Use Channel EQ to Improve Voice Quality in Apple Final Cut Pro

Two years ago I wrote that Apple removed the Fat EQ effect from Final Cut Pro and replaced it with Channel EQ. At that time, I said I’d write a tutorial on how to use Channel EQ shortly. Then, I promptly forgot about that promise.

So, here, two years later, is the tutorial.

NOTE: Similar effects exist in Premiere and Resolve. Each interface is slightly different but the settings are the same.

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The Channel EQ effect, which is also called a “filter,” allows us to adjust frequency ranges within an audio clip to “shape” the sound. We would do this to make an interview guest more understandable, or dramatic dialog sound more on location, or a horror film villain sound scarier.

This tutorial shows how the filter works and provides general guidance on how to use it. For more dramatic uses, these instructions will get you started, after which you can play until it sounds good to you.

BIG NOTE: Audio is not a science of perfect numbers. Most of the time, you adjust a setting while playing the audio until it sounds good to you. But, if you haven’t used these tools, you may not know what to listen for or what setting to adjust. Every voice is different. Use my settings to get started, then adjust until it sounds good or time runs out.

The Channel EQ filter is found in Effects browser > Audio > EQ > Channel EQ. Like all FCP effects drag it onto the clip you want to change, or double-click the effect to apply it to all selected clips.

NOTE: While there are many variations of the Channel EQ filter, the one named “Channel EQ” is the most flexible, while providing the ability to save custom presets. I always recommend using this one.

Select the clip to which the effect is applied, then, in the Audio Inspector, click the icon (red arrow) for the Channel EQ controls.

This opens the Channel EQ window. (Don’t panic – this is easier to use than you think.)

AUDIO BACKGROUND

Everything we hear – from noise to speech to music – is contained in a range of frequencies (vibrations) from 20 waves per second (measured in HZ) to 20,000 waves per second (20 – 20,000 Hz).

Frequencies:

• Below 100Hz are rumbles and hums
• Male speech is roughly 150 – 5,000 Hz
• Female speech is roughly 300 – 7,000 Hz (women’s voices are an octave higher than men)
• Child speech is roughly 600 – 10,000 Hz (Except for a baby crying which is on a frequency chart all its own…. But, I digress.)
• Sounds above 10,000 are high whistles and noise

As we get older our ability to hear higher frequencies diminishes, a lot.

• Vowels are lower-frequency sounds – 100 – 1,000 Hz
• Consonants are higher-frequency sounds – 2,000 – 6,000 Hz
• As you can imagine, there is a lot of variation between individuals.

CREATE A CHANNEL EQ EFFECT FOR MEN

Here’s how I use the Channel EQ effect for male narration / interviews. My goals are to:

• Diminish low-frequency rumbles
• Make a man’s voice sound warm and inviting
• Provide clarity for folks with limited hearing problems

Reduce rumbles

Grab the red dot and drag over to around 85 Hz, then down so that lower frequencies are attenuated (lowered) as you see here. This reduces machine and air conditioning rumble without affecting voice frequencies.

Warm the voice

Warming the voice involves raising lower frequencies; generally 100 – 250 Hz. To do this, drag the yellow dot (red arrow) to 150 Hz, then up 3-5 dB.

NOTE: Q, the bottom number in each channel defines the width of the effect. Numbers lower than 1 are broad, numbers higher than one are narrow. For these types of changes, we want the effect to apply broadly. Use a Q between 0.6 and 1.2.

 Add Clarity

Intelligibility comes from consonants, which are higher frequencies, generally 2500 – 5,000 Hz. To do this, drag the blue dot (upper red arrow) to 2800 – 3000 Hz, then up 4-6 dB.

The finished effect for men, looks like this.

SAVE A PRESET

Once you have the settings you like, click the menu in the top left corner, choose Save Preset and give it a name. The location is set by Final Cut.

CREATE A CHANNEL EQ EFFECT FOR WOMEN

Applying a Channel EQ is the same for women with different numbers. My goals are to:

• Diminish low-frequency rumbles
• Make a woman’s voice sound warm and inviting
• Provide clarity for folks with limited hearing problems

The low frequency cut-off is the same for women. But her voice is an octave higher than a man’s.

Warm a voice

Set the frequency to 250 Hz, with a boost between 3-5 dB. A fast way to do this is to double-click a number and type the value you want.

Add Clarity

Set the frequency to 4,000 Hz, with a boost between 4-6 dB.

Here’s the finished results.

SUMMARY

As one reader wrote: “My best advice is to mix with your ears, not your eyes. Instead of setting things to specific numbers, slide knobs around until things sound good to you. Everyone’s voice sounds different, and every mic does too, so it’s always good to just close your eyes and listen.”

While this is good advice, each of us needs to start somewhere. Now, you know where to start.

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