Audio equalizers alter the frequency response characteristics of an audio system. When you come to the subject of audio equalizers, or “EQs,” you might think of the types found in home theaters or car stereos. However, many modern audio players and devices have some form of built-in audio equalizer.
The equalizer can be as basic as a portable Bluetooth speaker with knobs to adjust bass and treble levels. It can also be more complicated, like the graphic equalizers found in some music apps.
The importance of audio equalizers
The best audio equalizers offer greater and more precise control over tone and frequency, which goes far beyond just bass and treble. They can increase or decrease the number of decibels of specific frequency bands.
Some home stereo amplifiers or receivers offer built-in audio equalizer controls with different levels of control, including individual sliders or dials. They can also be equipped with digital screens controlled by remote control.
If your receiver or amplifier does not allow you to adjust the sound output of the system the way you like it, use a standalone audio equalizer. There are many types of audio equalizers, but the two most common are graphic and parametric equalizers. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Audio equalizer bars
The graphic equalizer is the simplest type of audio equalizer. It most often has several sliders or controls to increase or decrease the bands. The number of individual orders may vary by brand and model. For example, a typical five-band graphic EQ has sliders for five fixed frequencies: 30 Hz (lows), 100 Hz (mids), 1 kHz (mids), 10 kHz (upper mids), and 20 kHz (treble or high frequencies). ).
A ten-band equalizer has sliders for ten fixed frequencies, usually those mentioned above, plus five other frequency bands. More bands means wider control of the frequency spectrum. Each of the fixed frequencies can be increased or reduced to a maximum or minimum degree. Depending on the brand and model, the range can be +/- 6 dB or +/- 12 dB.
There is one important thing to understand about graphic equalizers. When you adjust a slider, it also affects nearby frequencies.
Think of what happens when you poke your finger into plastic wrap that covers a bowl. When the finger sinks into the plastic, it creates a slope effect. Areas closer to the finger are more affected by the slope than areas farther away. Stronger pressure also intensifies the tilt compared to light pressure.
This same principle applies to how graphic equalizers handle frequency adjustments when boosting or cutting bands. In a nutshell, graphic equalizers offer:
- Simple and intuitive operation
- A fixed frequency setting
- A wide range of frequency control
- a less expensive package than parametric EQs.
What are Parametric EQs?
Parametric EQs are more complex than graphic EQs because they allow you to make adjustments other than volume. A parametric equalizer allows you to control three aspects: the level (increase or reduction in decibels), the exact frequency, and the bandwidth or range (also called Q or quotient of change) of each frequency. As such, parametric EQs offer surgical precision when it comes to affecting the overall sound.
Like the graphic equalizer, each frequency can be cut or boosted. But while graphic equalizers have fixed frequencies, parametric equalizers can choose a center or primary frequency. For example, if a graphic equalizer has a fixed control at 20 Hz, a parametric equalizer can be set to control frequencies at 10 Hz, 15 Hz, 20 Hz, 25 Hz, 30 Hz, and so on. The selection of adjustable frequencies (for example, by one, five or ten) varies by brand and model.
How do parametric EQs control bandwidth and frequency range?
A parametric equalizer can also control the bandwidth – the slope that affects neighboring frequencies – of each individual frequency. For example, if the center frequency is 30 Hz, a wide bandwidth will also affect frequencies as low as 15 Hz and as high as 45 Hz. A narrow bandwidth might only affect frequencies as low as 25 Hz and as higher than 35 Hz.
Although there is still a slope effect, parametric EQs are better able to focus on specific frequencies and refine their shape without disturbing others. This detailed control over tone and sound allows for finer adjustments to suit particular tastes or purposes (for example, for mixing or audio recording).
In short, parametric EQs offer:
- A complex and deliberate operation
- Selective frequency tuning
- A precise range of effects
- Performance for recording, mixing and studio production
- A more expensive set than graphic equalizers
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