All articles

Everything on Nine-Band Listening Lab, organised by topic.

Sound Basics

• dBFS vs dB SPL: What Your Audio Meter Measures — dBFS describes a digital signal relative to full scale; dB SPL describes sound pressure relative to an acoustic reference.
• Equalizer Frequency Bands, Explained by Ear — An EQ band is an overlapping frequency region that a control can boost, cut, or filter.
• Parametric vs Graphic EQ: Which Should You Use? — A graphic EQ uses fixed frequency bands with a gain control for each, making it quick and repeatable for broad tonal shaping.
• How to Use EQ Without Clipping — Lower the EQ preamp or output before applying positive boosts, then test varied recordings while watching the software's clipping indicator.

Listening Lab

• How to Hear EQ Changes Without Fooling Yourself — Compare EQ settings with a familiar passage, one playback system, and one moderate adjustment at a time.