Tips and Tricks

Tips and tricks

You might be a skillful user who knows how to use software for creating music; therefore this can prove to be uninteresting or questionable for you. I do not mean to teach you here, instead I would like to share some experience that I have accumulated through the years.
Also, should you decide to submit your own article about your means of working with sound, I would be glad to publish it here.

Equalization, or managing "the tone" of the sound.

Lots of people, when come across an EQ for the forst time, start adjusting all the buttons and knobs to the maximum. As a result, they often get the sound where the frequencies are either too high (in this case ears start to ache pretty soon after the process of listening) or too low (when subs are so low that not every equipment could handle it); the third option gives a box-like sound (when the middle part of the spectrum dominates).
A little bit of theory. Let us divide EQ into 3 groups:

LOW PASS - the filter of high frequencies (fig.1);

HIGH PASS - the filter of low frequencies (fig.2);

BAND PASS - the band-passing (fig.3) и the band-closing filters (fig.4)

fig.1

fig.2

fig.3

fig.4

When working with an EQ, it is crucial not to "kill" the sound, especially during the mastering process (I personally change the parameters ever so slightly).

Tip (parameters used are from plug-in Waves Q10):

- always try to use a spectral analyzer program for visual monitoring of the FFT change

- first increase/decrease Gain feature on EQ to the max. level ( Band Pass mode), then narrow down the Q feature (Q~50) begin to move the point along horizontally trying to spot the frequency-troublemaker. When you have found it, you can regulate the value of quality and Gain at your own discretion.

Low Pass And High Pass are very useful and frequently they are used for cutting off the frequencies which mess up the final mix. By the way, not all EQ of these types are created equal as the process of decomposition of signal into the row of Furie is a complicated one. This is precisely why I recommended using a spectral analyzer when eveluating the final version.

Another method of frequency control using BandPass filter (fig.5):

Tip (parameters used are from plug-in Waves Q10):

- you need to make several cuts of frequencies on a short section that needs to be managed and that has the min value of Q. This is often used for bass, kick or voice

fig.5

Some find it difficult to balance up the bass and the kick so that they don't abuse each other and create a mess in the low frequency part of spectrum. It is often the case that the bass sounds louder than the kick or vice versa. However, it is avoidable:

Tip :

- apply High Pass filter to Bass guitar in order to cut off frequencies to 100-150 Hz, and then, 1-2 days later (you can use this time to work on some other pieces), you can return and begin to add on a little of low frequencies to the value, where sound will be agreeable. You can make a small lift for Bass guitar (Band Pass EQ) at frequencies of 800-1000 Hz if needed.

Acoustic guitar:

- if you recorded acoustic guitar ( it concerns microphone especially ), it is necessary to cut out frequencies into 200-500 Hz , in order to remove the boomishness;
- bring up the frequencies of 3000 Hz to brighten up the sound and add liveliness.

Vocal:

- < 80 Hz to cut out High Pass, since these frequencies are not used;
- 80-150 Hz the sensuality of voice;
- 150-250 Hz the basis;
- 1250-3500 Hz the articulation(aural) of voice, gives manner;
- 3000-8000 Hz legibility, cleanliness, clarity, transparency.

EQ for entire music mix:

- 35-60 Hz the power also of energiya. When on the concert your chest break through- this exactly these frequencies. But not to overdiligent;
- 80-125 Hz the power of Bass's attack and impact. With a strong increase appears the boom effect. Important frequencies in the dancing music, without their coordination entire work can go into the debris basket;
- 160-250 Hz the problematic frequencies of mix (turbidity). To cut out! But it is accurate, here basis Bass guitar;
- 300-500 Hz basis strings, percussion;
- 400-1000 Hz voice, strings, keys, synthesizers. So that the voice would begin to sound more legibly, beforehand you will clean this space.
- 1000-4000 Hz if an increase in this range is created the psychological effect of the large loudness of song, softness disappears, ears strongly tire.
- 4000-10000 Hz the legibility of Hi-Hat, plates, percussions, snar. 5000 Hz the transparency of song.