Maintaining A Clean Signal When Using EQ

The Music Telegraph | Text 2024/07/03 [16:10]

Maintaining A Clean Signal When Using EQ

The Music Telegraph| 입력 : 2024/07/03 [16:10]

 

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Maintaining A Clean Signal When Using EQ

 

Life in professional audio involves processing audio signal with things like equalizers, effects programs, dynamic level controllers, etc. When you use these devices they can end up adding more level to your already maximized signal, sending into overload distortion. Once a signal is distorted, no amount of processing further down the path can remove it. So, we need to become aware of what processors do to a signal and how to use them and still have an undistorted signal. When you process a signal with an equalizer you are adding level in specific frequency ranges that correspond to the frequency center and Q of the settings. If the signal was already very high before you equalize, then the additional level could send the equalized signal into overload. In this respect you should process a signal with the equalizer and develop techniques to avoid adding distortion from equalization. If you must have the equalizer boost so drastically that it overloads the circuits further along the path, then you must take that amount of level change into account before you send the signal into the equalizer. In other words, reduce the amount of gain at the amp just upstream of the equalizer, which in a mixer is the input trim control. Reduce the level of the line input trim control until the signal is no longer distorted.

 

The 4-Step Plan to a Cleaner Signal Path:

1. Set up the master mix buss to unity gain.

2. Set up the channel gain to unity gain.

3. Set up your equalization or effects to your desired settings.

4. Slowly adjust the input gain until distortion is just seen or heard then back off till it disappears.

 

This plan deals with setting gain structures in a signal path without regard to the type of music or signal you are using. Whatever your signal is, you can follow these steps to assure yourself that regardless of the quality of the what is going through it, at least the signal path is clean and not adding any coloration to the sound.

 

 

 

 

 

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