Learn how to use an equalizer to give vocals a professional sound in your music production.

Jump to section

What does it mean to EQ vocals

EQing vocals refers to the process of using equalization to shape the sound of vocals in a mix. Equalization, or EQ, is the adjustment of the level of specific frequencies in an audio signal in order to improve its sound or to create a desired effect. EQing vocals involves adjusting the levels of different frequencies in the vocal signal to correct problems, enhance the sound, and create the desired effect. This article inclues everything you need to know to enhance the sound of vocals and improve the overall balance of your mix.

Do I need to EQ my vocals

Yes, you should EQ your vocals. While some vocals may sound good with minimal or no EQ, most vocals will benefit from some EQing to improve their sound and fit better in the mix. EQ allows you to fix common problems with the sound of your vocals, such as excessive sibilance, harshness, or boomyness.

Sibilance refers to the excessive "s" and "sh" sounds in vocals, which can sound harsh and piercing. Harshness is a general term for a rough or abrasive sound in vocals, often caused by excessive high frequencies. Boomyness, on the other hand, refers to a bass-heavy or muddy sound in vocals, which can cause the vocals to sound unclear and indistinct.

By using EQ, you can address these problems and make your vocals sound smoother, clearer, and more natural.

Vocal EQ can also be used to enhance the sound of your vocals. This can involve boosting certain frequencies to add clarity, warmth, or other desirable characteristics to the vocal sound to achieve the effect you're looking for..

EQ is an essential part of the music production process, and it is a crucial tool for achieving great-sounding vocals in your mix.

Vocal Frequency Range and EQing

Frequency, measured in hertz (Hz), refers to the number of times per second that a sound wave vibrates. In music production, frequency is an important concept, as different instruments and sounds have different frequency ranges.

It's important to know the key frequency ranges for vocals and apply them when you make produce music, podcasts, YouTube videos, or anything with live or recorded vocals.

Our ears can hear from 20 to 20,000 Hz (often written as 20 kHz), but we mostly pickup on sound between 250Hz and 5,000Hz.

The frequency range of the human voice differs for men and women. The typical frequency range of adult male vocals is around 85-180 Hz, while the typical frequency range of adult female vocals is around 165-255 Hz. These frequency ranges can vary depending on the person and the style of production, but they provide a general guide. The key frequency ranges for vocals are:

  • Low frequencies (80-250 Hz): These frequencies give a vocalist their chest or body resonance, and can add warmth, depth, and fullness to the vocal sound. However, too much low end can make a vocal sound boomy or muddy, so it is important to use EQ to balance the levels of these frequencies.
  • Mid frequencies (250 Hz-2 kHz): These frequencies are where most of the intelligibility and clarity of a vocal lies, and they can also add presence, definition, and warmth to the vocal sound. It is important to use EQ to enhance these frequencies, but also to avoid boosting them too much, as this can make a vocal sound harsh or abrasive.
  • High frequencies (2 kHz-12 kHz): These frequencies give a vocal its brightness, sparkle, and airiness, and they can add clarity and definition to the vocal sound. However, boosting these frequencies too much can cause sibilance or harshness in the vocal, so it is important to use EQ carefully in this range.

Remembering the key frequency ranges for vocals is important because it allows you to use EQ effectively to shape the sound of your vocals and make them fit perfectly in your mix.

Female Vocal EQ

If you are EQing a female vocal, you want to focus on the mid-frequency range (165-255 Hz) to add clarity, presence, and warmth to the vocal sound. You can use a parametric EQ to boost the frequencies around 200 Hz, which will give the vocal a warm and full sound. At the same time, you may want to cut the frequencies around 5 kHz, which can cause harshness in female vocals, to make the vocal sound smoother and more natural.

Male Vocal EQ

If you are EQing a male vocal, you may want to focus on the low-frequency range (85-180 Hz) to add warmth, depth, and fullness. You'll want to boost the frequencies around 120 Hz, which will give the vocal a rich warm sound. And you might cut the frequencies around 600 Hz, which can cause muddiness to make the vocal sound clearer and more defined.

