ASMR Equalizer Settings

The detailed dance of subtle sound nuances is the essence of immersive ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response.) To craft an engrossing auditory experience for your audience, you need to master the equalizer (EQ) settings.

Equalizers that were once accessible to audio engineers and recording studios are now available to everyone.

That said, finding the best equalizer settings for your ASMR content tends to be challenging. It is important to have an understanding of the equalizer components and use them to fine-tune your audience’s listening experience.

Equalizer and Its Importance in Creating Captivating ASMR Content

An equalizer, commonly referred to as EQ is an important audio processing tool that helps you in modifying and balancing different frequency elements of an audio signal.

It divides the audio spectrum into different bands namely, bass, midrange, and treble frequencies. The equalization settings help you cut or amplify a certain frequency range which shapes an audio’s tonal characteristics.

But What’s a Graphic Equalizer?

If you are tinkering with equalizer settings, you may have come across the term ‘graphic equalizer.’ A graphic equalizer is basically a frequency response’s visual representation on a graphical interface. It contains sliders corresponding to every frequency band.

Contrary to a parametric equalizer aka parametric eq which gives you control on each individual frequency band, a graphic equalizer offers control on a set of frequency bands that you can easily adjust.

You can see a graph containing sliders, each symbolizing a frequency range including low-range frequencies and higher frequencies on the graph. By moving these sliders upwards or downwards, you can boost or reduce the corresponding frequency range.

With the visual representation, it becomes easier for you to comprehend and modify the audio’s tonal balance. Playback equipment and audio production tools such as home stereo systems, mixing consoles, and software apps comprise graphic equalizers.

Role of Equalizer Settings in ASMR Content

Working on the equalizer settings is quite integral to creating an absorbing and compelling ASMR experience.

An equalizer helps you break down the frequency spectrum of audio into four categories: low, midrange, high midrange and high frequencies.

• By boosting or adjusting the low frequencies, you can improve the richness of soft sounds such as gentle tapping, whispering, caressing, etc. As a result, they become more immersive.
• Adjusting the midrange frequencies softens the loudness of some sounds or heightens the volume of certain sounds. The presence and clarity of the audio automatically enhance.
• Slightly boosting the high midrange frequencies accentuates the freshness and crispness of sounds such as brushing, scraping, and tapping.
• By boosting the high range, you accomplish a more impactful effect of different sounds.

With the help of the equalization settings, you can balance sound, enhance the immersive effect of different sound effects and music, and produce a wholesome video. Every time a listener listens to your ASMR content, he feels more engrossed in it.

Let’s now move on to the practical part, and help you figure out the best equalizer settings for ASMR videos.

Modifying the Different Frequency Ranges

You need to work on each of the three frequency ranges of audio to make it sound seamless and pleasant. 

• Bass: The low range frequencies are referred to as ‘bass.’ They range between 20Hz and 250Hz. You need to boost these frequencies a little to add more warmth to soft tapping, deep rumbles, bass notes, music, rumbling sounds, the sound of distant thunder, and deep whispers. Avoid overpowering them because a subtle boost is normally enough to enrich the sounds.
• Midrange: The midrange lies between 250Hz and 4kHz. It is often known as the ‘heart’ of ASMR triggers. The tapping, rustling, ambient room noise, crinkling, tapping on rough and hard surfaces and whispering sounds fall into this range. Quite often, the human voice falls in the midrange too. You need to fine-tune the midrange to heighten the sweet spot.
• High Midrange: Frequencies in the high midrange are found between 4kHz and 8kHz. Boost the frequencies in this range to sharpen the tone and clarity of different sounds. Doing so helps you draw attention to the crispness of sounds such as gentle tapping, brushing, whispers, and paper rustling.
• High Range: The high range frequencies lie between 8kHz and 20kHz. This is where the sounds such as scratching, high-pitched whispers, sizzling sounds, crisp tapping, and crinkling reside. You need to enhance these frequencies very gently. A subtle boost can highlight these frequencies which creates a more pronounced and captivating effect in the ASMR video.

