I often use my daw to record a loop playing a few open chords and use a fabfilter eq to search for what i do not like and then translate into my eq settings (kemper user here)
This is a very important subject so thanks for showing others and nice detailed info too The solo band trick was awesome!! You want the guitar to poke thru the mix. If you listen to classic rock guitars isolated it's always a lot more treble in tone than we would ever think. I think PEQ is the secret sauce that most guitarist never use. I used the old GE-7 for decades until I got into FAS gear. I still have my old one that's over 25 years old.
Thanks for watching! Definitely an essential tool to dial in killer tones. That GE-7 will still be good in another 25 years. The only things left on earth after the nuclear apocalypse will be cockroaches and boss pedals.
Not sure who I saw do it (maybe Leon Todd), but assigning the Frequency knob to an expression pedal modifier helps make those clean sweeps through the frequencies to try and isolate any harshness. Or even use a Looper to playback a riff while you dial in by hand. Lets you put more attention into listening.
Not really and you get good results with both. You just have more bands with the PEQ block as well as more options for placement. I like to do “general” cuts in the cab block and more aggressive cuts and other eq tweaks in the PEQ block for loud playing in live environments.
Hang in there mate, you will have 1000’s of subscribers soon! Your vids are very good quality! What about a Klon vid next?? I’m waiting for the next FM9 update!
Great video mate. You talk about live but would you use PEQ in the studio? I am having issues with some frequencies, should I be using a PEQ for recording?
Thanks! Yes, same rules would apply, but you can be a bit more specific with the EQ depending on where you want the guitar to sit. Possibly being more aggressive on cutting the low mids or boosting the upper mids for more presence.
Great video. Thank you. Just curious, wouldn’t it be better to place the EQ before the amps/cabs/effects to change the signal going in instead of changing the final product going out. I place EQ first so there is minimal to change at the amp block and just a little extra in the cab block :-)
I'm setting up for a gig that has a back line, I'm running Fractal humbucker cord bypassing the front of guitar amp, on stage cabinet at gig is exactly what I have at home (Marshall 1960 4x12 cab) I had to turn the cabinets off in the Axe-FX because it sounded bad. I have everything close, but was wondering if this technique will work just fine with cabs off? I rolled off both end of EQ on amp input EQ but I'm just not hearing the change. Please keep up with these little things because they really help!
Yeah, In this case you would be "double cab-ing" where the sound of a speaker cab is being processed by the Fractal and also going to guitar speakers, so you're right in saying that it would sound better when turning the cab off. If the backline amp is a tube amp you might also try turning off the "Power Amp Modeling" in the amp block or the setup menu, since it's designed to emulate a tube power section. Yes, PEQ would also be good in this situation as well, albeit might look different than what I dialed in on the video. Use the same technique though- gain up a band, sweep through frequencies and remove unwanted harshness or boomy-ness. As someone already commented, the Looper will help in the process as well! Not sure what you would be able to run on this gig, but splitting off the amp block to the backline AND splitting to the cab block and another PEQ to another output going to FOH is a great set up. Direct IR and processing to FOH, cab on stage and no mic to worry about. Hope this helps. Rock on!
Is it efficient to use the PEQ both in the way you are using it to shave off high and low frequencies, but ALSO to boost a frequency for lead or riff playing? I’m a rock/metal guy and I’m trying to combine tips into one or should I use multiple PEQs? Because on one of my PEQ channels I’m actually boosting around 8k for aggressive rhythm sounds
Yeah I that will work, especially is you utilize the channels in the PEQ block. You could have a flatter eq with low and high cuts on ch A then the same low and high cuts with a mid boost on ch B to cut for a solo and use scenes to select between them.
I was not, but my best friend's older brother served in the Army. He's the one who designed the shirt. I'll link his profile below... facebook.com/ThisisKiloCharlie/
Hey Matt, bare with me..but I'm confused. I get the overall premise of subtractive EQ. But where you get me is when you start sweeping and cutting AFTER you already boost the frequency in question by several db. Shouldn't you start with a flat 0db and boost what you don't like from the raw Amp/cab frequencies? Aka just the pre/power amp and cab after you dial the EQ in on the preamp model itself? To me it's like your putting frequencies in, and cutting frequencies you added. No troll, I am probably just missing something. Help please?
