Equalization

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In audio processing, equalization (EQ) is the process of modifying the frequency envelope of a sound. Etymologically, it means to correct, or make equal, the frequency response of another audio device. The term "equalizer" is sometimes applied to audio filters in general, though strictly speaking not all audio filters are equalizers.

As a related term in communications technology, an equalizer is an electronic filter used to compensate for signal distortion suffered during signal propagation.

Contents

1 Overview
2 Uses
3 External links
4 See also

Overview

There are many kinds of EQ. Each has a different pattern of attenuation or boost. A peaking equaliser raises or lowers a range of frequencies around a central point in a bell shape. A peaking equalizer with controls to adjust the level (Gain), bandwidth (Q) and center frequency is called a parametric equalizer. If there is no control for the bandwidth (it is fixed by the designer) then it is called a quasi-parametric or semi-parametric equalizer.

A pass filter attenuates either high or low frequencies while allowing other frequencies to pass unfiltered. A high-pass filter modifies a signal only by taking out low frequencies; a low-pass filter only modifies the audio signal by taking out high frequencies. A pass filter is described by its cut-off point and slope. The cut-off point is the frequency where high or low-frequencies will be removed. The slope, given in decibels per octave, describes how quickly the filter attenuates frequencies past the cut-off point. A band-pass filter is simply a combination of one high-pass filter and one low-pass filter which together allow only a band of frequencies to pass, attenuating both high and low frequencies past certain cut-off points.

Shelving-type equalizers increase or attenuate the level of a wide range of frequencies by a fixed amount. A low shelf will affect low frequencies up to a certain point and then above that point will have little effect. A high shelf affects the level of high frequencies, while below a certain point, the low frequencies are unaffected.

One common type of equalizer is the graphic equalizer, which consists of a bank of sliders for boosting and cutting different bands (or frequencies) of sound. Normally, these bands are tight enough to give at least 3dB or 6dB maximum effect for neighboring bands, and cover the range from around 20Hz to 20kHz (which is approximately the range of human hearing). A simple equalizer might have bands at 20Hz, 200Hz, 2kHz and 20kHz, and might be referred to as a 4-band equalizer. A typical equalizer for live sound reinforcement might have as many as 24 or 31 bands. A typical 31-band equalizer is also called a 1/3-octave equalizer because the center frequencies of sliders are spaced one third of an octave apart.

Uses

Early telephone systems used equalization to correct for the reduced level of high frequencies in long cables. For example, a particular microphone might be more sensitive to low frequency sounds than to high frequency sounds, so an equalizer would be used to increase the volume of the higher frequencies (boost), and reduce the volume of the low frequency sounds (cut).

One of the most direct uses of equalization is at a live event, where there are microphones and speakers operating simultaneously. An equalizer is used to ensure that there are no frequency bands where there is a round trip gain of greater than 1, as these are heard as audible feedback. Those frequencies are cut at the equalizer to prevent this.

In practice, there is much aesthetics involved, in addition to technical considerations. The placement of the pickups will change the sound. The amount of emphasis for any one pickup is critical. Either or both can drastically alter the recording. Because of recording limitations, several pickups may be "mixed" (combined) into one channel while recording. Even the better recorders only have 24 input channels as of 2006. Once the sound is mixed, the individual sounds can not be changed. So, if the sound board operator mixed the vocal and piano, the vocal can not be made louder than the piano later, even if the vocal is barely heard on the recording.

All audio records have had equilization applied to the sound waveform before the consumers' record was made because of the limitations of equipment for recording and manufacturing the record. One scheme was used prior to 1940. Some 100 formulae were used until 1955, when the RIAA standard formula was implemented. The main problem is that of the opposing conversion using the Compensation Curve.

How much information to cut and how to get it back is subjective.

Equalization

Overview

Uses

External links

See also