Premaster Equalization Practice Manual for Techno & EDM!

Premaster Equalizer VST Plugin: 8-Band Mastering EQ with Stereo/Mid/Side Processing & Saturation

1. Introduction

This manual provides a step-by-step guide on using an advanced 8-band EQ plugin for premastering Techno and EDM tracks.

The EQ features:

8 Bands: High Pass, Low Shelf, 4 Peaks, High Shelf, Low Pass
Stereo/Mid/Side (M/S) Processing per band
Solo/Mute for each band
Global Saturation Control

The goal is to achieve a balanced, polished, and powerful sound before final mastering.

2. Understanding the EQ Bands & Their Roles

A. Band Functions & Typical Uses in Techno/EDM

Band	Frequency Range (Typical)	Purpose in Techno/EDM
High Pass	20Hz - 80Hz	Clean sub-bass rumble, remove unwanted lows
Low Shelf	80Hz - 200Hz	Boost/cut sub/low-mid weight
Peak 1	200Hz - 500Hz	Control muddiness in kicks/bass
Peak 2	500Hz - 1kHz	Adjust punch/body of drums
Peak 3	1kHz - 3kHz	Shape presence of synths/vocals
Peak 4	3kHz - 8kHz	Enhance clarity/attack of percussion
High Shelf	8kHz - 16kHz	Add air/sparkle to highs
Low Pass	16kHz+	Tame harshness or hiss

B. Stereo vs. Mid/Side (M/S) Processing

Stereo Mode: Affects the entire stereo signal.
Mid (M): Affects the center (mono-compatible) signal.
Side (S): Affects the stereo width (left-right differences).

When to Use M/S:

Cut muddiness in Mid (200-500Hz) while keeping Side wide.
Boost Side in highs (8kHz+) for more air without losing punch in Mid.

3. Step-by-Step Premaster EQ Workflow

Step 1: High Pass Filter (Clean Up Subsonics)

Frequency: 20Hz - 40Hz (adjust to avoid cutting kick fundamentals).
Mode: Stereo (unless rumble is only in Side).
Solo the band to hear what’s being removed.

Step 2: Low Shelf (Shape Sub/Low-Mid Energy)

Boost (1-3dB @ 60-100Hz) if the track lacks weight.
Cut (-1-3dB @ 100-200Hz) if too boomy.
M/S Tip: Try boosting Mid slightly more than Side for a solid low-end.

Step 3: Peak 1 (Control Muddiness)

Cut (-1-4dB @ 200-400Hz, narrow Q) to reduce boxiness.
Solo the band to find problematic frequencies.

Step 4: Peak 2 (Enforce Punch in Drums)

Boost (1-3dB @ 500-800Hz, medium Q) for snare/kick punch.
Cut (-1-2dB) if masking the bassline.

Step 5: Peak 3 & 4 (Clarity & Presence)

Peak 3 (1-3kHz): Boost for vocal/synth presence.
Peak 4 (4-8kHz): Enhance hi-hats/percussion transients.
M/S Tip: Boost Side slightly here for width.

Step 6: High Shelf (Add Air)

Boost (1-3dB @ 10kHz+) for brightness.
M/S Tip: Boost Side more than Mid for a wider image.

Step 7: Low Pass (Optional)

Gently roll off above 18kHz if excessive hiss.

Step 8: Global Saturation

Gentle saturation (5-15%) to glue the mix.
Overdrive slightly if more aggression is needed (Techno).

4. Advanced Techniques

A. Dynamic EQing with Solo/Mute

Solo each band to check for resonances or imbalances.
Mute bands to hear how they affect the full mix.

B. Mid/Side Balancing for Width

Cut Mid lows slightly to make Side feel wider.
Boost Side highs for a more open sound.

C. Reference Track Matching

Load a professional track and compare frequency balances.

5. Final Checks

✅ Mono Compatibility: Disable Side to check if the Mid still sounds good.
✅ Gain Matching: Ensure no band is causing volume spikes.
✅ A/B Test: Toggle the EQ on/off to confirm improvements.

This EQ plugin is a powerful tool for shaping Techno/EDM premasters. Use surgical cuts for problem areas and broad boosts for enhancement. Always trust your ears and reference tracks! Happy EQing!