01
Start with a flat reference
Use a familiar song or reference signal and begin from a flat preset. Make one change at a time and compare at matched loudness. A louder curve can sound better even when the tonal balance is not actually improved.
02
Common filter types
- Bell: boosts or cuts around a center frequency.
- Low Shelf: adjusts the tonal balance below a selected frequency.
- High Shelf: adjusts the tonal balance above a selected frequency.
- High Pass: removes content below the cutoff frequency.
- Low Pass: removes content above the cutoff frequency.
03
Frequency, gain, and Q
- Frequency chooses where the filter acts.
- Gain controls the amount of boost or cut for bell and shelf filters.
- Q controls width: lower Q is broader, higher Q is narrower.
- Use broad tonal adjustments before narrow resonance corrections.
04
A disciplined workflow
- 1Correct broad bass, midrange, or treble balance first.
- 2Prefer small cuts before large boosts.
- 3Reduce preamp gain when multiple bands boost the signal.
- 4Bypass the EQ periodically and compare at the same perceived loudness.
- 5Save the result as a clearly named preset.