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Need good Parametric EQ setting!

W

williamk

Apr 2, 2008
871
28
#1
Hello all,
all the amps and preamps I've ever owned had different knobs for bass, mid and treble, but I'm now recording on a new DAW, and there's a parametric EQ there that I'm not really used to. My bass is a P/J bass, and I love the sound of the jazz-bass soloed bridge pickup, that very smooth, mid-rangy, barky, jaco-ish almost fretless-y sound (you guys know what I'm talking about!). Does anyone here know a good parametric EQ setting that brings out that sound the best? I know everyone loves something different, but I've tried different settings myself and am not really satisfied yet, so if someone knows how to EQ well to get that sound, please say!

thanks!
 
#2
Honestly there is no such thing as a "good EQ setting". EQ settings only have meaning for the specific EQ being used, and the specific track/sound being EQ'd. The only way you can get good results is by continuing to experiment.

That said, I would set the EQ entirely flat first; then give a little bump up in the low mids, like between 300 and 600 Hz or thereabouts. If more low end is needed, make a small bump up around 50 to 100 Hz. If more highs are needed, try a wider bump starting at around 3K and higher. But in all of these cases, try not to boost any more than 3 dB, or it will start to sound phony. Also, some people prefer to cut instead of boost, so be sure to include that method while you are experimenting.
 
#4
no offense, but it still amazes me on how many people STILL ask others "what is the best sound for me".... or the all time favorite:

what bass should I buy based on your opinions if I have 500 to spend....
782 TB members will tell you 782 favorite EQ settings, none of which would work for you, your bass, your rig, or your playingstyle.
 
#6
amimbari said:
no offense, but it still amazes me on how many people STILL ask others "what is the best sound for me".... or the all time favorite:

what bass should I buy based on your opinions if I have 500 to spend....
782 TB members will tell you 782 favorite EQ settings, none of which would work for you, your bass, your rig, or your playingstyle.
Click to expand...

no, that's BS. Tell me then, what the f*** is this forum for? IT'S EXACTLY FOR THAT! Asking for advice, reviews and such. What's the point of your post my friend? Bashing me for asking a question? I'm asking for suggestions and you're not helping me. Go bug someone else.
 
#7
I had the same "problem" a long time ago. Use your ear like he said above.
I like to stoke pluck slap whatever the G-string while boosting and cutting each one individually (or in like.. 2/3 knob regions) then the D, A, E, B f# c# whatever string.

Try searching here (and dont forget google :) ) as to what each frequency is.. Basically lows are fundamentals, low/hi mids are the lower overtones (punchometers) and the highest freq are brilliant highs anything from fret noise to the finest solistic character of whatever strings you use.
 
#8
amimbari said:
782 TB members will tell you 782 favorite EQ settings, none of which would work for you, your bass, your rig, or your playingstyle.
Click to expand...

In general, I agree 100% with this. However, it is often extremely helpful to get different opinions, and insight from different experiences. When I post questions like these, I am not looking for THE definitive answer, but just ideas and considerations that I may not have though of before, and that will inform my future choices in a positive manner.
 
#9
thomashawk said:
In general, I agree 100% with this. However, it is often extremely helpful to get different opinions, and insight from different experiences. When I post questions like these, I am not looking for THE definitive answer, but just ideas and considerations that I may not have though of before, and that will inform my future choices in a positive manner.
Click to expand...
THANK YOU, that's exactly it, I couldn't have said it better myself.
 
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#11
Well, first you gotta understand what EQ really is, then what and how a parametric works. There just ain't no good EQ settings. We have no idea what sounds you're after, what your signal chain is, what your stuff sounds like without the EQ, and what you're after. So, there's no answer.

Now, the way I'd approach it is to start (assuming know know WHAT a parametric EQ is and understand what resonance, level, and center mean for one) with it all set flat, the bandwidth or resonance set in the middle, and the center frequency in the middle. Then boost one band by about 12 dB. Sweep the resonance control while playing things all over the neck. LISTEN carefully to learn the effect it has. Then sweep the center frequency again while playing. Spend a lot of time learning how it affects what you have.

Then repeat with the other bands, and then start playing with how they interact. After you have a feel for what your PEQ does, then record something flat, and listen to it carefully. Figure out what it needs less of or more of (I still think cutting frequencies is generally better than boosting frequencies). The point is YOU have to figure out if it needs more bass or less treble to fix a muddiness problem.

John
 
#13
Turn the gain up and while playing, sweep through the frequency knob to find the most horrible and annoying frequency. Then cut it a little. Or do it the opposite way; find the sweetest frequency and boost it a little bit. That's it. No magic.

Remember, EQ is best for rather small fixes - if the tone isn't good to start with, you can't fix it with just a single parametric EQ.
 
#14
williamk said:
no, that's BS. Tell me then, what the f*** is this forum for? IT'S EXACTLY FOR THAT! Asking for advice, reviews and such. What's the point of your post my friend? Bashing me for asking a question? I'm asking for suggestions and you're not helping me. Go bug someone else.
Click to expand...
who's bashing who?

you said it:

Does anyone here know a good parametric EQ setting that brings out that sound the best? I know everyone loves something different, but I've tried different settings myself and am not really satisfied yet, so if someone knows how to EQ well to get that sound, please say!

and my reply was how can we tell you what is good for YOU since we do not own your rig, your bass, your effects or your hands?

only you can try this or that and your not stupid, you have plenty of videos/mp3's and other media you can listen to. You want "that" tone, listen to someone's audio and play with your settings till it sounds the same...if it don't sound like what your listening to then you cannot get that "tone from your present equipment.

lighten up already.
 
#16
I like having the 782 opinions to read thru - I might learn something or see something from an angle I hadn't considered.

Here's #783 - listen to your tone with no EQ added and try to analyze it: does it need more low end, are the mid's too harsh/dull, is the top end dominating the sound?, etc. That's a good place to start learning what frequencies need boosted or cut.

That might sound vague but I've found it's impossible to have a 'One Freq Fits All' approach to instruments. For example - cutting 800Hz might work great for a fingerstyle sound on one bass i have but on another it's around 600Hz, etc. It's probably worth spending some time with the parametric and work your way thru the frequencies. Start at one end and work your way thru - learn what boosting/cutting from 50Hz to 200Hz does to your signal, then move on to 200-400Hz and keep working your way thru the spectrum. And it's worth taking notes!!!

Also - if you search Google, you can find a frequency chart correlating what frequencies affect what notes - for example: A=440 (and 880, 220 and 110,etc). That can be a handy way to look at it if you're getting a boomy/thin sound around a certain note.
 

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