Alesis DEQ830 User Manual

You'll understand how this effect process got its name once you 

see the way it looks when recreated on the DEQ830. This one 

works especially well with two channels that carry the left and right 

signals from a stereo audio source: 

 
1.   Starting from the far left of  the band spectrum, press every 

other [BAND SELECT] button and take those bands all the 

way down to -12 dB. Then select the unedited bands and boost 

them +6 dB. When you’re done, look at the LEDs on the 

DEQ830 and remember the “comb” analogy. The bands set to 

+6 dB are the “teeth” of  the comb, and those set to –12 dB 

are the spaces between the teeth.  

2.   For an even more interesting effect, unlink the first channel 

from the channel carrying the other side of  the stereo 

spectrum and create the exact opposite settings. In other 

words, take the “odd” bands on the second channel to +6 dB 

this time and the “even” bands to –12 dB. Be sure to toggle 

the [BYPASS] and [LINK] status of  each channel to get an 

idea of  what is being done to the signal as it passes through 

the DEQ830.  

3.  Experiment with different sized "teeth" and "spaces." Put two 

adjacent frequencies down and the next one up, repeating the 

pattern. Try "broken" teeth (i.e., boosting some frequencies 

more than others)! Adjust which frequencies to emphasize/de-

emphasize to suit the incoming audio.  

 

 

We've provided the chart on the next page because we know some 

of  you prefer to have a hard copy of  your favorite settings. And 

thanks to the digital heart of  the DEQ830, you'll always be able to 

reconstruct the curve exactly as it was using the numbers you write 

down.

 

 

A few notes about filling out the chart: 

 
1.   When a value is exact, like +8 or –4, place a dot in the 

appropriate square above the band.  

2.   When the band’s value is zero, or flat, draw a dash through that 

square instead of  a dot. This will help you keep track of  

numbers above and below zero by giving you a visual 

reference point (just as the green LED does on the front 

panel). You’ll naturally begin to draw an extended line through 

consecutive bands when they’re all set to zero. 

3.   For intermediate values like +3.5, we suggest writing that 

number in the square above that band which most closely 

approximates the actual value. 

4.   Don’t forget to record the Channel Level setting!