Free one-page cheat sheet
EQ starting points
A one-page sheet for anyone at the church sound desk: where to start the EQ on six common sources, from the EQ cheat sheet in Sanctuary Mix. Print it and keep it beside the faders.
A4, one page, 28 KB PDF. Free to print and share.
Six sources
High-pass first, then cut before you boost (Chapter 5). Frequencies are approximate: sweep to find the exact spot. Need more than about 6 dB of boost? Look at the mic position or the source instead.
| Source | High-pass | Cut if needed | Weight, presence, air | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead vocal | 80–120 Hz | 200–400 Hz mud. 2.5–4 kHz harshness, narrow. | 3–5 kHz, gentle and wide. Air shelf from 10 kHz. | Harsh: a narrow cut. Dull: a wide lift. Not both. Make room in the band before you boost the vocal. |
| Spoken word | 100–150 Hz | 100–250 Hz boom. The ringing notes found at ring-out. | A gentle lift at 2–4 kHz, only if words are unclear. | Clarity over warmth. No reverb or delay, ever. |
| Kick | 30–40 Hz, or off | 250–400 Hz boxiness, wide. | Weight 50–80 Hz. Beater click 3–5 kHz. | Two mics? Inside for click, outside for weight. Usually owns the very bottom (Chapter 5). |
| Bass (DI) | 30–40 Hz; five-string: about 30 Hz | 200–300 Hz mud, wide. | Fullness 100–120 Hz (or the very bottom, if the bass owns it). Definition 700 Hz–1.5 kHz. | The definition band keeps the bass audible on small speakers and the stream. On small speakers, a five-string needs its high-pass most. |
| Acoustic guitar | 100–150 Hz | 150–250 Hz boom. 1–2 kHz pickup quack. | Sparkle shelf from 5–8 kHz. | In a full band it's rhythm: high-pass it hard. Weak? In order: guitar volume and EQ, battery, guitar EQ flat, phantom for an active DI, pad off. |
| Keys and piano | 60–100 Hz | 200–400 Hz mud. | 2–5 kHz, only if it disappears. | Raise the high-pass when the bass player covers the low end. |
The full sheet
The EQ cheat sheet in Sanctuary Mix and in Sanctuary Mix Essentials has every other source too: backing vocals, snare, toms, overheads, electric guitar, pads and synths, and tracks. Both have Chapter 5, EQ Without Fear: the frequency map, the high-pass filter, and cutting before you boost.
Also free
- Before this Sunday: seven steps for a new sound volunteer.
- Sunday cards: four cards to print for the desk or read on your phone before the service.
- Analogue desk quick guide: eight steps for a desk with a knob or a button for everything.