Frequency Response

What is frequency measured in?

Hertz (Hz)

What is the human hearing range?

20Hz - 20kHz

What are the five frequency bands on the frequency spectrum?

Sub

Low

Low Mids

High Mids

High

Where is the sub frequency band? (Bass)

It’s at 20-50Hz, and is typically cut.

Where is the low frequency band? (Bass)

It’s at 100-200Hz, and is where plosives and rumble occur.

Where is the low mids frequency band? (Mid range)

It’s at 500-1000Hz, where warmth is produced.

Where is the high mids frequency band? (Mid range)

Its at 2-5kHz, gives presence.

Where is the high frequency band? (Treble)

It’s at 5-20kHz, and causes brightness.

What is frequency response?

How a microphone’s diaphragm responds to frequencies.

What is the difference between a flat and a shaped response?

Microphones that have a flat response give a true sound and most microphones have a shaped response.

What does it mean when a microphone has a shaped response?

It is engineered to reduce or boost frequency bands.

What does shaped response add to the sound of a microphone?

Adds colour or helps reduce things like rumble and sibilance, or enhance things like proximity effect.