Effective EQing in a DAW

When mixing, it can sometimes be difficult determining which frequencies should be boosted and which need to be cut, especially when you’re new to recording and mixing. There are guidelines that can point you in the right direction, but they are only guidelines — and may not be right for your specific situation. To determine which frequencies need attention in the mix, insert a parametric EQ, boost any frequency by around 10dB, and set a narrow bandwidth (Q). Then sweep the frequency from the lows to the highs, listening for anywhere you hear a nasty sound. Cut the frequency where the nastiness occurs. Typically, a cut or boost of around 3dB will be sufficient, but sometimes a little more or little less may be required. If you employ a wider bandwidth, or Q, this technique will work for finding frequencies that need boosting, but instead of looking for an ugly sound, look for a sweet spot.