Mackie SR408 / SR568 Owner's Manual - Page 21

EQ Point Before: Channel mic/line preamp, Channel INSERT SEND and RETURN . Point After: MUTE , PFL feed to Channel Meter and SOLO . The SR40•8 has a 4-band, dual-mid-sweep equalization: HI shelving at 12kHz; HI-MID bandpass, swept from 500Hz to 15kHz; LOWMID bandpass, swept from 45Hz to 3kHz; and LOW shelving at 80Hz. Chances are, it's all the equalization you'll ever need. Shelving means that the circuitry boosts or cuts all frequencies past the specified frequency. For example, the SR40•8's LOW shelving EQ boosts (or cuts) bass frequencies starting at 80Hz, and all frequencies below. Bandpass means that gain levels form a "hill" around the center frequency. With too much equalization, you can screw things up royally. We've designed a lot of boost and cut into each equalizer circuit because we know everyone will occasionally need that. But if you max the EQ on every Channel, you'll get mix mush. Equalize subtly and use the left sides of the knobs (cut), as well as the right (boost). If you find yourself repeatedly using full boost or cut, consider altering the sound source, such as placing a mic differently, trying a different kind of mic, changing the strings, or gargling. Be aware: The HI-MID and LOW-MID frequencies can be set to the same frequencies as the HI and LOW shelving EQs. This is usually not a problem, but it is unnecessary by virtue of being redundant, and can sometimes cause clipping. For instance, if you fully boost the LOW-MID, with the FREQ set at 80Hz, and fully boost the LOW shelving, preset at 80Hz, you'll be asking for 30dB of gain at 80Hz! If you started out with signal with a 0dB level at that frequency, you'd be clipping for sure. HI 12K The HI EQ provides up to 15dB boost or cut at 12kHz, and is flat (no boost or cut) at the detent. Use it to add sizzle to cymbals, an overall sense of transparency, or an edge to keyboards, vocals, guitar, and bacon frying. Turn it down a little to reduce sibilance, minimize high frequency leakage, or to mask hiss caused by a frugal client's fifty-cent cassette tape. +15 +10 +5 0 -5 -10 -15 20Hz 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 20kHz HI MID and FREQ The HI-MID EQ has a fixed bandwidth of 1.5 octaves. The HI-MID knob sets the amount of boost or cut up to 15dB, and is flat at the center detent. The FREQ knob sets the center frequency, sweepable from 500Hz to 15kHz. +15 +10 +5 0 -5 -10 -15 20Hz 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 20kHz +15 +10 +5 0 -5 -10 -15 20Hz 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 20kHz Most of the root and lower harmonics that define a sound are located in the 100Hz- 10kHz frequency range, and you can create drastic changes with these four midrange knobs. Many engineers use mid EQ to cut mid- range frequencies, not boost them. One popular trick is to set mid gain fully up, turn the associated FREQ knob until you find a point where it sounds just terrible, then back the mid down into the cut range, causing those terrible frequencies to disappear. Sounds silly, but it works. Sometimes. 21 U -15 +15 U -15 +15 2.5k EQ HI 12k HI MID 700 6k FREQ 500 15k U -15 +15 250 LOW MID 70 700 FREQ 45 3k U -15 +15 LOW 80Hz HPF 150 EQ IN 75 220 45 350 FREQ 30 800 LR PAN 40 MUTE dB 5 1-2 U 3-4 5-6 5 7-8 CENTER L-R 50 60 OO SOLO