Glossary → Audio engineering
Audio engineering

Equalization (EQ)

Equalization adjusts the balance of frequencies in audio — cutting rumble, taming harshness, adding clarity — the most fundamental tone-shaping tool in audio work.

For speech, the standard moves are a high-pass filter removing sub-80 Hz rumble, gentle cuts where the room resonates, and a modest presence lift for intelligibility. Subtractive EQ (cutting problems) generally sounds more natural than boosting.

Related terms

FrequencyFrequency is how many times per second a sound wave cycles, measured in hertz (Hz) — perceived as pitch, with … High-pass filterA high-pass filter removes frequencies below a chosen cutoff, letting highs pass — the near-universal first mo… Frequency responseFrequency response describes how a microphone, speaker or system reproduces different frequencies — 'flat' res…

Frequently asked

What is Equalization?

Equalization adjusts the balance of frequencies in audio — cutting rumble, taming harshness, adding clarity — the most fundamental tone-shaping tool in audio work.

Why does Equalization matter?

For speech, the standard moves are a high-pass filter removing sub-80 Hz rumble, gentle cuts where the room resonates, and a modest presence lift for intelligibility. Subtractive EQ (cutting problems) generally sounds more natural than boosting.

What terms are related to Equalization?

Closely related concepts: Frequency, High-pass filter, Frequency response — each has its own entry in this glossary.