EQ (Equalization)

Definition

Equalization (EQ) is an audio processing technique that adjusts the balance of different frequency components in an audio signal. An equalizer allows the sound engineer to boost or cut specific frequency ranges (such as bass, midrange, or treble) to correct problems in the recording, to shape the tonal quality of a sound, or to help different audio elements sit together in the mix without competing with each other. EQ is one of the most fundamental and widely used tools in audio post-production.

Contextual Usage

The re-recording mixer applies EQ to the dialogue tracks: "The dialogue from the exterior scenes has too much low-frequency rumble from the wind — I'm going to apply a high-pass filter to roll off everything below 80Hz. And the actor's voice is a bit boxy in the 300-500Hz range — I'll cut a few dB there to clean it up and make it sound more natural."