Audio Equalization (EQ) Techniques and Tips
What you'll learn
- How equalizers are used by professional audio engineers
- The types of EQ's and which one is the best for each job
- The frequency ranges in audio and how to use them when you equalize
- The most important frequencies of various instruments
Requirements
- You can use any DAW (Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, etc.) so you can practice with the course material
- Studio monitors or a decent pair of headphones for better listening
- You can download and use Audacity as a free alternative for the exercises (Mac, Windows, Linux)
Description
Learn how to use an EQ properly! The equalizer is a very powerful tool when mixing audio, but if misused, it can make everything sound worse! With this course, you can learn how to use equalizers in the right way and improve the quality of your production. This course was created to start from scratch in the world of equalization. From the basics of sound and frequency to the types of EQ's and common applications.
Learn the most important concepts for a good equalization:
Types of equalizers, characteristics and applications.
Hertz, dB, frequency ranges.
Their typical controls and settings.
The use of filters: HPF, LPF, BPF, notch.
How the "magic frequencies" of different instruments work.
Common EQ techniques for vocals, guitars, drums, bass, etc.
The differences between graphic, parametric, shelving and Baxandall EQ's.
Serial and parallel equalization.
Procedures to equalize in a fast and effective way.
You can learn how to take the best out of an equalizer!
You will understand in a practical way how to use an equalizer and get better results in your mixes and music productions. The techniques shown in this course will work in the home or pro studio (with any DAW) and in live sound situations as well. Either with hardware or software EQ's, and when editing or mixing audio!
This course is a great option for DJ's, music producers, musicians, sound technicians, audio enthusiasts, etc.
Course Overview
First, we will deal with the concept of frequency and how it is perceived. We will understand the frequency ranges and their importance in sound. This is crucial for proper equalization. You will never get a great sound unless you learn what to hear even before touching the EQ! This course is based on that principle.
Then we will tackle the application of audio filters to minimize unwanted frequencies or to create special effects.
After that, we will work with equalizers, and we will show the different kinds of EQ's and their applications. You'll see demonstrations of equalization procedures for different instruments, learn which frequencies cause the most common problems for different instruments and you'll be able to practice with the included material.
Finally, we'll talk about Audacity, the free audio editor, and how you can use it to equalize your material without buying any specialized software.
The course has been carefully designed to be a self-paced, step-by-step process right from the beginning, so you won't need any previous audio knowledge. You will learn in a fast and effective way. You can even study a pair of lessons in just 15 minutes a day!
You will be guided by a certified audio instructor (Avid, Yamaha, Steinberg), with more than 18 years of teaching experience at all levels, from professional seminars to college-level classes and a top instructor on Udemy, so academic quality is guaranteed.
Forget about incomplete tutorials on the web. In this course, you will find the most important information about equalization in an organized, concise and easy-to-follow way.
Testimonials
"Great class! helps me to understand with ease. Straight to the point, with great examples and explanations". David Virtue.
"I liked that he gave a keyword to help remember the different frequency ranges...". Debra Peterson.
Join a community of more than 13,000 students worldwide and learn more about audio!
*A Spanish version of this course is also available on Udemy.
Who this course is for:
- Music producers
- Sound designers
- DJ's
- Musicians
- Audio enthusiasts
Instructor
Marco Galvan has been active in the music and audio business for more than 18 years. He holds a B.Eng with a major in Acoustics from the National Polytechnic Institute. He is a professional musician, arranger and composer with studies at Berklee College of Music and he holds Certificates in Music Theory and Keyboard Performance from the ABRSM and Trinity College London. In the audio field, he studied at Alchemea College in London and holds several certifications like: Pro Tools User, Meyer Sound System Design, Nexo and DiGiCo operator among others.
Currently, he works as a Dolby Atmos Mixing and Mastering engineer and as an Associate Professor at Anahuac University, with more than 18 years of teaching experience. Many of his former students currently work for companies like: Sony Music Entertainment (Grammy Award winner), Televisa, TV Azteca, OCESA, Meyer Sound; and for international Latin artists like Emmanuel, Carlos Vives and Alexander Acha, performing in world-class events like Festival Viña del Mar.
The recommended order to take his courses from zero is:
- Audio Engineering fundamentals
- Acoustics for the Home Studio
- Audacity for beginners
- Applied Modern Harmony
- Introduction to DAWs using Reaper
- Audio Equalization techniques
- Audio Compression techniques
- Audio Effects and Processors
- Basic principles of Music Mixing
- Audio Mastering
Marco Galván ha estado activo en la industria de la música y el audio por más de 18 años. Tiene el grado de Ingeniero con especialidad en Acústica por el Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Es músico, arreglista y compositor profesional con estudios en Berklee College of Music y cuenta con certificados en Teoría Musical y Teclados por la ABRSM y el Trinity College London. En el terreno del audio cursó estudios en el Alchemea College de Londres y tiene diversas certificaciones como: Operador Pro Tools, Diseño de Sistemas Meyer Sound, Operador Nexo y DiGiCo entre otras.
Actualmente labora como ingeniero de mezcla y masterización Dolby Atmos, y como profesor asociado en la Universidad Anáhuac, con más de 18 años de experiencia docente. Muchos de sus antiguos estudiantes trabajan para compañías como Sony Music (ganador de premio Grammy), Televisa, TV Azteca, OCESA, Meyer Sound; y para artistas internacionales como Emmanuel, Carlos Vives y Alexnder Acha, actuando en eventos de clase mundial como el Festival Viña del Mar.
El orden recomendado para tomar sus cursos desde cero es:
- Fundamentos de ingeniería en audio
- Introducción al uso de DAW's con Reaper
- Home Studio para principiantes
- Acústica para Home Studios
- Armonía y teoría musical aplicada
- Introducción a la improvisación musical
- Uso de consolas mezcladoras
- Uso de consolas digitales de audio
- Técnicas de ecualización
- Técnicas de compresión
- Efectos y procesadores de audio
- Beat making en Pro Tools
- Fundamentos de Pro Tools
- Producción Musical en Logic Pro
- Principios de la mezcla musical
- Masterización de audio