In Summary

With multiple sources all vying for attention, balancing their tonality is no mean feat. Where mix ‘masking’ is the enemy of clarity, one company’s latest EQ update sets out to automate lifting the veil. How smart is it? We check it out.

Going Deeper

Space-Making

Many would agree that the biggest aim for any mix is getting the levels right. This of course extends to the levels of frequencies and for that, luckily, we have EQ. Using EQ for artistic sculpting is common, but its other big use is to make more objective ‘corrections’ to sounds’ spectra. An example of this would be giving the low end to the bass guitar or synth by filtering some weight out of the kick. Still in the low end, the same filtering on the keys can help the left hand coexist with the bass. At the other end of things, vocal presence can be helped up with an inverse EQ move in the overheads. In the middle, synths, guitars and vocals often have to battle it out for precedence, where reaching for the arrangement can achieve more than any EQ might!

Sonible smart:EQ 4

This latest refinement of Sonible’s clever EQ tech isn’t ‘just’ some kind of automatic EQ. What it does do is take on the problem of spectral masking and tonal overlaps in general by providing what Sonible refer to as “hierarchical control” over multiple tracks through automated spectral mixing.

Using its Group View, engineers can see multiple instances, and control them remotely as well as drag and drop them into an order that decides the precedence of each track or submix. Its smart:filter operates in different modes for channel balance and inter-channel coherence. Also included are version 4’s new Mix Profiles for different genres and a Reference Profile feature for channel or bus character emulation. All this is done using Sonible’s “AI technology”. Version 4 also introduces remote control for adjusting parameters of other instances within the same group.

In the video we pitch smart:EQ 4 against mid range clutter. By creating one group of mid range elements comprising vocals, guitars, and piano, we show how smart:EQ 4’s intelligent dynamic processing can slot these elements together without sacrificing clarity. We also show how it can be used as a conventional EQ for some classic manual control for the mix.

Traditional EQ moves (or judicious dynamic equalisation) are still an effective way to help sources carve a path around each other, but there are alternatives such as smart:EQ 4 to get all sources living in harmony. For complex arrangements, or those where nothing seems to be sitting as it should, using its automated “hierarchical control” could be a smart alternative.

Smart:EQ 4 Key Features:

• smart:filter technology for intelligent cross-channel processing and spectral balance in single tracks or busses.

• Spectral mixing via drag & drop - group view for creating a sonic hierarchy of up to 10 tracks.

• Remote EQ control of multiple tracks from group view.

• Wide range of profiles for instruments/speech as well as entire mixes and option to create custom profiles from reference tracks.

Sonible are running an upgrade offer of £29 for users of smart:EQ 3 to smart:EQ 4 until January 20th 2024. Log into your user account to find out the upgrade price for your territory.