Awesome Tool for Newbies

soupking · 5th September 2008, 04:59 AM

Okay this is kind of a dumb post, but my posts have been pretty dumb as of late. Fortunately for most, they have been few and far between. However, this little tool came as a real useful surprise to me so I thought I'd mention it for those starting out mixing. For those of you who are experienced. this is probably really 'well, duh!'. But anyway...

It's iTunes, and I don't mean the store, I mean the actual app.

The reason being is that iTunes has a built in multi-band equalizer. It's free and covers many ranges. This might sounds half obvious and half weak-minded. But honestly, I haven't seen a multi-band EQ since the 80's so I honestly wouldn't think to use one for any tracking/mixing purpose.

However, before I EQ anything (which I have hardly done at all recently because I'm new and my ears aren't really acute to knowing where to knob) I now boil the raw tracks into a wav file, put in iTunes, and slide each band to full and back down. That way I can recognize where each instrument is registering on the frequency spectrum, takes notes, and learn. Then I thought, wow I should buy a...Why? It's already in iTunes.

Anyway, to me sweepable EQs are really flexible, they're not the most intuitive when it comes to honing in on a particular instrument range. The whole wax on, wax off functionality of the multi-band really helps one become familiar in where particular instruments land and can help translate the sound/Khz barrier mentally.

This was a rather eye-opening experience for me so I thought I'd share it.

Mayor999 · 5th September 2008, 05:12 AM

Word.

I have a couple DN360's and the API 560 is one of my fav. EQs!

TrashRocket · 5th September 2008, 08:16 AM

I do this all the time when I'm listening to stuff in iTunes. Any tool you can use to dissect a mix or at least learn what's sitting where, is totally usefull in my book.

You could totally do the same thing by importing songs into your DAW and using a semi-transparent EQ plugin on it, but the iTunes method is quicker and easier to EQ a bunch of different mixes in a short amount of time if you just want a rough idea of what's going on.

EJW · 5th September 2008, 08:25 AM

Stinky troll!

**Jules** · 5th September 2008, 11:09 AM

Cool - I added this the Tips & Techniques section

So thanks!

Use ITunes as an EQ

soupking · 5th September 2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jules

Cool - I added this the Tips & Techniques section

So thanks!

Use ITunes as an EQ

Cool! Thanks Jules!

- The Stinky Troll

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For the Newbies	Trancetones	So much gear, so little time!	5	11th June 2008 06:20 PM
EQ GUIDE FOR NEWBIES	feedback711	Rap + Hip Hop engineering & production	10	18th September 2007 05:10 PM
A Word of Advice For Newbies By A Newbie	soupking	So much gear, so little time!	40	27th July 2007 05:54 PM
I know this is no place for newbies,,, but,,,	electricsun	So much gear, so little time!	28	19th May 2007 01:06 PM

5th September 2008, 04:59 AM	#1
soupking Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,564	Awesome Tool for Newbies Okay this is kind of a dumb post, but my posts have been pretty dumb as of late. Fortunately for most, they have been few and far between. However, this little tool came as a real useful surprise to me so I thought I'd mention it for those starting out mixing. For those of you who are experienced. this is probably really 'well, duh!'. But anyway... It's iTunes, and I don't mean the store, I mean the actual app. The reason being is that iTunes has a built in multi-band equalizer. It's free and covers many ranges. This might sounds half obvious and half weak-minded. But honestly, I haven't seen a multi-band EQ since the 80's so I honestly wouldn't think to use one for any tracking/mixing purpose. However, before I EQ anything (which I have hardly done at all recently because I'm new and my ears aren't really acute to knowing where to knob) I now boil the raw tracks into a wav file, put in iTunes, and slide each band to full and back down. That way I can recognize where each instrument is registering on the frequency spectrum, takes notes, and learn. Then I thought, wow I should buy a...Why? It's already in iTunes. Anyway, to me sweepable EQs are really flexible, they're not the most intuitive when it comes to honing in on a particular instrument range. The whole wax on, wax off functionality of the multi-band really helps one become familiar in where particular instruments land and can help translate the sound/Khz barrier mentally. This was a rather eye-opening experience for me so I thought I'd share it. __________________ "Cuz remember, no matter where you go...There you are." -- Buckaroo Banzai

5th September 2008, 05:12 AM	#2
Mayor999 Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 931	Word. I have a couple DN360's and the API 560 is one of my fav. EQs! __________________ NEW Pro Tools 7.4 With Elastic Audio - New and Exciting ways to get repetitive stress injuries!

5th September 2008, 08:25 AM	#4
EJW Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St. Louis Posts: 135	Stinky troll! __________________ Is that the title we all agreed on? I kind of like Operation Stein Grab.

5th September 2008, 11:09 AM	#5
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 11,814	Cool - I added this the Tips & Techniques section So thanks! Use ITunes as an EQ __________________ Jules "...there are some amazing deals to be had in this right now. it brings battleship mixing closer to the jilted generation" - reptil

5th September 2008, 08:16 AM	#3
TrashRocket Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 17	I do this all the time when I'm listening to stuff in iTunes. Any tool you can use to dissect a mix or at least learn what's sitting where, is totally usefull in my book. You could totally do the same thing by importing songs into your DAW and using a semi-transparent EQ plugin on it, but the iTunes method is quicker and easier to EQ a bunch of different mixes in a short amount of time if you just want a rough idea of what's going on.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: