EQ Guide for Soundman and Musician

Please Note – The values below are marely guides, each mix is unique and individual so experimentation is advised.

Instruments and Vocals EQ

Kick Drum & Toms

Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. Try a small boost around 5-7 kHz to add some high end.

50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom to the sound

100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness Area

5-8kHz ~ Add high end presence

8-12kHz ~ Adds Hiss

Snare

Try a small boost around 60-120Hz if the sound a little too wimpy. Try boosting around 6kHz for that ‘snappy’ sound.

100-250Hz ~ Fills out the sound

6-8kHz ~ Adds presence

Hi hats or cymbals

Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. To add some brightness try a small boost around 3kHz.

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area

1-6kHz ~ Adds presence

6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity

8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

Bass Guitar

Try boosting around 60Hz to add more body. Ant apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. If more presence is needed, boost around 6kHz.

50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom end

100-250Hz ~ Muddiness Area

800-1KHz ~ Adds beef to small speakers

1-6kHz ~ Adds presence

6-8kHz ~ Adds high-end presence

8-12kHz ~ Adds hiss

Piano

Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off around 300Hz. Apply a vey small boost around 6kHz to add some clarity

50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom

100-250Hz ~ Adds roundness

250-1kHz ~ Muddiness area

1-6kHz ~ Adds presence

6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity

8-12kHz ~ Adds hiss

Electric Guitars

Apply either cut or boost around 300Hz, depending on the song and sound. Try boosting around 3kHz to add some edge to the sound, or cut to add some transparency. Try boosting around 6kHz to add presence. Try boosting around 10kHz to add brightness

100-250Hz ~ Adds body

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area

1-6kHz ~ Cuts through the mix

6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity

8-12kHz ~ Adds hiss

Acoustic guitar

Any apparent muddiness can be rolled off between 100-300Hz. Apply small amounts of cut 1-3kHz to push the image higher. Apply small amounts of boost around 5kHz to add some presence

100-250Hz ~ Adds body

6-8kHz ~ Add clarity

8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

Strings

These depend entirely on mix and the sound used.

50-100Hz ~ Adds bottom end

100-250Hz ~ Adds body

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area

1-6kHz ~ Sounds crunchy

6-8kHz ~ Adds clarity

8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness

Vocals

This is a difficult one, as it depends on the mic used for the vocal. Apply either cut or boost around 300Hz. Apply a very small boost around 6kHz to add some clarity.

100-250Hz ~ Adds ‘up-frontness’

250-800Hz ~ Muddiness area

1-6kHz ~ Adds presence

6-8kHz ~ Adds sibilance and clarity

8-12kHz ~ Adds brightness