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Amanda Payne
Now that holiday MADDNESS is over and I will finally be stationary for a while, it feels like I am flying through these chapters. I really like that the assignment is continuing little by little. It keeps me from spending most of the day staring and problem sloving in front of my computer. I have really dry eyes which causes my vision to be off. I read there was a study about people who stare at computers all day and how they aren't blinking enough in order to restore moisture in their eyes. I honestly don't pay attention to how much I blink in one sitting but it is something to look out for. I have over the counter eyedrops I try to remember to put in. Its a little pricey for a tiny bottle but it lasts a long time. That is your advice from Dr. Payne.
I really liked being able to see the actual shape of the filters. It not only helped to remember them, but also understand them and how the changes in frequency range, the Q (the width of the range) and then how much of that is boosted or cut all is confusing but very different. I was able to see this three different ways; on the Pro Tools EG, the Mackie sound board, and the digital system hardware. I got to change the parameters on all three and it quickly helped me to fully understand the differences between the EQ characteristics. I also was quizzed a little by looking away and trying to figure out which filter was put onto the audio just by listening. It is very tricky and takes great concentration but I guess those three years of ear training at the University helped me to really listen for detail.
When it came time to actually dive in and EQ a piece of audio, that was extremely tough. I found it much easier for me to "deal" with the lower frequencies than with the mid and higher frequencies. I also am not used to listening to unporcessed audio such as that and the workings of EQ are such a delicate and tedious concept. But it is these small differences that truly separate the amateurs from the pros. Gotta keep up on the work.
