When talking about well balanced mix, each instrument should have it’s own ‘space’ in the frequency range. That’s one of the key factors for achieving a professional sounding mix.
But how do you know where exactly in the frequency spectrum each instrument should reside – especially in electronic music?
Future Music has created a handy EQ frequency chart which should give you a rough idea about the frequency ranges. Even though the equalizing settings always depends on the sounds/melodies you’re using (and your ears), this chart might help you get started.
Check it out:
(All credit of this EQ chart goes to MusicRadar / Future Music).
22 Comments
Nice chart! It definitely varies per style, as a lot of drum and bass kicks go right down to the sub bass range, and you sidechain to keep it from getting muddy, and a whole lot of DnB snares go down to 300 hz. But it is a nice chart, especially about the basses. Plus the bar across the bottom saying weight and air and such is nice. If an element needs more weight, the chart says to boost in the lower frequencies.
Nice find, thanks!
Np 🙂 I personally found it useful too. It’s actually quite good reference material.
im a bit confused with this, can you make some example tutorial about this ?
Dyne, this chart is like a map showing where in the frequency range each instrument approximately resides.
The round icon is the epicentre (the presence of the instrument) and the fade from red to white shows how the instrument diminishes across the frequency range.
The colored bands shows in what frequency area you should boost if you want more Weight, Warmth, Knock, Definition & Bite, Clarity and Air & Sparkle to your instrument.
For example:
808 Analogue Kick’s epicentre is usually around the 60Hz area. That’s where it’s presence is. If you want to add more weight to it, use equalizer and boost the 20-150Hz area. Or if you want more warmth to it, boost the 200-400Hz area. However, boosting 4kHz+ area wont do nothing to it as 808 type of kick wont reach up to that range.
Remember though that these kind of charts are always just a reference.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for this small explanation Petri, I too was having a hard time trying to understand it…in fact, I didn’t even know anything about this and from now on I will play and experiment/learn to work this stuff! anything to make my music sound better is always appreciated, I love MusicRadar and this site ofcourse, visit it all the time!
Thanks, Charlee! I’m too finding this chart pretty useful. It’s very good starting point for all kinds of equalizing, even though the final eq settings may differ quite a lot from the chart, but still: you have to start somewhere and this is perfect for start 🙂
I would cut the blue rather than boost the white!
Thanks alot for this Petri 🙂
Stupid question for anyone to answer….But is the best way to tell what frequency a instrument is in by using the Parametric EQ 2?
np, Jon! 🙂
Answer to your question: I’m not sure if it’s the best, but PEQ2 does have a spectral analyzer so yeah, you can use it for checking in what frequency ranges a instrument is peaking. There’s also Spectroman for such use and you can use EQUO as well.
I honestly cant get a grip on it, but wish i could to sound professional !:P
Trent, check my earlier comment.
Thanks Petri! Its very useful.
Its a helping hand to understand how to work with e-music!
Np! I found I’m using this chart as a reference material more and more as well 🙂
Just what I was looking for, kinda cheatsheetish but that’s what I wanted 🙂 I love it!
Hi Petri, good chart but in FL Studio where or how can I see and change the frequency were an instrument is peaking? thanks.
Frank
Hey Frank,
Fruity Parametric EQ 2 is very good tool for this.
Thanks,I will try this in my music.Hopefully someday I will rise above my beginner level :/
Thank you so much for the Chart and everything else you do.
Cheers!
Extremely helpful – this “cheat sheet” + my ears has been a game changer for my music. Thank you so much for sharing this
Thank you very much, this is the most helpful i’ve ever seen!..
Hi, I find your chart very interesting! Thank you. I bass boost songs, but I never reach the result I want. I wish I manages raise the bass and the beats without making the song sound quieter (expecially the voice). Is there a way to do it?
can any one tell me what do i cut .i am totally new to his stuff