An equalizer serves as your sonic palette. You can tweak the frequency bands, and create audio wonders. Remember that for creating ASMR excellence, precision is paramount.

The Best Equalizer Settings for Diverse Sounds

Sounds create the desired, pronounced effect on different frequencies. The best setting for each sound type varies.

Here’s what you should do to achieve the best setting when working with sounds to create the intended ASMR triggers.

Equalizer Settings for Soft Speech and Whispers

For soft and gentle speech and whispering sounds, adjust the frequencies in the following manner:

• Bass should be between +1 to +3 dB to add warmth to the audio
• The midrange should be between +2 and +4 dB for increased sound clarity
• Keep the high midrange between +1 and +3 dB for crispness in the audio
• Adjust the high frequencies from +1 to +2 dB for gentle breathiness

Equalizer Settings for Scratching and Tapping Sounds

Arrange the frequencies in the following manner to create the best effects for scratching and tapping sounds:

• Keep the bass between 0 and +2 dB for added depth in the audio
• Tweak the midrange from +2 to +3 dB to better define the sounds
• The high midrange should be between +3 and +5 dB for heightened sharpness
• Modify the highs from +1 to +3 dB to keep the audio crystal clear

Equalizer Settings for Paper and Crinkling Sounds

The best equalizer settings for different paper and crinkling sounds are as follows:

• To get a clean and precise baseline, keep the bass between -2 and 0 dB
• Keep the midrange from +1 to +3 dB for a sense of presence in the audio
• For increased sound details, maneuver the high midrange from +2 to +4 dB
• If you keep the highs between +3 and +5 dB, you will get more delicate sound nuances in the audio

While these settings certainly work to produce ASMR triggers, remember to tailor them to get the desired tone. Keep your recording environment, microphone, and other personal preferences into account when you record ASMR content. 

Also, personalize the equalizer settings accordingly to get the best results.

Pro Tips for Mastering Equalizer Settings

I have covered the fundamental equalizer settings to achieve ASMR excellence in your videos and content. But the show doesn’t stop here. 

Here are some pro tips that will help you achieve further mastery in your ASMR content.

• Subtlety is integral: Subtlety is indeed the key to get profound results in your ASMR sound. Go for gentle tweaks instead of big modifications when tinkering with the EQ settings. You will find it easy to keep the authenticity of the ASMR sounds with this tactic.
• Monitor and improve: Focus on monitoring your recordings very regularly. It is better to wear noise canceling headphones to block background noise. As you listen to the recording, pay attention to how each sound feels to your ears. You will then notice tiny adjustments that you need to make to enhance or improve each sound.
• Reduce the background noise: Unnecessary ambient noise that you don’t want in your ASMR video can really disrupt the listening experience of your listener. Combine the EQ adjustments with powerful noise reduction methods so you get a pristine and authentic soundscape.
• Be creative: Allow yourself to be creative when perfecting the ASMR equalization settings. Instead of trying to perfect every sound, accept that every sound trigger has its own vibe, and let it reflect in your content. If you are making a video revolving around gentle tapping, don’t heighten the ‘tapping’ effect. Let it be how it is while making gentle tweaks.
• Avoid distorting the sound: Ensure there is no distortion in the sound quality. Apart from working on background noise reduction, work harmoniously with different frequencies as well. Boost the lower frequencies while you moderately lower those in the midrange. You will find a marked improvement in the bass popping out of the mix.

Like with everything else, practice is the best tool to get better at ASMR equalizer settings too. So keep practicing, and your ASMR content will continue to sound better with each passing day.

Conclusion

Equalizing the ASMR sounds tends to be tricky. In reality, it is quite simple, and does require you to be patient with the process. Your focus should be on highlighting each sound in its most authentic manner.

Try the equalizer settings discussed in this article, and you will easily achieve brilliance in your ASMR videos.

Frequently Asked Questions