These tasks are those commonly used with Match EQ to match the frequency spectrum of a mix with the spectrum of a source audio file. You can adapt some, or all, to your own workflow.
You can drag an audio file to the Template Learn or Current Material Learn buttons for use as either the template or the current material. A progress bar appears while Match EQ is analyzing the file. You can also load a previously saved plug-in setting, or you can import the settings of another unsaved Match EQ instance by copying and pasting.
Do one of the following:
Drag an audio file from the Finder to the Template Learn button, and select the source channel strip as a sidechain.
Use Match EQ on the source channel strip and save a setting. Import this setting into the target Match EQ instance.
The filter curve is updated automatically each time a new template or current material spectrum is learned or loaded when the Match button is turned on. You can alternate between the matched (and possibly scaled or manually modified) filter curve and a flat response by turning the Match button on or off.
In the project you want to match to the source audio file, insert Match EQ (typically on Output 1-2).
Drag the source audio file to the Template Learn button.
Return to the start of your mix, click Current Material Learn, and play your mix (the current material) from start to finish.
When you are done, click Current Material Match (this automatically turns off the Current Material Learn button).
When you click either of the Learn buttons, the View parameter is set to Automatic and the graphic display shows the frequency curve for the function. You can review any of the frequency curves when no file is being processed by choosing one of the other View options.
Note: Only one of the Learn buttons can be turned on at a time. For example, if the Learn button in the Template section is on and you click the Learn button in the Current Material section, analysis of the template file stops, the current status is used as the spectral template, and analysis of the incoming audio signal (Current Material) begins.
This menu provides commands that can be applied to the spectrums of either the template or the current material.
Control-click (or right-click) either Learn button, then choose one of the following from the shortcut menu:
Clear Current Material Spectrum: Clears the current spectrum.
Copy Current Spectrum: Copies the current spectrum to the Clipboard (this can be used by any Match EQ instance in the current project).
Paste Current Spectrum: Pastes the Clipboard contents to the current Match EQ instance.
Load Current Material Spectrum from setting file: Loads the spectrum from a stored setting file.
Generate Current Material Spectrum from audio file: Generates a frequency spectrum for an audio file that you have chosen.
Each time you match two audio signals, either by loading or learning a new spectrum while Match is activated or by turning on Match after a new spectrum has been loaded, any existing changes to the filter curve are discarded and Apply is set to 100%.
Do either of the following:
Drag the Apply slider down from the default 100% value to avoid extreme spectral changes to your mix.
Drag the Smoothing slider to adjust the spectral detail of the generated EQ curve—if required.
Match EQ creates a filter curve based on the differences between the spectrum of the template and the current material. This curve automatically compensates for differences in gain between the template and the current material, with the resulting EQ curve referenced to 0 dB. A yellow filter response curve appears in the graphic display, showing the average spectrum of your mix. This curve approximates (mirrors) the average spectrum of your source audio file.
Choose the channel strip that you want to match from the Sidechain pop-up menu of the Match EQ window.
Click the Template Learn button.
Play the entire source audio file from start to finish. To stop the learn process, click the Template Learn button again.
Return to the start of your mix, click Current Material Learn, and play your mix (the current material) from start to finish.
When you are done, click Current Material Match (this automatically turns off the Current Material Learn button).