Hertz

In beatmaking and music production, Hertz (Hz) is a unit of measurement for frequency, specifically the number of cycles per second in a sound wave. Understanding Hertz is crucial for producers and beatmakers as it relates to several important aspects of music creation:

1. Pitch and Notes
   Hertz directly corresponds to musical pitch. For example:

• 440 Hz is the standard tuning frequency for the note A4
• Lower frequencies (e.g., 100 Hz) produce bass sounds
• Higher frequencies (e.g., 5000 Hz) produce treble sounds

2. EQ and Mixing
   Beatmakers use Hertz when adjusting equalization (EQ) to shape the frequency content of sounds:

• Sub-bass: 20-60 Hz
• Bass: 60-250 Hz
• Low-mids: 250-500 Hz
• Mids: 500-2000 Hz
• High-mids: 2000-4000 Hz
• Highs: 4000-20000 Hz

3. Sound Design
   When creating or modifying sounds, producers often work with oscillators and filters, which are set and adjusted using Hertz.
4. Tempo and Rhythm
   While not directly related to Hertz, tempo in music (measured in beats per minute or BPM) can be thought of as a very low-frequency rhythm.
5. Audio Equipment Specifications
   Speakers, headphones, and microphones often list their frequency response range in Hertz (e.g., 20 Hz – 20 kHz).

Understanding Hertz helps beatmakers create well-balanced tracks, avoid frequency masking between instruments, and craft sounds that fit well within a mix. It’s an essential concept for anyone working in music production and sound engineering.