Types of EQs and When to Use Them

Your DAW software includes a few EQ types that you can use to shape the sound of your vocals in your mix. You have many options for EQing vocals if you consider buying other EQs too. In this section, we will provide a guide on how to use each type of EQ to achieve the best results.

Shelving EQ

Shelving EQ is a type of EQ that allows you to boost or cut the frequencies at the high or low end of the spectrum. To use shelving EQ, simply adjust the fader or knob for the high or low frequency range to boost or cut the level of those frequencies. For example, you can use shelving EQ to boost the high frequencies to add sparkle and airiness to a vocal, or cut the low frequencies to reduce boomyness and muddiness. Shelving EQ is best used for making broad, sweeping changes to the overall tone of a vocal.

Parametric EQ

Parametric EQ is a type of EQ that allows you to boost or cut specific frequency bands within the spectrum. To use parametric EQ, simply adjust the fader or knob for the frequency band you want to boost or cut, and adjust the bandwidth (Q) to affect a wider or narrower range of frequencies. Parametric EQ is best used for making detailed, targeted changes to the vocal sound, such as boosting the frequencies around 2 kHz to add clarity and definition.

Multi-band EQ

Multi-band EQ is a type of EQ that allows you to apply multiple parametric EQs to different frequency bands simultaneously. To use multi-band EQ, simply adjust the faders or knobs for each frequency band you want to boost or cut, and adjust the bandwidth (Q) and threshold level for each band. Multi-band EQ is best used for making complex, multi-dimensional changes to the vocal sound, such as boosting the high frequencies and cutting the low frequencies at the same time.

Graphic EQ

Graphic EQ is a type of EQ that uses a series of fixed frequency bands, each with its own fader or knob to control the level of the frequency. To use graphic EQ, simply adjust the fader or knob for the frequency band you want to boost or cut. Graphic EQ allows you to make precise changes to specific frequencies, but it does not allow you to adjust the bandwidth (Q) like parametric EQ does. Graphic EQ is best used for making quick, easy changes to the vocal sound, such as reducing the frequencies around 600 Hz to avoid muddiness.

Dynamic EQ

Dynamic EQ is a type of EQ that combines the features of an EQ and a compressor, allowing you to boost or cut the frequencies only when they reach a certain level. To use dynamic EQ, simply adjust the fader or knob for the frequency band you want to boost or cut, and set the threshold level at which the EQ will activate. Dynamic EQ is best used for making automatic, adaptive changes to the vocal sound.

This can be useful for dealing with vocal performances that have a lot of dynamic range, such as loud and quiet sections. You can use a dynamic EQ to reduce the level of the low frequencies of the vocals when the singer is singing softly, and increase the level of the low frequencies when the singer is singing loudly. This can help create a more consistent tonal balance and prevent the vocals from getting lost in the mix.

What is the best EQ for vocals?

A multi-band parametric EQ is considered the best type of EQ for vocals, as it allows you to make precise, detailed changes to different frequency bands and fine-tune the EQ settings to your liking.

The precision of the parametric EQ is used to boost or cut specific frequencies in the vocal sound, combined with multi-bands ability to adjust settings for different ranges of frequencies in the vocal sound, gives you complete control over the EQ settings for a clean vocal sound.

Best EQ Settings for Vocals

This is a quick reference guide or cheat sheet to EQing your vocals.

