A simple description of how Dynamic EQ works

[Rick_Auricchio]

Watching videos or reading examples about the uses of Dynamic EQ don't really make clear exactly how the process works. Neither does the User Guide. So I ran a controlled test with an audio oscillator as a test signal.

 

1. When the signal level is below the Low Threshold, the Low Gain is applied (either boost or cut).

 

2. When the signal level is above the High Threshold, the High Gain is applied.

 

3. When the signal level is between the Low and High Thresholds, neither gain is applied.

 

Simple and concise. Now this makes total sense to me.

 

 

An example: We have a singer whose voice gets boomy when he sings quietly, but thin when he sings loudly. This is a result of his mike technique: he "eats" the mike when singing softly and backs away when he belts out loudly. Because most cardioid mikes boost bass close-up, his working distance causes the bass to vary.

 

How do we smooth out his tone?

 

1. Locate the "boomy" frequency by listening (or sweep a standard EQ to temporarily boost till you find the offending range). Let's say he booms broadly between 100 and 250Hz.

 

2. Set the Frequency to the center of the offending range: 175Hz.

 

3. Set the Filter Q  fairly low, to make the notch wide enough to cover the entire range from about 100 to 250Hz.

 

4. Set the Low Threshold to a level where the singer is singing quietly and close (he'll have to sing for you to find this level).

 

5. Set the High Threshold to the level where the singer is loud and backed away. Again, this will take a bit of singing to find it.

 

6. Now set the gains. Set the Low Gain negative, to remove some boom when he's quiet and working close. Set the High Gain positive, to add some boom when he gets loud and backs away. Adjust both gains to get an even tone at both levels.

 

Attack controls how quickly the Dyn EQ acts on the signal; Release controls the length of time the Dyn EQ holds its Gain actions in place, before "resetting" to check the signal's level again.

 

Now the singer's voice should retain an even tone at both distances. (But if he changes mike types or singing distances, your settings will need adjustment.)