to 10dB, change the "*Q*" (also called "bandwidth") 
+2. Boost the gain to 10dB, change the _Q_ (also called "bandwidth")  so that is
-so that is a narrower range, and then scroll the "*frequency*" up and down
+a narrower range, and then adjust the frequency upwards and downwards slowly.
-slowly. You'll hear a pitch move up and down.
+You'll hear a pitch move up and down.
 
-3. Scroll it down slowly until you hear the frequency range where the two
+3. 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 
+instruments overlap. Now simply reduce the gain to -5dB, and you will hopefully
-hopefully hear the instruments a bit clearer. Next, apply the same process
+hear the instruments a bit clearer. Next, apply the same process to the other
-to the other instrument.
+instrument.
 
-There are many approaches to EQ. Hopefully this will provide one example
+There are many approaches to EQ. Hopefully this will provide one example of
-of how to begin EQ'ing Tracks in your Mix. But most importantly, when it
+how to begin EQ'ing tracks in your mix. But most importantly, when it comes to
-comes to EQ, it is better to use too little than too much, unless you're
+EQ, it is better to use too little than too much, unless you're intentionally
-consciously using extreme EQ as a compositional parameter.
+using extreme EQ as a compositional parameter.
 
 ## Continuing
 
-You should have enough tools now to create a clean, well-balanced Stereo
+You should have enough tools now to create a clean, well-balanced stereo mix of
-Mix of your Session. However, if you want the parameters of your Faders,
+your session. However, if you want the parameters of your faders, panning or
-Panning or Plugins to change over Time, then you will want to explore
+plugins to change over time, then you will want to explore the next chapter on
-the **Using Automation** chapter next. If not, then skip ahead to learn
+automation. If not, then skip ahead to learn how to _export sessions_ in the
-how to **Export Sessions** in the following section.
+next section.
 
 Next: [USING AUTOMATION](../using-automation)