  1. Identify the frequencies that need adjustment. This may include low frequencies that need to be cut to remove boomyness, high frequencies that need to be cut to remove harshness or sibilance, and frequencies in the mid range that need to be boosted to add clarity and presence to the vocal. You can also use a spectrum analyzer to visualize the frequency spectrum of the vocals and identify any frequency ranges that are too loud or too quiet.
  2. Cut out unwanted frequencies in the vocal sound using a parametric EQ. For example, cut out any frequencies below 100 Hz to remove any boomyness in the vocal, or cut out any frequencies above 10 kHz to remove any muddiness, harshness or sibilance in the vocal.
  3. Now, boost the frequencies that you want to highlight in the vocal sound using a parametric EQ. For example, boost the frequencies around 1 kHz to add clarity and presence to the vocal, or boost the frequencies around 4 kHz to add warmth and character to the vocal.
  4. Use a shelving EQ to adjust the overall tone of the vocals. Boost the high frequencies to make your vocals sound brighter, or cut the low frequencies to make them sound thinner.
  5. Use EQ as part of a broader mixing strategy. EQing vocals is only one part of a broader mixing strategy. In order to achieve a well-balanced mix, you need to consider other factors such as compression, panning, levels, effects, and dynamics processing. By using EQ in combination with these other elements, you can create a mix that is pleasing to the ears and brings out the best in your vocals.

EQing in Your DAW

Each DAW has different EQ options available to you.

Ableton Live EQ Three, EQ Eight, and Channel EQ

The EQs included in Ableton Live are EQ Eight, EQ Three, and Channel EQ.

Ableton Live EQ Three is a shelving EQ that allows you to boost or cut the frequencies at the high or low end of the spectrum. This allows you to make broad, sweeping changes to the overall tone of a vocal and quickly adjust the high and low frequencies without having to use multiple EQs.

Ableton Live EQ Eight is a multi-band EQ that allows you to apply multiple parametric EQs to different frequency bands simultaneously. This allows you to make complex, multi-dimensional changes to the vocal sound and fine-tune the EQ settings to your liking.

Ableton Live Channel EQ is a type of EQ that allows you to apply EQ to individual audio channels. It is similar to the EQ Three and EQ Eight effects, but it is applied directly to the audio channel instead of being added as an effect. This allows you to make quick, easy changes to the vocal sound without having to add an effect to the channel.

Logic EQ and Channel EQ

The EQs included in Logic are EQ and Channel EQ.

Logic EQ is a multi-band EQ that allows you to apply multiple parametric EQs to different frequency bands simultaneously. This allows you to make complex, multi-dimensional changes to the vocal sound and fine-tune the EQ settings to your liking.

Logic Channel EQ is a type of EQ that allows you to apply EQ to individual audio channels. It is similar to the Logic EQ, but it is applied directly to the audio channel instead of being added as an effect. This allows you to make quick, easy changes to the vocal sound without having to add an effect to the channel.

FL Studio Fruity Parametric EQ 2 and Fruity EQ

The EQs included in FL Studio are Fruity Parametric EQ 2 and Fruity EQ.

FL Studio Fruity Parametric EQ 2 is a multi-band EQ that allows you to apply multiple parametric EQs to different frequency bands simultaneously. This allows you to make complex, multi-dimensional changes to the vocal sound and fine-tune the EQ settings to your liking.

FL Studio Fruity EQ is a basic EQ that allows you to boost or cut the frequencies at the high or low end of the spectrum. This allows you to make quick, broad changes to the overall tone of a vocal without having to use multiple EQs.

Vocal EQ Cheat Sheet and Vocal EQ Chart

Here's a cheat sheet to recap how to get started EQing vocals:

  1. Cut out any frequencies below 100 Hz to remove any boomyness and add definition and focus to the vocal.
  2. Cut out any frequencies above 10 kHz to remove any harshness or sibilance in the vocal.
  3. Boost the frequencies around 1 kHz to add clarity and presence to the vocal.
  4. Boost the frequencies around 4 kHz for male vocals and 2 kHz for female vocals to add warmth and character to the vocal.

And here's a vocal EQ chart:

Vocal EQ and Music Production Classes

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can learn how to use an equalizer to adjust the tone and balance of your vocals, and create a more polished and professional-sounding mix.

If you want to learn more about music production and take your EQing skills to the next level, sign up for live classes on TIL, where expert music producers will guide you through the entire process and answer your questions along the way.

Explore Live Music Production Classes
Share this post