Should equalizer be Flat lined?

[doodie]

I'm not very knowledgeable about sound but I am in a discussion with my buddy on "How the equalizer should be set up on a mixing board".
I say it should have a belly in it or "U" shape to get the quality out of your mixing board,then use your channels to adjust your highs,mid,and lows accordingly.

But he says that the equalizer should be "flatlined".

Most places we play our master is on 2 1/2 or 3 which sounds wrong to me,seems like we're smothering the board, it's not working to it's potental.

"HELP" PLEEEEAZE i'm blowing my lungs out even through our monitoring on stage.

so if anyone can help me here would be awesome ....

P.S. In laymen's terms would be great ...like I said i'm not very knowledgeable with this stuff. Thx again DAVE

[peteracox]

Hi Dave, Ill try and keep this short as i can normally drivel on for hours about these things.
The graphic equalizer should be used to correct discrepancies in the sound caused by different rooms you shouldn't really be using it to cut or boost frequencies just for the sake of it and there is definitely no standard settings.
Starting with the graphic flat you should nip out front and listen to a backing track or CD(making sure the channel eq for this is also flat) your job then is to use the graphic to set the sound for the room not using the channel eq(yet) is it boomy/muddy/tinny or harsh on the ears.
If its boomy reduce the frequencies below 100Hz slightly and check again.
If its muddy reduce the frequencies from 100Hz-400Hz slightly and check again.
If its harsh reduce the frequencies from around 1000Hz-3000Hz slightly and check again.
And if its tinny reduce the frequencies from 4000Hz-10,000Hz slightly and check again.
And of course the opposite is sometimes needed i.e boost rather than cut.
Once you start doing this you will have a better understanding of the frequencies and what affect they have on your sound.
When you are satisfied with the overall sound you can go on to use the channel eq to sort out the individual instruments/mic's etc.

Hope this helps a little.

Pete.

[doodie]

Hi Pete thanks for that advice that's excellent i'll give that a try,and i like the idea with the CD that will be really helpful again thx Dave