5-Band Audio Equalizer

Boost or cut bass, mid, and treble independently using real shelving/peaking filters (the RBJ Audio EQ Cookbook formulas) — not a stylized effect.

How to use the 5-Band Audio Equalizer

  1. Add your audioDrop a file onto the page or tap to browse — or press “try a built-in sample” to explore first. Nothing is uploaded; the file is decoded on your device.
  2. Shape the soundDrag the five band sliders while the audio plays — the curve above the controls draws the exact frequency response you are applying. Try a preset to start.
  3. Apply and comparePress Apply EQ, then flip between Original and Result (or press B) to check you have improved the sound.
  4. DownloadPick MP3 or WAV and press Download. You can even listen to the exact file you just saved before you close the page.

About the 5-Band Audio Equalizer

The 5-Band Audio Equalizer is a five-band parametric-style EQ that runs live in your browser: a low shelf at 80 Hz, peaking bands at 250 Hz, 1 kHz and 4 kHz, and a high shelf at 10 kHz, plus an output gain. A real-time frequency-response graph shows the combined curve as you move the sliders.

Because the live preview and the exported file use the same filters, what you hear while adjusting is exactly what you download. A true-peak limiter option stops boosted bands from clipping.

How the 5-Band Audio Equalizer works

Each band is a biquad filter — a second-order IIR section — from the Web Audio API. The two shelves boost or cut everything below/above their corner; the three peaking bands raise or lower a bell-shaped region around their centre frequency with Q = 1 (about 1.4 octaves wide). The response graph evaluates every filter at 160 logarithmically spaced frequencies and adds the dB values, which is exact for cascaded filters.

Presets: Vocal clarity trims low mud and lifts 4 kHz; Warm adds low-mids and softens the top; Telephone keeps only roughly 300 Hz–3 kHz.

What people use it for

Voices

Cut boxiness at 250 Hz, add presence at 4 kHz.

Music

Tame harsh highs or add warmth to a dull track.

Small speakers

Compensate for weak bass or sharp treble.

Effects

Create a telephone or radio sound.

Tips for the best results

  • Cut before you boost — removing a problem frequency usually sounds more natural than boosting others.
  • Make small moves (1–3 dB); anything over 6 dB is dramatic.
  • Compare at equal loudness — the Result is often louder, which tricks the ear into preferring it. Lower Output gain to match.
  • Leave the limiter on when you boost several bands.

Common problems & fixes

Sound is distorted after boostingLower the Output gain or keep “Prevent clipping” enabled.
No audible changeMove the sliders at least ±3 dB and press play; the curve graph confirms the shape.

Quick facts

Bands80 Hz low shelf · 250 Hz · 1 kHz · 4 kHz (Q 1) · 10 kHz high shelf
Gain range±15 dB per band, ±12 dB output
Live previewYes, identical filters to export
Response graph20 Hz–20 kHz, ±18 dB

Frequently asked questions

What is an equalizer?

A tool that boosts or cuts parts of the frequency spectrum.

Which frequencies matter for voice?

Rumble below 80 Hz, mud 200–300 Hz, presence 2–5 kHz, sibilance 5–8 kHz.

Is it linear-phase?

No, these are minimum-phase biquads like most analogue-style EQs.

What kind of filters does this use?

A low-shelf for bass, a peaking (bell) filter for mid, and a high-shelf for treble — the standard filter types used in real equalizers, not a simplified tone-control emulation.

How much boost/cut is 'safe'?

±3 to ±6dB is a common, musical range. Pushing to the ±12dB extremes can sound heavy-handed and may need a Normalize pass afterward if peaks get too loud.

Your audio never leaves your device

This tool runs entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded, stored or shared — there is no server to send your file to, so it works offline once the page has loaded.

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