Sweeping PEQ to find annoying frequencies?

[littlebigfis]

I've read of this technique. Can someone elaborate on what tools to use and how best do do this?

 

[littlebigfis]

Im guessing this involves setting up a loop, decreasing levels to null on all but one band, tightening the q, bumping the level and turning the freq dial in smallish increments until the culprit is found? is this how you do it?

 

[axel]

I just pick one of the PEQ frequencies that has "Peaking", and set it to "Peaking". Then, I set the gain to -12db and "Q" for the narrowest band. Then I adjust the frequency until I've notched the annoying frequency(s). Finally, I play with the "Q" and Gain to find settings that minimize impact to the overall tone, but also rid me of the annoying frequency(s). Another approach is to, after finding the annoying frequency(s), rather than cut them, slightly boost frequencies around that same frequency to mask them. That's just a couple of methods I use.

 

[bladlus]

I just pick one of the PEQ frequencies that has "Peaking", and set it to "Peaking". Then, I set the gain to -12db and "Q" for the narrowest band. Then I adjust the frequency until I've notched the annoying frequency(s). Finally, I play with the "Q" and Gain to find settings that minimize impact to the overall tone, but also rid me of the annoying frequency(s). Another approach is to, after finding the annoying frequency(s), rather than cut them, slightly boost frequencies around that same frequency to mask them. That's just a couple of methods I use.

This. Although I'd rather cut than boost. You can also do the opposite - set the gain to +12db and sweep until you find the annoying frequencies, then cut them away.

 

[Sixstring]

Or to create a sound your looking for... Boston, Kings X etc.

 

[Rex]

You can also do the opposite - set the gain to +12db and sweep until you find the annoying frequencies, then cut them away.

That's the method I'm most familiar with. Set the PEQ to boost, sweep until your find the spot that's truly annoying, then cut that band. Then tweak the filter's gain and Q to taste.

 

[Deltones]

A different method would be to record a short sample in your DAW and sweep with your favorite PEQ plugin. When you find the frequency that annoys you, go back to the Axe-Fx and adjust your PEQ block accordingly.

 

[Doug]

Noob question, what technically is "sweeping"?

 

[godprobe]

Noob question, what technically is "sweeping"?

just dialing from one end of the frequency range to the other

haven't read the rest of this thread, and maybe you're already familiar with this, but to explain anyway... you add a single "filter" (i.e. one EQ... thingy...) to the chain and either bump it up to the max gain boost, or the lowest cut.
then sweep it -- scroll it through the frequency range while playing (the Ultra's looper is handy at this point if you don't have another convenient way to keep playing a certain part while adjusting the value).

if there's a particular offending frequency you were looking for, it may be especially bad at a few of these spots (boost method) or almost nonexistent at a few of these spots (cut method).

one spot in particular should be stronger than the others. the rest are its harmonics. i.e. if there was a nasty tone happening at the A 440Hz frequency, it would probably also have some effect at 110, 220, 880, 1760, etc.

there's also the Q or width value to be aware of. you're not *just* boosting/cutting A440. You're also affecting some of the frequencies immediately next to it, on both sides. Q adjusts how much of the surrounding frequencies are affected.

...anyway... after identifying offending frequencies, you can take whatever steps necessary to dial them out. sometimes, it's very difficult since you may end up killing off other tones in the same frequency range and then it's just a balancing act (and listening on lots of different speaker systems).

 

[Doug]

Thanks very much godprobe, that's very helpful.