Students and faculty gather in the Hartt School of Music for an enlightening and entertaining presentation by Alex Case
On March 3, 2011, published author and UMass Lowell Sound Recording Technology professor Alex Case returned to the Hartt School of Music for a presentation on the basics of equalization in multitrack recordings. Case began by defining the equalizer as a "frequency-specific amplifier" and proposed that eq is the most important, most widely utilized effect in the audio engineering toolbox - so important that even iPods and car stereos offer consumer access to these spectral-shaping tools.
After reviewing the differences between graphic, parametric, filter, and shelving equalizers, Case investigated the many strategies and applications for eq, promoting the use of filters to "clear out" frequency ranges and explaining the concept of frequency juggling. The widely-used process of "boost, search, set" was discussed, but Alex focused on alternative methods, using masking theory and the equal-loudness curves to explain how sound levels can effect the spectral integrity of a mix and reminding students that proper microphone selection and placement, along with smart arrangement and instrumentation, is the best way to ensure a clear and balanced recording.
Case challenged students to investigate the many factors that effect the spectral content of recorded sounds. "A well-trained fish could turn a pan pot," but only the wisest engineers know that learning the nuances of every microphone, instrument, and performance style is the best way to achieve sonic greatness. Furthermore, Alex reminds us that when it comes to eq, we must look for "strategies, not recipes."
Alex Case's recently published "Mix Smart" is now available at Amazon.com. Learn more at http://www.focalpress.com/mixsmart.aspx
