Continuing my previous post about Frequency Range, this time I will discuss how to use an equalizer.
Equalizer has an important role in the music mixing process. Without an equalizer, a song or music is definitely not very good when heard.
What is the Equalizer?
From the language, we can already understand that Equalizer is Equaliz which means equalize. Here what we equate is the perception of human hearing between one frequency and the frequency must be balanced, nothing is too much and nothing is too short.
Why should the equalization process be done?
Because the raw data is not necessarily the frequency or the character is already balanced according to the listener's ears, therefore we need an equalizer.
To make it easier for us to understand, let's discuss three equalizer functions.
- The first equalizer function is to reduce or eliminate problems.
- The second function of the equalizer is a tool to place each instrument in a certain frequency. For example, low mid, or high because each track has its own position on each frequency
- the third function is to strengthen the character of a track of instruments.
Now we will discuss in more detail these three Functions:
1. Reduce or eliminate problems
An example of an equalizer function as a problem solving is, If we look at my previous post about the frequency range of an instrument or vocal, it is clear where the frequency is. So if there is a frequency signal other than the range of an instrument, it is most likely a disturbance signal from outside, for example, room reflection or a signal coming from anywhere we usually call rumble. His voice was buzzing.
The hum is in the low frequency or bass and sub-bass. So that later on the frequency of the Bass or Kick instrument itself is disturbed by the hum frequency which causes the sound of the Bass or Kicks instrument to be unclean. By using the equalizer we can get rid of these annoying frequencies.
Keep in mind that if you have a problem like that, don't solve it by increasing the frequency. This can result in the frequency of the Bass or Kick Instruments. So it's good to pay attention first to disturbing frequencies.
Case Example: For example when Bass and Guitar Instruments. The guitar has a frequency from low to high, most likely the guitar frequency will cover the Bass frequency. The step we have to take is to reduce the guitar frequency which is at the bass fundamental frequency. Instead of increasing the Bass frequency.
2. The second function locates an instrument at a certain frequency.
the 50-200 Hz frequency on the guitar is reduced so as not to cover the Bass frequency
Back again in my previous post, there we can see that an instrument has a Fundamental, dominant or basic frequency.
Case Example: It often happens that the sound of a guitar, piano, string instrument interferes with vocal sounds because the frequencies of these instruments are close together and even take the position of the vocal frequency range. So the solution is to reduce the frequency of the instrument that interferes with the vocals.
What if in a piece of music there are several instruments that have the same frequency?
There we have to take a priority scale which is more important. Examples of sounds of Kick, Bass and also low piano sounds and etc. There we have to dominate the sound of Kick and Bass, while we can reduce the frequency of the low piano sound. Likewise in the middle frequency, where the vocal is the king, so if there are other sounds that interfere with the vocal frequency, it must be reduced.
3. The third function is to strengthen the character of an important instrument.
Note:
Blue: the 50-100Hz frequency is not the fundamental frequency of vocals, the usual interference frequency lies in that range, so it must be cut.
Green: vocal fundamental frequency
Purple: need to add high frequency to make the vocal sound clearer
Within that frequency range, there are important frequencies that must be maintained, but there are also other frequencies that must be considered to add character to the sound.
For example, we mix 40 to 80 instruments, it does not mean that all of them have to be given character.
Another case example is, In vocals, there are important or Fundamental frequencies between the middle range. For the high frequency itself, the character usually needs to be added so that the vocal sound is clearer.