Some EQ plugins help you locate trouble frequencies by analyzing either the sound you are working with or by automatically comparing one sound to another sound in your mix. Many other equalizers provide solo options, so be sure to read the manual (!) or watch some tutorial videos on how to get the most out of your favorite EQ. This is a great tool to use if your favorite EQ doesn’t provide a solo function. This is not an equalizer, but this free spectrum analyzer provides a solo function where you simply hold command and drag in the spectrum display to solo frequency bands. After using this technique for a while, you’ll realize how important it is. Now you can easily dial in that kick without affecting the low end of the snare in your masters! Not all EQs allow you to solo bands, but there are a few that do. It’s also easy to find the frequencies that an instrument takes up inside a full mix. Simply solo a band, sweep around and it’s easy to locate the offending frequency. That works, but it also destroys your ears (and maybe your speakers), and it can impact your perception of frequency balance if done for too long a time.Ī much better way to locate problem frequencies is to solo and sweep a narrow frequency band, which lets you hear only the content of that frequency range. I’m sure you heard of the technique to find an EQ issue by boosting a band by a large amount (10dB+) with a narrow bandwidth, then sweeping around to find the frequency that jumps out.

Here’s a list of EQ shortcuts various plugins offer. This article will describe many common EQs and the shortcuts that make them so valuable and easy to use. Most plugin equalizers provide a variety of features that are time-saving for both finding problem frequencies and navigating the often cluttered user interface of your EQ. Now we can get into some tips for getting the most out of your EQ plugins. In a previous article, we had a look at the controls of an EQ, as well as the most common filter types and shapes.

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