The productivity blog 43 Folders, which is run by a dude who was in a band that opened for the Wrens in 2005, has posted what it claims is the “perfect” graphic-equalizer setting for iTunes. Since we’re on a bit of a perfect-things kick today, here’s the magic formula:
Open the equalizer, and from the pop-up menu, select “Make Preset.” Call it “Perfect,” because it is, and set the following levels, from left to right (skip the Preamp section): db +3, +6, +9, +7, +6, +5, +7, +9, +11, +8 db
My hard drive died about 10 days ago (cards and flowers can be sent to the usual address) and I’ve been simultaneously recalibrating my computer and blogging since I got a new one; if nothing else, the 43Folders post made me realize that I’d been listening to all my normal songs in non-EQ’d fashion ever since I got my computer back, so I tried my best to replicate the settings above. I have to say, the MP3 of Unrest’s “Make Out Club” does have, as the designer of these settings claimed, a bit more “pop,” but surely one of our also-committed-to-their-computers readers will have an opinion on whether or not I should re-recalibrate these settings–especially in the moments when I want to listen to something that isn’t guitar-based.
Perfect iTunes [43Folders, via Lifehacker]
OK, I confess I tried it. It actually does sound really good. One thing: I had to wait until I changed all the calibrations before selecting “Make Preset” for it to stick.
I tried it as well, I usually keep it at “Trebble Booster” or something like that. This definitely adds the punch.
Spoon is also coming out of my tiny labtop speakers louder than it used to, which is a plus.
I love how seriously the commenters are taking the “Perfect” label. I mean, it’s inevitable, but still really cute.
I don’t know that there’s any right or wrong about it, but louder always “sounds” better when compared to something not as loud. (i.e. turning the EQ on then off)
It’s not like computer speakers sound great to begin with, so whatever sounds best to you, roll with it. I wouldn’t set it up like that if you were listening through a proper stereo though, but then I get alittle geeked out on that sort of thing…
Wait, is there a link to the perfect mp3 settings on 43 Folders too? John Vanderslice discovered them and told Merlin about it! They really are best. Of course, I can’t find them now.
I mean mp3-making. Uh, ripping. That.
Tried it, played “She Sells Sanctuary,” Perfect indeed.
Don’t mean to be cranky, but if you’re going to insist on listening to well recorded music reduced for delivery in the form of an MP3, use the Izotope Ozone plug in. Perfect, indeed.
I’m sure that makes computer speakers sound a lot better, but it didn’t do my *proper* stereo speakers any favors.
@The Thirteenth Sentry: “She Sells Sanctuary” would sound perfect through a tin can and a string.
Perfect is very, very subjective and depends on the room, the speakers and how the music was originally recorded. It also depends on the listener. So, for those about to rock I say there is no perfect.
A first year sound engineering student will tell you that boosting every frequency is a terrible idea. This setting makes the sound “pop” because its overloading. This makes the sharp highs and low lows come out in the mix, but it also clips the soundwave. If you listen to anything at this setting, you are not hearing all the sonic information encoded in the already flawed mp3 medium. You should have an equal balance BELOW 0db, and not stray much farther than -6 or +6 on either side.
The point of EQ is to compensate for imperfect audio equipment, by bringing up (or down) frequencies that are inaccurately reproduced. The “perfect” setting is the one that matches your music, your speakers, and your ears.
Also freal guys that setting is complete bullshit lol.
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Huh. I had no idea there was an iTunes equalizer.
@KinetiQ: Agreed. Artists, engineers, producing, mastering houses et al. work a long time so people DON’T have to fiddle with knobs. The worst thing to ever happen to music in the 80s was boomboxes with a zillion graphic equalizers. Awful.
Get better speakers.
OMG — I love that this has turned into the ultimate subjectivity conversation. Ah, music geeks. The only thing we can ever agree on is that everyone else is CLEARLY ALWAYS wrong.
I hate to have to be the one to say it, but “perfect” is the way it was recorded 99% of the time. EQ flat, flat, flat.
Do yourself a favor and buy better speakers. Or on your next birthday, treat yourself to a $100 pair of headphones, just as a starting set.
A whole lot of work (generally by people who really take their job at a mixing desk very seriously) went into the music you’re casually editing.
And yet another reminder: even DSPs add noise, just like every other effect or signal processor.
I mean, I understand if you’re listening to a bootleg or one of those “we, the band or vocalist, produced this record ourself/ourselves” i.e. “we made the engineer mix it for us” records, then fine. And buying better speakers/headphones can be expensive and/or impractical (especially in laptops) but EQ is the devil.
I don’t have itunes, but that curve looks similar to how I dial up liquid metal sounds. It’s a little more bottom heavy than mine. The idea is to notch out the “thuppy” lower mids, and crank up the “blaze.” This setting, though, absolutely will not work for the clean-bell-tone, chorus-y strat sounds.
I’d also point out that the setting above is going to result in a gain-boost over a flat eq. We all do like it louder, right?
(I use an ancient ART programmable 15-band eq in my guitar rack. You can switch eq presets via MIDI…)
Isn’t telling someone listening to lossy, compressed digital music to “get better speakers” akin to telling a bicyclist to get a better engine?
Does it really need to be explained that the whole point of this exercise is to get the most out of sub-studio quality equipment?
Hey, not bad. The EQ setting works best for acoustic and rock tracks – Zappa’s “Freak Out” and Chris Watson’s nature recordings on “Weather Report” sound awesome. You just have to crank down the preamp very low for bass-heavy songs. Of course, I happned to have overpriced Bose headphones and not cheapass, JVC “Jelly” earphones.
Mine is very similar, based on the old Rock preset from Winamp 2.0, except that those end and middle ranges are more sharply down. 1k would be 3 points down, 500 would be 6 points down, etc.
Well, it does wonders for More Than A Feeling.
Kinetiq and Beta.Rogan have it. Not only is this setting not “perfect,” it’s not even good: Notice, for instance, that *every* frequency is boosted. If you really want to do that, just turn up your volume. Take a look at he factory presets: none of them entail every frequency being boosted.
There’s no Izotope Ozone plug in for iTunes though.
This is ridiculous. There is no perfect EQ. Firstly like some people mentioned before Mix/Master engineers spend days (usually) getting the sound you’re listening to and 99% of the time it is then ruined by stupid EQ’s like this. Although that is true I do think home EQ’s have a place when you know how to use them. I use one but only because of my personal preference, commonly i’ll reduce mids very slightly but that is just my personal preference.