HD500X - EQ Frequency Cheatsheet for beginners :)

[JohannDaart]

Hi guys,

 

Based on MeamBobbo's POD HD Guide (all props to him), I've made a printable cheatsheet of Parametric and Mid-Focus EQ's frequencies for myself, but I thought it might be useful to post it :)

I think for seasoned HD500X users their ears are aleady their guide.

For people just starting out with HD500X - that shows EQ frequencies in percentages - frequency tables on one page might useful as an initial guideline.

 

A bit of explanation, how EQ-ing in HD500X usually works:

- To tame the low end rumble/boominess, you can use Low Cut in amp's DEPs (deep edit parameters, double Enter on amp's block). It's scaled with Hz, so no chart needed. Usually settings between 80 Hz to 150 Hz should solve problems. You can also place Mid-Focus EQ at the very end of your chain (before Reverb) and use its High Pass, with Gain close to 0% (I think 3-4% is the magic neutral number?), Frequency % between 10-30% (65-160 Hz) and Q below 50% (the smaller the Q, the more abruptly it cuts, check the chart, 55% is advised by MeamBobbo as a starting point). Also keep in mind DEPs like Resonance and Thump, and how their interact with amp's bass knob.

- Best tool to tame "HD Fizz" is Parametric EQ. Place its block at the end of the chain too. Check out @PeterJH amazing guide on how to use Parametric EQ. Usually the bad fizz is around 75-85% (2300-3150 Hz), tame it with gain below 50%, around 40-30%, don't cut down to 0%. If you look at Parametric EQ Frequency chart, notice that it only operates up to 4,5k Hz.

- So if you want to tame sizzle-glassy frequencies higher than 4,5k, use Mid-Focus Low Pass. Again, Gain close to 0%, Q below 55%, sweep down, then adjust Q.

 

I urge you to read MeamBobbo's guide for more detail.

Or if you are tired, buy some external IR loader and use IR's for "instant soup" EQ ;)

 

Anyway, if experienced HD veterans have some useful tips about EQ for beginners or how the cheatsheet could be improved I can always modify it :)

 

The cheatsheet is two A5 pages, the second one has the charts of Parametric EQ's Q and Mid-Focus Low Pass Q. Mid-Focus Q High Pass Q has a mirror chart, so no reason to double it.

 

To print this cheatsheet in Adobe Reader, as double sided A5 with A4 printer:

Print -> Pages: 1 (only the first page will be printed) -> Multiple -> Pages per sheet: 2. It will print the first A5 page with tables.

Then to print charts on the backside, put the first page back into printer upside down:

Print -> Pages: 2 (only the second page will be printed) -> Multiple -> Pages per sheet: 2 -> Order: Horizontal Reversed. Here's how settings should look for the second page. -> It should print the second page with charts, on the backside of the first page with tables.

HD500X_CheatSheet.pdf