How To Use FxSound’s Equalizer

Sound is incredible and complex. From the quietest whisper to the loudest drum solo, audio contains a myriad of frequencies, all harmonically interacting as they reach your ear. Every noise has pitches that stretch from one end of the audio spectrum to the other, even when you can’t distinctly hear each tone. This complexity creates the overall tone and timbre that we hear.

We’ve discussed balancing your audio’s volume and bass, but to really maximize what your audio hardware can deliver, you’ll need to know how to use equalization. FxSound comes with a studio-grade equalizer, or EQ. An EQ allows you to increase or decrease the volume of individual frequency ranges, rather than the volume of the audio as a whole.

Now, knowing off the top of your head what frequencies correspond to exactly what portions of your sound is a science that can take years to master, and audio engineers spend decades learning how to perfectly dial in an EQ. We will be covering these topics more in-depth in our course on Audio itself. The good news for you is that finding your own subjective balance can be much, much simpler.

In order to adjust your equalizer, first choose a piece of audio that you are incredibly familiar with. This could be a song you’ve listened to for years, a movie you’ve watched dozens of times, or a recording of a voice you know by heart.

Play the audio back, and listen carefully. Does it sound ‘thinner’ than normal? You may need to add bass. Does it sound ‘boomy’, or hurt your ears? You may need to take low frequencies away. If it sounds ‘harsh’, or feels tiring to listen to, you may have high frequencies that are too loud. A flat, dull sound would need more high end added back in. If it has sort of a 'honky' tone that isn't normally there, your midrange might be too strong. And if you can't seem to hear voices, pianos, or guitars, your midrange may be lacking.

This should be a moment for you to play. After all, you can always use the reset button to return all your settings back to normal. Have some fun with the equalizer, and don’t be afraid to make some extreme or strange noises on your quest for your own perfect sound. Make cuts where there seems to be too much, boost volume for the areas that feel lacking, and piece by piece your audio will come together and spring to life in a whole new way.

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