Hi,
Another newbie question, but what the hell is EQ Sweeping?! Anyone?
EQ Sweeping?
EQ sweeping describes the way in which we can find the problem areas as defined by amplitude of frequency bands on a soundfile.
Simply put, you set your EQ up to a rather narrow bandwidth along with quite a bit of BOOST and then while the track or song is playing back, you "sweep" slowly across the frequency band while listening for nasties.
Boosting the amplitude is the easiest way to find problem areas, for they will jump out of the monitors or even "hoot" when you sweep past them.
Take note of the frequency or frequencies where you find these places and then apply a CUT at that frequency in an effort to even things out.
Every once in a while you can also go back over the same track again, this time using a CUT instead of a boost and find even tinier problem areas, this one best performed after using the boost method first and paring out the big ones.
Several passes should have the track coming out pretty much flat in response.
The same thing can be done with a Graphic EQ, too, just start at the left side and boost the first slider, listening for when the "bad" really kicks in. Note the position where that happens and then place the slider in the opposite (if the hoot kicks in at say, +3dB, set that slider to -3dB). Then go on to the next slider and repeat. Good idea to do this at least twice one right after the other to finetune.
Not to be confused with using the parametric EQ on a track to surgically pare out parts that are "fighting" with other tracks, such as two guitars playing about the same chords at the same time, when the two play the same notes, digital audio being additive in nature, they can cause problems. Using the EQ to pare back one of the guitars is often a good thing for the mix, then.
So "sweeping" the EQ means that you are moving the frequency band of a narrow boosted area slowly from low to high, listening for anomalies in the boosted band. You boost them to make 'em easy to spot.
Come on over to http://www.audiominds.com and check out the tutorials and links we have up for more info, also be sure to visit our forum!
--Mac
Simply put, you set your EQ up to a rather narrow bandwidth along with quite a bit of BOOST and then while the track or song is playing back, you "sweep" slowly across the frequency band while listening for nasties.
Boosting the amplitude is the easiest way to find problem areas, for they will jump out of the monitors or even "hoot" when you sweep past them.
Take note of the frequency or frequencies where you find these places and then apply a CUT at that frequency in an effort to even things out.
Every once in a while you can also go back over the same track again, this time using a CUT instead of a boost and find even tinier problem areas, this one best performed after using the boost method first and paring out the big ones.
Several passes should have the track coming out pretty much flat in response.
The same thing can be done with a Graphic EQ, too, just start at the left side and boost the first slider, listening for when the "bad" really kicks in. Note the position where that happens and then place the slider in the opposite (if the hoot kicks in at say, +3dB, set that slider to -3dB). Then go on to the next slider and repeat. Good idea to do this at least twice one right after the other to finetune.
Not to be confused with using the parametric EQ on a track to surgically pare out parts that are "fighting" with other tracks, such as two guitars playing about the same chords at the same time, when the two play the same notes, digital audio being additive in nature, they can cause problems. Using the EQ to pare back one of the guitars is often a good thing for the mix, then.
So "sweeping" the EQ means that you are moving the frequency band of a narrow boosted area slowly from low to high, listening for anomalies in the boosted band. You boost them to make 'em easy to spot.
Come on over to http://www.audiominds.com and check out the tutorials and links we have up for more info, also be sure to visit our forum!
--Mac
Re: EQ Sweeping?
Edit: 
Mac beat me to the punch, but I'll leave my post up. Do check out AudioMinds, it's a great source for info!
Say you have just recorded a perfect take except for one little noise or an area of the frequency range that stands out like a sore thumb.
Put a parametric eq on your track and boost the gain a few db, set the the "Q" (or bandwidth) rather narrow(1/3 octave or .33) then turn (sweep) the frequency knob while playing the track to locate the trouble spot - it will become more apparent when you find it due to the gain boost. You can continue to reduce or increase the Q and home in on the exact "problem" frequency. When you do, "cut" the gain and you can reduce or eliminate it - for the most part.
It's not a perfect solution since you may also eliminate some wanted frequencies.
As mentioned elsewhere, by using automation on the frequency control(or even the Q), you can turn this into an "effect" of sorts.
.
Mac beat me to the punch, but I'll leave my post up. Do check out AudioMinds, it's a great source for info!Generally, it's a method used to locate and eliminate trouble frequencies.evon wrote:Hi,
Another newbie question, but what the hell is EQ Sweeping?! Anyone?
Say you have just recorded a perfect take except for one little noise or an area of the frequency range that stands out like a sore thumb.
Put a parametric eq on your track and boost the gain a few db, set the the "Q" (or bandwidth) rather narrow(1/3 octave or .33) then turn (sweep) the frequency knob while playing the track to locate the trouble spot - it will become more apparent when you find it due to the gain boost. You can continue to reduce or increase the Q and home in on the exact "problem" frequency. When you do, "cut" the gain and you can reduce or eliminate it - for the most part.
It's not a perfect solution since you may also eliminate some wanted frequencies.
As mentioned elsewhere, by using automation on the frequency control(or even the Q), you can turn this into an "effect" of sorts.
.