EQ: Meeting Client Requests with Emotional and Technical Awareness

Written By Rob Kornweiss

When mixing engineers are asked to make something sound or feel a certain way, EQ is very often the answer. It’s therefore helpful for engineers to integrate three things:

(1) the words musicians use to describe sounds

(2) the emotions associated with those sounds

(3) the EQ moves that get you the desired sound and feel

Below is my attempt at this integration for common EQ-related notes, with an example for each.

“Make it thicker”

  • Feelings: Strong, impactful, present

  • Target Band: Low, low-mid

  • Consider: Boosting 20-500 Hz

  • Example: Thickness adds body to a bass or guitar

“Make it warmer”

  • Feelings: Intimate, enveloping, comforting

  • Target Band: Low-mid

  • Consider: Boosting 200-500 Hz (or cutting above that)

  • Example: Warmth adds presence to a lead vocal

“Make it less muddy”

  • Feelings: Unfocused, unresolved

  • Target Band: Low-mid

  • Consider: Cutting 200-500 Hz

  • Example: Clearing out mud brings focus to a bass

“Make it less boxy”

  • Feelings: Constrained, confined

  • Target Band: Low-mid

  • Consider: Cutting 200-500 Hz

  • Example: Removing boxiness brings clarity to a vocal

“Make it less harsh”

  • Feelings: Painful, piercing

  • Target Band: Upper-mid

  • Consider: Targeted cuts at 2-8 kHz (often with dynamic EQ)

  • Example: De-essing a vocal eliminates harsh sibilance

“Make it brighter”

  • Feelings: Energetic, exciting, close

  • Target Band: Upper-mid, treble

  • Consider: Boosting 6-20 kHz (or cutting below that)

  • Example: Brightening a guitar adds excitement

“Make it darker”

  • Feelings: Subdued, distant

  • Target Band: Upper-mid, treble

  • Consider: Cutting 3-20 kHz

  • Example: Darkening a pad makes it more distant

“Make it more airy”

  • Feelings: Light, free, open

  • Target Band: Treble

  • Consider: Boosting 10-20 kHz (or cutting below that)

  • Example: Adding air to hi hats and cymbals makes them more open

“Make it smoother”

  • Feelings: Relaxing, comforting, soothing

  • Target Band: All

  • Consider: Control any frequency spikes (often with dynamic EQ)

  • Example: Controlling frequency spikes on a piano makes it more soothing

Rob Kornweiss
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