Audio Foundations: EQ and Filters

Course details

In this installment of the Foundations of Audio series, author Brian Lee White shows producers and audio engineers how to properly apply equalization (EQ) and improve the sound of their mixes. The course covers the use of parametric and graphic EQs—and filters such as the high/low pass filters and shelf filters—in a variety of musical settings. These principles can be applied to any digital audio workstation platform, including Logic and Pro Tools, as well as analog workflows.

Learning objectives
Measuring frequency and amplitude
Understanding the relationship between frequency and pitch
Working with EQ controls such as bandwidth (Q) and gain
Using graphic EQ
Understanding the shelving and high-pass and low-pass filters
Creating focus with EQ
Creating complementary EQ curves
Performing frequency bracketing with filters
Automating EQ
Using frequency analyzers
Using harmonic generators to excite frequency content

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching this course
03 - Using the exercise files
04 - Using the Get In the Mix Pro Tools and Logic Pro session files

1. Understanding Frequency and Amplitude

05 - What are frequency and amplitude
06 - Measuring frequency
07 - Measuring amplitude
08 - The perception of frequency and amplitude
09 - Frequency and pitch

2. Using Equalizers

10 - What is an equalizer
11 - Hardware and software EQ
12 - Understanding frequency and gain EQ controls
13 - Using the bandwidth, or Q, EQ control
14 - Parametric equalizers
15 - Shelving filters
16 - High- and low-pass filters
17 - Putting it all together with multiband EQ
18 - Using graphic EQ

3. Advanced EQ Topics

19 - Creating focus
20 - Get in the Mix - Using EQ to fix problems and place elements in the mix
21 - Get in the Mix - Creating complementary EQ curves
22 - Get in the Mix - Creative EQ with the telephone effect
23 - Get in the Mix - Frequency bracketing with filters
24 - Get in the Mix - Automating EQ
25 - Learning to listen
26 - Balancing expectations from the recording process

4. Additional EQ and Filtering Techniques

27 - Get in the Mix - EQing FX returns
28 - Using common vintage-modeled EQs
29 - Using frequency analyzers
30 - Using harmonic generators to excite frequency content
31 - EQ or compression first
32 - EQ and room acoustics - Is your room lying to you
33 - Boost or cut The relative nature of EQ and headroom
34 - Building healthy EQ strategies

5. Conclusion

35 - What's next and EQ summary

6. An Interview with the Author

36 - A session with Brian Lee White