John Carson- A guide to EQ

This pdf comes with a FREE! Quick start EQ Card

What's Inside the Guide

• Filter Types Explained: Quick breakdowns on how and when to use High-Pass/Low-Pass filters, Shelving EQs, and Bell curves.
• Instrument-Specific Frequency Ranges: Exact sweet spots and problem zones for over 20+ common instruments (like Kick, Snare, Vocals, Acoustic/Electric Guitars, and Piano).
• Corrective vs. Creative EQ Framework: Step-by-step guidance on identifying harshness/muddiness and how to effectively unmask clashing frequencies.
• The "Sweep and Destroy" Method: Instructions on how to identify offensive resonances by boosting a narrow Q and sweeping across the frequency spectrum.

Why Every Producer Needs This

When you are staring at a complex mix and an element sounds "boxy," "nasal," or "harsh," this guide serves as a visual translator. Instead of guessing, you can reference the chart to instantly locate the problematic frequency—such as cutting between 250 Hz to 500 Hz for mud, or boosting around 3 kHz to 5 kHz for presence.

As always, the golden rule of equalization applies: use your ears first. Let this guide be a helpful starting point, rather than a rigid rulebook, to speed up your workflow and improve your mixing confidence.