One of the most powerful tools in the realm of recorded sound is the equalizer. Equalizers (also referred to as EQ) allow you to raise and lower specific frequencies or ranges of frequencies to obtain a desired sound. Oftentimes, EQ is used to "clean up" an instrument or to sometimes excite the bass spectrum or to add "air" to a mix. There's one EQ trick that I tend to use frequently whenever I am working on any sort of sound project. Whether it's for music or voice-over dialogue in a film, this trick can be applied in any situation. And, don't worry, just about every DAW I've seen has some sort of built-in equalizer. Whether it's ProTools, FL Studio, Sonar, Cubase, or Ableton, they all have some form of equalizer available to you. I am using Cubase Studio 5 for this demonstration, but the same methodology will apply to any equalizer you use.

In the video below, I detail the "Thin Band EQ". Thin Band Equalization is when you use an extremely thin EQ band to boost or lower a very specific frequency spectrum on your audio track. This can come in handy when you are looking for ways to make something sound smoother on the ears, or to clean up "muddiness" in a track, or even to make something cut through the mix better. I've often used it on amplified guitar tracks where the 1-3 khz spectrum can get a bit harsh on the ears. Keep in mind that ultimately, there is no "right" or "wrong" sound. While I may reduce the 3 khz spectrum on a guitar track, you may actually want to boost it for the purpose of your song. This tip will hopefully help you shape and pioneer the sound that you are looking for. I hope you enjoy!