Ever wonder why your recordings just don’t sound *right*, even after tinkering around in Audacity? Let’s cut straight to it.
EQ or Equalization is the Swiss army knife of audio effects, but in Audacity, it is just a regular knife.
Have you ever heard that the difference between an okay recording and a great recording is the proper EQ?
Well, if you rely on Audacity only, you will never realize the above sentence. And I won’t blame you for that.
The EQ we use through Filter Curve EQ in Audacity is different from EQ in other audio editing software. Filter Curve EQ is not a true EQ.
In technical terms, an EQ attenuates the shape and tone of the audio signal. How this shaping happens depends on the algorithm used under the hood.
On the other hand, Audacity EQ or Filter Curve EQ is just a FFT Filter. FFT is short for Fast Fourier Transform.
So FFT is the algorithm here, but it is just a Filter. Audacity uses this Filter just to truncate or elevate some frequencies.
That’s it; there are no changes in the shape or tone of the audio signal.
But those are technical things. What does it actually mean for audio quality? Does it have any impact on the voice processing?
Yes, it has, and it has a big impact. I create customized professional EQ and Presets for Audacity and Adobe Audition.
Every voice and recording is different, so proper EQ customization is needed to bring up one’s voice.
Thanks for this service, a Voice over artist contacted me. Her voice was quite good, recorded in an expensive microphone ($1k+), and the recording room was acoustically treated.
She tried to improve the final audio quality through standard Audacity processing. She was quite surprised not to see her voice sound as great as she had hoped.
That was a shocker to her. Then, she sought my help. I processed the exact same recording, and now she could hear the richness and crispness of her voice that she had expected.
I had to go beyond Audacity to process this. And I had to go beyond Audacity just for the EQ.
I explained the things in a YouTube video, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/o81JJ1wgVi8
The reason is clear why Audacity EQ could not make the sound good. It was not a real EQ or the kind of EQ other software has.
So, where can I find an EQ that works as it should? Well, there are several options within and outside Audacity.
For example, if you use Adobe Audition, a parametric equalizer will give you real EQ functions.
If you want to be inside Audacity, then you have to use a third-party plugin. Both free and paid options are available.
A free option can be TDR Nova. I have tested this and advised on of my clients to use that software. Because I felt the algorithm behind TDR Nova is good enough to replicated paid EQ plugin-ins.
Personally, I use Fab Filter Pro Q3 for my client work. It is a bit expensive software but the user interface is very simple.
I use this because it supports the kind of work I need to find out the best EQ for a voice. The process of finding a suitable EQ begins with EQ sweeping.
You have to sweep through the frequencies to find out where it is adding smoothness, crispiness, and cleanness.
You also have to find the frequencies responsible for haseness. Fab Filter Pro Q3 helps me to find it in a shorter time.
Another good option is to use Waves F6. It is not as simple to use as Fab Filter Pro Q3, but the EQ sounds identical.
I normally find the best-sounding EQ using Fab Filter Pro Q3. Then I replicated that EQ curve for the plugin the user uses.
If someone uses Adobe Audition, I replicate EQ curve using Parametic Equalizer. If someone uses Audacity, then it’s upto his budget.
If he wants a free option, then TDR Nova. If the paid option is okay, then Waves F6.
But the plugin alone will not teach you to find the best EQ for your voice. You have to invest some time to learn the frequency spectrum of voice recording.
You will need ear training to find out the sweet and harsh spots. You have to practice and, if possible, do an EQ training where you get feedback on your work.
I know it is a lot of learning and work, but EQ is the holy grail of better sound effects. Do EQ well, and your voice will be much better.
The opposite is also true. Overdoing EQ or poorly selected EQ can destroy the listening experience.
If you using only a high pass filter at 80 Hz, Filter Curve EQ of Audacity is fine. Other than that, you must have to use and do something different.
Need pro-level audio without breaking the bank? I’ve got a limited-time deal on Fiverr – snatch my professional EQ presets for just $60. Normal price? $127.
Craft that rich, full sound you’ve been chasing: https://www.fiverr.com/s/EG84l7
The reason I am giving this discount on Fiverr is to build my profile there. It will be a good time to grab the offer before it goes away.
If you want to learn advanced-level audio editing, learn about EQ and Compression well.
Everyone uses the same noise reduction or normalization effect. It is the EQ and compression that separate the experts from the beginners.
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