EQ for Smoothing Dialogue Audio

Sometimes dialogue audio sounds just a little harsh, even though you recorded it at a good level without clipping or distorting. This is just the nature of some microphones combined with some voices. So what can you do?

This is a good case for using an EQ plugin. EQ stands for equalization and what an EQ plugin does is allow you to emphasize or boost some frequencies of sound or de-emphasize or cut others. The harshness is usually a few certain frequencies that are a little too strong. This is different for every mike and every voice, but here we show you how to find the problems and de-emphasize them which will make your audio smoother.

I show how to do this in Adobe Audition using the standard Parametric EQ plugin that comes with Audition. But keep in mind, you can do this in almost any audio editing app including Audacity, Garage Band, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, etc.

Learn more about the Train Your Ears app over at https://www.trainyourears.com/?rf=38 (This is an affiliate link)

Visit us at http://learnlightandsound.com for more updates on how to improve your lighting and sound for video.

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Gear covered and used to shoot this episode:

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Rycote Wind Cover kit for Shotgun Microphones (version 4)

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1026519-REG/rycote_086068_modular_windshield_kit_ws.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/RYMWS4STKIT/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xRYMWS4STKIT

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Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP Audio Interface

Amazon: https://geni.us/73caJ
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/654238-REG/Focusrite_SAFFIRE_PRO_24_DSP_Saffire_PRO_24_DSP.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/FOSP24DSP/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xFOSP24DSP

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RODE NTG4+ Shotgun Microphone

Amazon: https://geni.us/VXApX
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1115089-REG/rode_rodntg4plus_ntg4_shotgun_microphone_with.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/RONTG4P/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xRONTG4P

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Tascam DR-60DmkII Audio Recorder

Amazon: https://geni.us/4SZATSp
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1084690-REG/tascam_dr_60mkii_portable_recorder_for_dslr.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/TADR60DMKII/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xTADR60DMKII

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Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone (great for voice-over!)

Amazon: https://geni.us/LUlrmS
B&H Photo:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/76681-REG/Electro_Voice_16207816_RE20_Cardoid_Voiceover.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/ELRE20/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xELRE20

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Music copyright Curtis Judd 2012

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.