Low Eq; Low Cut; Mid And Mid Freq Eq; High Eq - Mackie PRODX8 Reference Manual

Channel View continued...

14. Low EQ

This slider gives you up
to 12 dB boost or cut below
80 Hz. The processing is
flat (no boost or cut) at
the center position. This
frequency represents the
punch in bass drums, bass
guitar, fat synth patches,
and some really serious male singers.
A trick that we like to employ is to boost the lows
of the rhythm section of the band (e.g. kick drum
and bass guitar), then roll the low off a little on higher
frequency instruments (e.g. electric guitar and female
vocals). The rhythm section sounds huge, but the
higher timbred instruments will still cut through.

15. Low Cut

Low cut — often referred
to as a high pass filter — cuts
bass frequencies below the low
cut setting [20 Hz – 400 Hz]
at a rate of 12 dB per octave.
This ain't no thrown-in dime-
store filter — a 12 dB per
octave curve requires an elaborate circuit.
Nothing but the best for you!
We recommend that you use low cut on every sound
source except kick drum, bass guitar, or bassy synth
patches. These aside, there isn't much down there that
you want to hear, and filtering it out makes the low stuff
you do want much more crisp and tasty. Slide the low
cut right until you just start to hear it affect the signal.
This leaves only what you want to hear while removing
the unwanted debris. Not only that, but low cut can help
reduce the possibility of feedback in live situations.
With low cut, you can safely boost low EQ. Many
times, bass shelving EQ can really benefit voices.
Trouble is, adding low EQ also boosts the subsonic
debris: Stage rumble, mic handling clunks, wind noise
and breath pops. Low cut removes all that debris so you
can boost the low EQ without blowing your subwoofers.
16
MixerConnect
+12
+8
+4
0
–4
–8
–12
20 100 1k 10k 20k
Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz
Low EQ
+12
+8
+4
0
–4
–8
–12
20 100 1k 10k 20k
Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz
Low Cut

16. Mid and Mid Freq EQ

Short for "midrange," the mid slider sets the amount
of boost or cut, up to 12 dB, and is effectively bypassed
at the center. The mid-freq slider sets the center
frequency, sweepable from 100 Hz to 8 kHz.
+12
+8
+4
0
–4
–8
–12
20 100 1k 10k 20k
Hz Hz Hz Hz
Mid EQ
Most of the root and lower harmonics that define a
sound are located in the 100 Hz – 8 kHz frequency
range, and you can create drastic changes with these
two sliders. Many FOH engineers use mid EQ to cut
midrange frequencies, not boost them. One popular
trick is to set the mid fully up, then set the frequency
slider until you find a point where it sounds just ter-
rible, then back the mid down into the cut range,
causing those terrible frequencies to disappear. Sounds
silly, but it works. Sometimes.
Unlike the other EQ sliders, the mid-freq EQ
slider will not illuminate blue. This is because
there is no boost or cut. Rather, it simply sets
the center frequency of the mid EQ.

17. High EQ

This slider gives you
up to 12 dB boost or cut at
12.5 kHz, and it is also flat
at center. Turn it up to add
sizzle to cymbals, and an
overall sense of transpar-
ency, or edge to keyboards,
vocals, guitar and bacon
frying. Turn it down a little
to reduce sibilance, or to hide hiss.
+12
+8
+4
0
–4
–8
–12
20 100 1k 10k 20k
Hz Hz Hz Hz Hz
Hz
Mid Freq Sweep
+12
+8
+4
0
–4
–8
–12
20 100 1k 10k
Hz Hz Hz
High EQ
20k
Hz Hz