You perform equalization with an equalizer. This tool lets you enhance and reduce selected frequencies within the audio recording. Equalizers come in two forms: graphic and parametric. The former lets you tweak frequencies based by band -- for example, “120 Hz to 2 KHz." The latter lets you adjust by range -- for example “Low,” “Mid” and “High.” Graphic equalizers also feature an analyzer which lets you see which frequencies are peaking and which are being drowned out. The analyzer interface is comprised of a curve superimposed on a grid. The vertical axis represents amplitude and the horizontal axis represents frequency. You move the curve with either a dial or a computer mouse in order to alter the frequency profile of the audio.
Compression is a dynamic effect that lets you temper volume spikes. The typical parameters of a compressor are “Threshold,” “Ratio” and “Gain.” Threshold determines the level over which the signal is reduced. For example, setting it to 80 percent means the loudest 20 percent of a recording gets cut. The ratio determines by how much -- for example, “2:1” means any signal breaching the threshold is cut by half. Gain is the amount of volume by which you boost the compressed signal. By compressing a vocal, you reduce spikes in the volume. Once the vocal is compressed, it sounds smoother. You can also boost the volume more, because the loudest part of the vocal is quieter than it was before.
Reverb adds ambiance to your vocal. It is similar to an echo, but distinct in that there are no repetitions. Reverb emulates the effect of singing in an acoustically resonant environment. The intensity of the reverb effect ranges from a “tiled-room” type sound to “cathedral” type sound. Reverb helps your vocals sit better in the mix, as the “edges” are softer. Reverb also creates a sense of place within a stereo image.
Panning is a stereo effect. When recording in stereo, you get a left hand and right hand track. Panning effectively lets you send each track to the center of the mix, or hard to the side. So if you panned the left hand channel hard left and the right hand channel hard right, there would no vocal in the center of the mix. This is an intriguing effect that tricks the listener into thinking the vocals are coming at them from the side. It is more pronounced when heard through headphones.
This is a digital pitch-correction effect. It lets you adjust the pitch of out-of-tune notes. If “abused,” you can create wacky, robotic sounds.