7.4 FX Processing and Markers
Three main groups of effects:
1) Equalization, EQ
2) Dynamics Processors, Compressors / Limiters, Expanders / Gates, Deesser, Multiband Compressors
3) Delays - Reverb, Delay, Phase, Chorus, Flange
Equalization modifies frequency content, changing timbre of sound.
Timbre = tone color of a sound, composed of harmonic content and other frequencies.
Octave = doubling or halving frequency, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k etc
Harmonics = integer multiples of a fundamental frequency 250, 500, 750, 1k, 1250, 1500, etc
Frequency = Pitch
Frequencies are periodic oscillations of the air, and are measured in Hertz or KiloHertz (1000’s of cycles per second)
Hz or kHz, cycles per second.
A good mnemonic device to memorize EQ range is with the number 2
Audible range of human hearing is 20Hz to 20kHz.
Three pieces of the frequency pie:
Low frequencies 20Hz to 200kHz
Mid frequencies 200Hz to 2kHz
High 2khz – 20kHz
Four pieces to the frequency pie
Low 20 - 250
Low mid 250 - 1000
high mid 1k -5k
high 5k - 20k
EQ filters cut or boost specific frequencies.
There are five basic filters:
1) low pass – only cuts high frequency content (does not boost)
2) high pass – only cuts low frequency content (does not boost)
low and high pass has cut off frequency, Q (slope), no gain
3) low shelf – ’shelves’ boosts or cuts low frequencies
4) high shelf – ‘shelves’ boosts or cuts high frequencies
low and high shelf has cut off frequency, Q, and gain+/-.
5) peak (bell, parametric)- boosts or cuts specific frequencies
Peak has center frequency, Q, and gain +/-.
Q = quality factor range of frequencies affected.
Pass and shelving filters are gross in their application and radically alter the high or low end.
Peak or bell shape is the most subtle, precise, and surgical of the E.Q.
Q is the bandwidth of frequencies affected.
The value of Q in a peak EQ determines the range of frequencies affected, higher number = narrow bandwidth
lower number = wider bandwidth
Cut off frequency
Markers ⌘ + 5 on number pad.
Option + click marker to delete or drag off
“marker#” .
Thats Dot # Dot on number pad to jump to marker
.3. will jump to 3rd marker