Sound Ministry Series Part 4 - The High Frequency EQ Knob

The first knob you encounter in the EQ section of your channel strip will be the High Frequency knob (sometimes labelled "HF").

This knob boosts or cuts all frequencies above 12kHz (which in note terms is the F# in the 9th octave of the piano).

This control can be used to remove excessive 'essing' or brittle-ness from a vocal, or it can be used to add clarity and sparkle to instruments and 'airiness' vocals. If you are micing a drum kit, use it to add shimmer and brilliance to your cymbals.

12kHz is the top end of the human voice's range. This frequency would most significantly affect your soprano singer, a church organ and the cymbals of a drum kit.

Remember, as with all eq'ing, to use it gradually and sparingly. Don't just randomly turn knobs. Turn it a little, then listen carefully. Has the sound improved? Has it deteriorated? If you are making adjustments during a service, ensure that you do things so gradually that the congregation wouldn't notice you making the change.

Also bear in mind that higher frequencies are very directional (in contrast to low frequencies, which just go everywhere!). If you are making adjustments here, you need to make sure you are listening in the direct path of the speaker to hear the actual affect, or you may end up increasing too much high frequency.

For more info on eq, check out this video series: http://www.prosoundweb.com/videos/video/introduction_to_equalization/

Next time: the Midrange control knobs