Creative Audio Processing
05 - EQs

 

 

Theoretically knowing that it's possible and relevant to add "style" to a given recording is one thing, knowing how to do it in practice is another. Studio environments are full of "stylizing" machines. This ranges from simple EQs to complicated software such as Ircam's Audiosculpt. Out of experience, it turns out that the simplest tools often give the more powerful results. (simple, from a conceptual point of view - I doubt that building a Manley Massive Passive EQ is a simple task, though the basic principles behind it are simple enough.) So, we'll focus on the usual "normal" tools : EQs, compressors and reverbs. ... and we'll start with the EQ. Originally, an EQ is a tool that's designed to do corrections, in order to get a more balanced result out of any sound. It is not essentially a "stylizing" tool, not even a "sound design" tool. This is still the case to some extent, especially in mastering. This is also the case when it comes to add punch to a snare drum, a bass drum, brilliance to a crash cymbal...In those examples, we are reasoning according to a bad<->good axis : a cymbal with brilliance is better than a cymbal without, a bass drum with a sharp attack is better than a bass drum without etc. However, the EQ is a powerful tool when it comes to "stylize", ie making arbitrary aesthetic decisions in order to get a more personal result.