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As said earlier, the equaliser is probably the oldest and the
most popular sound processing tool. Parametric EQ (PEQ) in
particular offers maximal flexibility due to direct access to all
relevant filter parameters. Properly used, the PEQ is a very
powerful tool and the best friend of every sound engineer in
the battle for perfect sound but if misused, it can be the
greatest enemy of any recording! There is no universal
formula stating how to properly use the PEQ as every new
recording or mixing session is unique. Here we present only
a few universal guidelines which are valid for the majority of
situations. For further directions see the respective literature,
ask experienced colleagues and be creative. You may also
wish to look at the Duende tutorials, available for download
from our website here:
http://www.solid-state-logic.com/resources/tutorials/duende
• Do not exaggerate with boosting. It is much better to
concentrate on a proper recording setup than to rely on
extreme EQ corrections. Use good mics, placed in just
the right spot. Equalisers are a lot more effective taking
away things in the signal than replacing what was never
there. If the sound is not good without EQ, then you
will never end up with a perfect sound using it.
• For sound enhancement use moderate Q values. High Q
is always associated with a strong phase shift that can
negatively influence the sound, especially if more
instruments are recorded on the same track. Remember
that when you use an equaliser to boost or cut a certain
part of sound at the adjusted centre frequency, you are
also boosting or cutting frequencies nearby.
• Your tracks may sound great when soloed but that
doesn’t mean that they will still be great in the context
of your mix. Mixing a multitrack recording is like
solving a complicated puzzle or creating a great
painting. Every part (instrument or voice) has to have
its proper place in the overall sound image. Change the
settings in small increments. Use the In/Out bypass
button regularly to flip back and forth between the
equalised and unprocessed sound. Always equalise
tracks in the context of the rest of the mix to avoid sonic
conflicts.
• Be aware that boosting the gain of a frequency region
can cause signal clipping at the output of the sound
card. Therefore, use the X-EQ output slider to
compensate for this before the signal enters the DAW
channel.
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8. Application Tips