No worries, I might not be understanding the question completely so let me know if this is redundant... In the template, I already have the amp and cab set to where I would dial it in- Amp: Bass 2 Mid 6 Treble 6 for so and the cab has a preamp low cut at 80hz and a high cut at 8000hz- this is a decent "home studio" setting, but getting into a live environment it might be too bass heavy or have some shrill highs. So that's where PEQ comes in. As far as the boost then cut is concerned- that's just a way of finding what I don't like. So, I'm not going to a predetermined number (there are some good go-to's like 2K, but it's still better to use your ears), I need to find what I don't like by boosting a band and sweeping the knob, then I know what to cut. This is how old-school engineers would EQ before things like RTAs and other tools became easy to come by in a digital world. Hope this helped and let me know!
Hi, what were your hi and low cuts in the cab block? I find that there it is very confusing when almost every block has its own hi and low cut parameters. Is it possible to over cut? Which blocks would be best to do the cuts in? I am so confused! 😵💫🫨😭
My starting point is 80 Hz and 8000 Hz, but for live use it's usually 100 Hz and somewhere between 5000-6000Hz. If the guitar starts to sound unnatural, then it might be overcut, but use your ears. While yes, every block does have its own cut parameters, I usually only use the Cab block for my initial cuts, and a PEQ for live cuts. Sometimes I might use others if wanting something specific (like dialing back the highs in the pitch block, or doing a lo-fi filter sort of thing).
One of the best explanations and walk throughs of PEQ. Thanks for this.
I added the parametric eq frequencies 1 and 5 to my perform-pp screen and it is a life saver on the fly …thanks a lot!
Glad that's been helpful!
I need to learn how to use this eq because I don’t feel the amp controls are as responsive honestly as needed to really shape a tone.
Great video Matthew.
I often use my daw to record a loop playing a few open chords and use a fabfilter eq to search for what i do not like and then translate into my eq settings (kemper user here)
You’ve got me exited 😂. Love the “geeky stuff” that makes a difference. Video was so helpful!
Awesome! Thank you!
Dude! Super helpful video on taking great lower volume studio tones to the live stage. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video on this topic. Thank you!
Another great video 👍🏼
I absolutely love your video’s…I learn something new every time I watch…I had no idea about the Solo Bus on the PEQ…..Great stuff!!
Thanks, Scott! That solo feature is definitely one of the hidden gems... just wish that was also on my StudioLive mixer now too!
Such a helpful video, thank you for this!!
This is a very important subject so thanks for showing others and nice detailed info too The solo band trick was awesome!! You want the guitar to poke thru the mix. If you listen to classic rock guitars isolated it's always a lot more treble in tone than we would ever think. I think PEQ is the secret sauce that most guitarist never use. I used the old GE-7 for decades until I got into FAS gear. I still have my old one that's over 25 years old.
Thanks for watching! Definitely an essential tool to dial in killer tones. That GE-7 will still be good in another 25 years. The only things left on earth after the nuclear apocalypse will be cockroaches and boss pedals.
@@mathew_dale and, Keith Richard
Ha! Yes!
Hugely helpful---thank you!
Great video and explanation - Thanks!
You're welcome!
Great video, thanks
Not sure who I saw do it (maybe Leon Todd), but assigning the Frequency knob to an expression pedal modifier helps make those clean sweeps through the frequencies to try and isolate any harshness. Or even use a Looper to playback a riff while you dial in by hand. Lets you put more attention into listening.
That's a great idea!
Another great video!!!
Hell yeah! Love me some PEQ.
Very informative video, man!!! I use the PEQ all the time after my cab block, these tips are really helpful. Thanks Mathew
Sure thing! Thanks for watching!
Great video as always! Thanks for sharing some of your knowledge with us!
Cheers!
Thanks for watching!
Is there a different between using the PEQ block for the low and high cuts, and the cab block parameters?
Not really and you get good results with both. You just have more bands with the PEQ block as well as more options for placement. I like to do “general” cuts in the cab block and more aggressive cuts and other eq tweaks in the PEQ block for loud playing in live environments.
Hang in there mate, you will have 1000’s of subscribers soon! Your vids are very good quality!
What about a Klon vid next?? I’m waiting for the next FM9 update!
Thank you! That definitely might be in the cards!
Great video mate. You talk about live but would you use PEQ in the studio? I am having issues with some frequencies, should I be using a PEQ for recording?
Thanks! Yes, same rules would apply, but you can be a bit more specific with the EQ depending on where you want the guitar to sit. Possibly being more aggressive on cutting the low mids or boosting the upper mids for more presence.
