Boost (and Cut)

‘Boost’ in audio circles, means an increase in amplitude or gain. Often times the specific reference is in regard to equalization. For example, when an engineer says they are going to “boost 4k”, this is shorthand for increasing the gain of an equalizer at 4000Hz. In essence, to boost is to increase. This does not apply to merely choosing a higher frequency on an equalizer, since no change occurs until the gain of that frequency is increased, or “boosted.” The opposite of boost in equalization is to Cut’, not to be confused with Cut and Paste. Cut refers to a decrease in gain at a particular frequency. A common phrase using both terms would be, “I boosted the kick drum at 125, and cut it at 400.”