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An equalizer (also called an “EQ”) is an audio filter that isolates certain frequencies and either boosts them, lowers them, or leaves them unchanged. Equalizers are found on a wide array of electronic devices. These include:

Home stereo systems
Car stereo systems
Via digital software on computers, cell phones, and tablets
Instrumental amplifiers (guitar, bass, keyboard, etc.)
Guitar pedals or rack effects
Studio mixing boards
An equalizer will alter the color of an audio signal. It could make vocals more articulate by boosting the treble frequency range. It could make a song sound “heavier” by boosting bass frequencies. Sometimes, it can be used to remove certain sounds from a recording, like the high pitched buzz of a fluorescent lighting fixture.


What Does an Equalizer Do?
An equalizer will adjust audio output so that certain frequencies are emphasized over others. Most do this through the use of linear filters. How those filters function varies based on the equalizer’s interface.

Here are some popular types of equalizers:

Parametric equalizer or parametric EQ. This has three controls. The first determines what specific frequencies you want to boost or cut: you zero in on a frequency somewhere between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, which you can then boost or decrease. The second, which is sometimes called the Q, determines the sharpness of the bandwidth (meaning “are you zeroing in tightly on one specific frequency, or are you targeting a wider bandwidth surrounding that frequency?”). And the third is the level control—by how much do you want to boost or reduce a frequency? Parametric EQs usually exist in the form of digital software.




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Music 101: What Is an Equalizer? Plus: Best Equalizer Settings for Drums and Guitar
Written by the MasterClass staff

Last updated: Aug 10, 2021 • 6 min read

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The human ear can detect a broad range of sounds. On the low end, we can hear vibrations of about 20 Hz, which is perceptible only as dull rumble. On the upper end, we can hear vibrations of approximately 20,000 Hz, which will come across as a faint whine. But in between those extremes is the sweet spot of human hearing. And we can boost or diminish specific frequencies with the use of an equalizer.

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What Is an Equalizer?
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What Is an Equalizer?
An equalizer (also called an “EQ”) is an audio filter that isolates certain frequencies and either boosts them, lowers them, or leaves them unchanged. Equalizers are found on a wide array of electronic devices. These include:

Home stereo systems
Car stereo systems
Via digital software on computers, cell phones, and tablets
Instrumental amplifiers (guitar, bass, keyboard, etc.)
Guitar pedals or rack effects
Studio mixing boards
An equalizer will alter the color of an audio signal. It could make vocals more articulate by boosting the treble frequency range. It could make a song sound “heavier” by boosting bass frequencies. Sometimes, it can be used to remove certain sounds from a recording, like the high pitched buzz of a fluorescent lighting fixture.


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What Does an Equalizer Do?
An equalizer will adjust audio output so that certain frequencies are emphasized over others. Most do this through the use of linear filters. How those filters function varies based on the equalizer’s interface.

Here are some popular types of equalizers:

Parametric equalizer or parametric EQ. This has three controls. The first determines what specific frequencies you want to boost or cut: you zero in on a frequency somewhere between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, which you can then boost or decrease. The second, which is sometimes called the Q, determines the sharpness of the bandwidth (meaning “are you zeroing in tightly on one specific frequency, or are you targeting a wider bandwidth surrounding that frequency?”). And the third is the level control—by how much do you want to boost or reduce a frequency? Parametric EQs usually exist in the form of digital software.