Great video. Thank you. Just curious, wouldn’t it be better to place the EQ before the amps/cabs/effects to change the signal going in instead of changing the final product going out. I place EQ first so there is minimal to change at the amp block and just a little extra in the cab block :-)
Both are fine approaches. Having the eq before the amp is more like a pedal on your board, eq after amp and cab is a bit more like a recording chain.
@@mathew_dale Ah yes, that makes sense. Thank you 😊
I'm setting up for a gig that has a back line, I'm running Fractal humbucker cord bypassing the front of guitar amp, on stage cabinet at gig is exactly what I have at home (Marshall 1960 4x12 cab) I had to turn the cabinets off in the Axe-FX because it sounded bad. I have everything close, but was wondering if this technique will work just fine with cabs off? I rolled off both end of EQ on amp input EQ but I'm just not hearing the change. Please keep up with these little things because they really help!
Yeah, In this case you would be "double cab-ing" where the sound of a speaker cab is being processed by the Fractal and also going to guitar speakers, so you're right in saying that it would sound better when turning the cab off. If the backline amp is a tube amp you might also try turning off the "Power Amp Modeling" in the amp block or the setup menu, since it's designed to emulate a tube power section. Yes, PEQ would also be good in this situation as well, albeit might look different than what I dialed in on the video. Use the same technique though- gain up a band, sweep through frequencies and remove unwanted harshness or boomy-ness. As someone already commented, the Looper will help in the process as well! Not sure what you would be able to run on this gig, but splitting off the amp block to the backline AND splitting to the cab block and another PEQ to another output going to FOH is a great set up. Direct IR and processing to FOH, cab on stage and no mic to worry about. Hope this helps. Rock on!
Is it efficient to use the PEQ both in the way you are using it to shave off high and low frequencies, but ALSO to boost a frequency for lead or riff playing? I’m a rock/metal guy and I’m trying to combine tips into one or should I use multiple PEQs? Because on one of my PEQ channels I’m actually boosting around 8k for aggressive rhythm sounds
Yeah I that will work, especially is you utilize the channels in the PEQ block. You could have a flatter eq with low and high cuts on ch A then the same low and high cuts with a mid boost on ch B to cut for a solo and use scenes to select between them.
Looking at your shirt, were you in the military?
I was not, but my best friend's older brother served in the Army. He's the one who designed the shirt. I'll link his profile below...
facebook.com/ThisisKiloCharlie/
Much better to use the Looper makes it a lot easier
Also a good strategy
@@mathew_dale ya just put it before the amp anf you don't have to keep playing it makes it easier to focus
Hey Matt, bare with me..but I'm confused. I get the overall premise of subtractive EQ. But where you get me is when you start sweeping and cutting AFTER you already boost the frequency in question by several db. Shouldn't you start with a flat 0db and boost what you don't like from the raw Amp/cab frequencies? Aka just the pre/power amp and cab after you dial the EQ in on the preamp model itself? To me it's like your putting frequencies in, and cutting frequencies you added. No troll, I am probably just missing something. Help please?
No worries, I might not be understanding the question completely so let me know if this is redundant... In the template, I already have the amp and cab set to where I would dial it in- Amp: Bass 2 Mid 6 Treble 6 for so and the cab has a preamp low cut at 80hz and a high cut at 8000hz- this is a decent "home studio" setting, but getting into a live environment it might be too bass heavy or have some shrill highs. So that's where PEQ comes in. As far as the boost then cut is concerned- that's just a way of finding what I don't like. So, I'm not going to a predetermined number (there are some good go-to's like 2K, but it's still better to use your ears), I need to find what I don't like by boosting a band and sweeping the knob, then I know what to cut. This is how old-school engineers would EQ before things like RTAs and other tools became easy to come by in a digital world. Hope this helped and let me know!
Hi, what were your hi and low cuts in the cab block? I find that there it is very confusing when almost every block has its own hi and low cut parameters. Is it possible to over cut? Which blocks would be best to do the cuts in? I am so confused! 😵💫🫨😭
My starting point is 80 Hz and 8000 Hz, but for live use it's usually 100 Hz and somewhere between 5000-6000Hz. If the guitar starts to sound unnatural, then it might be overcut, but use your ears. While yes, every block does have its own cut parameters, I usually only use the Cab block for my initial cuts, and a PEQ for live cuts. Sometimes I might use others if wanting something specific (like dialing back the highs in the pitch block, or doing a lo-fi filter sort of thing).