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=E2=98=8E +44 (0)1452 770042+44 (0)1452 770042 =E2=80=83=E2=9C=89 info@astralsound.com
A Guide to Parametric Equalisers in Live = Sound
Parametric EQ is so-called because it has controls to adjust all the=20 parameters of tone-shaping. These are:
The central frequency of the envelope in which the signal is boosted = or=20 cut.
Q* (see=20 below) is a relation of Bandwidth. The number of octaves (or fractions = of an=20 octave) over which the signal is affected by boosting or cutting.
In EQ circuits bandwidth and Q describe the same = thing, but=20 use different (and inverse) scales: the higher the Q, the lower the = bandwidth,=20 and vice versa. The range of possible adjustment can run from about 1/60 = octave=20 (Q =E2=89=88 90) to about 3 octaves (Q =E2=89=88 0.4).
Bandwidth is derived from the points on the EQ = curve that=20 are 3dB above or below the amount by which the central frequency has = been cut or=20 boosted. The centre frequency is at the midpoint (in octaves) = between the=20 lower and upper frequencies: if the bandwidth is 2 octaves, the centre = frequency=20 is one octave above the lower frequency, and one octave below the upper=20 frequency (e.g. 1kHz lower, 2kHz centre, 4kHz upper).
*Q refers to the Quality of a frequency filter, = in the=20 sense that a narrow filter is of higher quality than a broader = filter.
The amount by which the signal is boosted or cut.
For the budding mathematicians among you...
F2/F1
Log10(F2/F1)
Log10(F2/F1)/0.301
F2 =E2=88=92 F1
F3/(F2 =E2=88=92 F1)
2^bandwidth
sqrt(2^bandwidth)
[A]
2^bandwidth
(2^bandwidth) =E2=88=92 1
[B]
(sqrt(2^bandwidth))/((2^bandwidth) =E2=88=92 = 1)
[A]/[B]
...and if you really have nothing better to = do....
(INHALE...............!)
Q^2
[A]
2x(Q^2)
[B]
2x(Q^2)+1
[C]
(2x(Q^2)+1)/(2x(Q^2))
[C]/[B] =3D [D]
(2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2)
[C]/[A]
((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2
([C]/[A])^2
((((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2)/4
(([C]/[A])^2)/4
(((((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2)/4)-1
((([C]/[A])^2)/4)-1
sqrt(((((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2)/4)-1)
[E]
(2x(Q^2)+1)/(2x(Q^2))+sqrt(((((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2)/4)-1)
[D]+[E] =3D [F]
Log10((2x(Q^2)+1)/(2x(Q^2))+sqrt(((((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2)/4)-1))= P>
Log(10)[F]
...sigh...
(Log10((2x(Q^2)+1)/(2x(Q^2))+sqrt(((((2x(Q^2)+1)/(Q^2))^2)/4)-1)))= /0.301
(Log(10)[F])/0.301
A parametric EQ is an equaliser which has controls for Frequency, = Bandwidth=20 or Q, and Gain.
Some desks have one or more parametric EQ sections on each channel. = However,=20 single- or multi-channel parametric EQs (with a varying number of bands) = are=20 available as rack-mountable units.
Sweepable midrange EQ which has only frequency and gain controls = (found on=20 the channel section of some budget and most mid-priced desks) is = sometimes=20 incorrectly described as =E2=80=98parametric=E2=80=99. However, the term = =E2=80=98semi-parametric=E2=80=99 is=20 more often used for this type of EQ. To distinguish it from this, the = channel EQ=20 on more expensive desks - which include a bandwidth or Q control - is = often=20 described as =E2=80=98fully parametric=E2=80=99.
It allows very precisely tailored EQ to be applied.
It works as a normal peaking = midrange EQ=20 control, but the frequency and bandwidth are also adjustable.
If all else fails, read the manual!
The main use of a parametric EQ in live systems is for tone shaping = or=20 correcting anomalies in the sound of individual instruments or voices=20 (occasionally also in the overall sound). It can also be used (with more = accuracy than a graphic EQ) to control feedback.
As a corrective measure, cutting dominant frequencies is generally = more=20 effective - and sounds more natural - than boosting weaker frequencies. = There=20 are several technical reasons for this, but a simple thing to bear in = mind is=20 that peaks stand out, and reducing them will have more effect (and can = be=20 achieved more easily and with greater accuracy) than trying to raise the = troughs. Also - broadly speaking - if you've already got it you probably = don't=20 need to boost it, but no amount of boosting will put back what wasn't = there to=20 begin with.
The descriptions below assume that you are using one band of = parametric EQ,=20 and that it is inserted in the channel path using the channel insert = point.
For tonal correction:
While the sound you wish to change is playing, increase the gain = (around 6dB=20 to 10dB of boost). If this causes feedback, reduce the channel level = slightly.=20 Sweep the frequency control slowly through its range. When you have = found the=20 frequency that sounds worst (or is most resonant, or most prone to = feedback),=20 move the gain control to apply a modest amount (from 3dB to 6dB) of cut. = Finally=20 try reducing the bandwidth a little. If this makes the feedback return = or the=20 sound worse, try increasing it a little.
With the channel you wish to correct open, raise the channel's output = until=20 it is beginning to feed back. Sweep the frequency control slowly through = its=20 range. The feedback should stop when you have found the correct = frequency. If it=20 doesn't, increase the amount of cut and/or the bandwidth slightly, and = sweep the=20 frequency control slowly through its range again. When you have found = the=20 correct frequency, reduce the bandwidth and the amount of cut as much as = you can=20 without feedback occurring.
If your mixer has one or more sweepable midrange controls, a = parametric EQ is=20 something of an indulgence, and if you have a modern digital mixer it = probably=20 includes fully parametric EQ on all channels anyway. However, you might=20 reconsider the importance of getting one if you frequently experience = problems=20 with feedback (either on your front-of-house or monitor system as a = whole, or on=20 individual instruments).
Many system controllers include programmable parametric EQ functions, = allowing a system's overall frequency response to be tailored to = specific=20 loudspeaker combinations.
You need enough bands to cover most of the usable frequency range = (from=20 around 100Hz to 10kHz). Frequencies below 100Hz or above 10kHz can = usually be=20 dealt with effectively by shelving (high-pass and low-pass) filters, and = feedback above 10kHz is unlikely to be a problem unless you're Doing = Something=20 Unadvisable with microphone and loudspeaker positions.
If feedback is a problem at a lot of different frequencies then you = are at=20 the limit of your system's capabilities, and a parametric won't help = matters=20 much.
These factors combine to mean that you are unlikely to need more than = a few=20 bands of parametric EQ.
While very narrow (1/60 octave) and very broad (3+ octave) bandwidths = are=20 possible, you are unlikely to need anything much less than 1/30 octave = or much=20 more than 2 octaves. If the range is given in Q values, this will be = between 0.7=20 (about 2 octaves) and 45 (about 1/30 octave). Similarly if you need more = than=20 10dB of cut or boost, you should consider getting new pickups, mics or=20 loudspeakers (depending on the cause of the problem).
Apart from this, every EQ has its own =E2=80=98sound=E2=80=99, so - = if you can - listen=20 before you hire or buy.
Documents from the section on Equalizers=20 in the Rane library, and Shure's Basics=20 of Equalization and Feedback.