EQs original use was purely as a corrective tool. For television dramas, a set had to have several mics to pick up the actors as they moved around, however for several reasons (spacing of actors, mic type) the frequency response of the dialogue would be noticeably different from mic to mic. This is where the term ‘equalisation’ stems from, as its original use was to make sure each mic had similar enough frequency responses and thus the change In audio source wouldn’t be too noticeable. This principal was then applied to audio engineering work, being used creatively in the studio. While initially the EQ controls were simple, usually a high and low filter (a circuit made up of a resistor and capacitor bleeding certain frequencies to ground), a ‘midlift’ filter was quickly created, focusing in on the midrange of a recording. One extreme example of the use of a ‘midlift’ filter is the progressively more ‘scooped’ metal guitars of the 80s and 90s.
Dynamic EQ is another EQ technique, working somewhat like a compressor. When incoming signal hits a certain threshold the dynamic part of the EQ kicks in, effecting the desired frequency range. For example, this could be useful if a certain vocal passage in a song is brighter than the other sections and needs to be kept the same.
In my music I initially start using EQ as a corrective tool, cutting low end on guitar to let the bass sit better and techniques like that. Creatively I use EQ in a similar vain as Queens of the Stone Age and deftones, boosting midrange on guitars and ‘telephone EQing’ vocals. Dynamic EQ sounds like a very useful tool to use on something such as cymbals, which often run the risk of sounding sharp or harsh at points.
Gill, C. (2010) Dimebag Darrell: Reinventing the squeal, guitarworld. Available at: https://www.guitarworld.com/features/dimebag-darrell-reinventing-squeal (Accessed: 08 April 2024).
Valentine, E. (2023) Making records with Eric Valentine – Qotsa -No one knows, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmIyIPItlG0 (Accessed: 08 April 2024).