How to Use EQ for a Perfect Podcast Sound: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Brendan Smith
- Mar 6
- 3 min read
If you want your podcast to sound clear, professional, and easy to listen to, EQ (equalization) is your most powerful tool.
Many podcasters struggle with muddy, harsh, or unbalanced audio - and often, it’s because their EQ settings aren’t quite right.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how EQ works, why it matters, and how to fine-tune your voice for that crisp, professional podcast sound.
What is EQ and Why Does It Matter for Podcasts?
EQ (Equalization) is a tool that allows you to boost or reduce specific frequency ranges in your audio.
Think of it like this:
If your podcast sounds muddy, EQ can clean it up.
If your voice sounds too sharp or harsh, EQ can soften it.
If your audio lacks clarity, EQ can make it crisp and detailed.
The human voice sits between 80Hz and 12kHz, so EQ helps shape that frequency range to make your podcast sound balanced, natural, and easy on the ears.
Step 1: High-Pass Filter (Remove Unwanted Low Frequencies)
The first step in EQing your podcast is removing unnecessary low-end noise.
🎛️ What’s in this range?
✔ Microphone rumble (vibrations, movement noise)
✔ Air conditioning, traffic noise, distant background sounds
✔ Unnecessary sub-bass that muddies up the voice
🔧 How to Fix It:
✅ Apply a High-Pass Filter (HPF) at 70-100Hz to remove deep rumbles without affecting your voice.
✅ If you have a deeper voice, keep it around 80Hz.
✅ If your voice is naturally higher, you can go up to 100-120Hz.
💡 Pro Tip: Never cut too aggressively - cutting too high will make voices sound thin.
Step 2: Taming the Muddy Frequencies (100Hz - 300Hz)
This is where many podcasters go wrong - they leave too much low-mid energy, making voices sound boomy and unclear.
🎛️ What’s in this range?
✔ Boominess & muddiness
✔ A "thick" sound that reduces clarity
✔ Too much bass resonance from deeper voices
🔧 How to Fix It:
✅ Reduce 200Hz - 300Hz slightly if your voice sounds too thick or boomy.
✅ Be careful not to overdo it - removing too much will make voices sound hollow.
💡 Pro Tip: This is one of the biggest problem areas in podcast audio - if your voice sounds muffled, a small cut here (around 250Hz) should clean it up instantly.
Step 3: Enhancing Clarity (1kHz - 5kHz)
If your podcast sounds dull or flat, it likely needs more clarity in the upper mids.
🎛️ What’s in this range?
✔ Presence & intelligibility of the voice
✔ The crispness that makes words clear and sharp
✔ Natural vocal brightness
🔧 How to Fix It:
✅ Boost slightly around 3kHz - 4kHz to add clarity and detail.
✅ Be careful - too much boost here can make voices sound thin or nasal.
💡 Pro Tip: This range is where intelligibility lives—a small boost makes speech sound sharper without adding harshness.
Step 4: Controlling Harshness (5kHz - 8kHz)
Ever listen to a podcast where the “S” and “T” sounds feel piercing? That’s called sibilance, and it happens when the upper frequencies are too sharp.
🎛️ What’s in this range?
✔ Harsh “S” and “T” sounds (sibilance)
✔ Unnatural sharpness & ear-piercing frequencies
🔧 How to Fix It:
✅ If your podcast sounds harsh, reduce 6kHz - 8kHz slightly.
✅ Be careful - cutting too much can make voices sound dull.
💡 Pro Tip: If you struggle with harshness, reduce slightly around 7kHz, but don’t go overboard.
Step 5: Adding Air & Brightness (10kHz - 12kHz)
This is where “air” and polish come in. If your podcast sounds lifeless, it might need a small boost in this range.
🎛️ What’s in this range?
✔ Breathiness & sparkle
✔ A subtle, natural “airiness”
🔧 How to Fix It:
✅ Boost lightly around 10kHz - 12kHz for a professional, polished sound.
✅ Don’t overdo it - too much can make it sound artificial.
💡 Pro Tip: This is the final touch—a small boost can add life to dull recordings.
Final Touches: Making Sure It Sounds Right
After applying EQ, always listen back and adjust if needed.
🔍 Checklist for a Perfect Podcast EQ:
✔ Is the low-end clean? (No rumble or muddiness)
✔ Is the voice clear but not harsh? (Boost mids carefully)
✔ Does it sound natural? (No extreme cuts or boosts)
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re struggling, use small adjustments rather than big changes. Subtle EQ moves make the biggest difference.
🎙️ Ready to Improve Your Podcast Audio?
EQ is the most important first step in mixing a podcast - it removes what you don’t need and enhances what matters.
If you’re serious about making your podcast sound polished and professional, start with these simple EQ techniques, and you’ll hear a huge difference.
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