Eq...

[sYgMa]

There are a couple of real thourough threads about compression, but I looked and looked and couldn't find any on EQ. I read a couple of texts about it, but that's my biggest flaw while mixing a beat... the volumes are ok, but it sometimes sounds not exactly as I would like in all systems... well, not as bright, crisp, clean (...) as I would like.

Could someone give their method for mixing or give a good link about EQ?

 

[Lazy Eyes]

Yeah i need some info on this one too..

Good looks sygma..

Keep it coming guys

 

[J-ReZyN]

You could check some links here.

 

[sYgMa]

^^^^thing is, those are so general... they give frequencies to boost or cut, but no technics or method of work...

Some use spectral analysers, some use default setting depending on the instruments... it all varies. And I know that EQ is an art, but, as in compression, there must be some general rules that are applicable and a method that fits each better hiphop tracks...

 

[Formant024]

try gating, dont use stereo enhancers or bassenhancers. Take note that some instruments are mono, some stereo. Try use filters, especialy the bp/notch-reject and hp filters to give signals their place in the mix.

 

[MarkN]

ok..................... lol

well you need to know whats available to you for a start, all the different types of EQ etc parametric, graphic, high pass, low pass, notch, bandpass etc. im not gonna explain them all you can look it up or load one up in your software and pla around to get the idea, but for a start knowing wat each one does is a big help it sounds obvious but some people will tyr mix and track and not know what things do.
first figure out what you want the track to sound like each tracks different and your trying to capture the mood with you mix, so there no formula, unlike some online guides would have you believe you dnt just always boost this freq. and cut that. listen to the track decide the mood of the song maybe visualise a scene for the song like a music video and make the mood of the mix try to fit that picture.
personally ill start with my drums then bass and upwards, first use your destructive stuff ( EQ which takes away from a sound) then after that use your touching up EQ, you wouldnt paint a wall and then fill in the cracks, youd fill the cracks then paint the wall !
a good way to start with EQ is to load up a parametric EQ and then set the gain to high and sweep thru the frequencies this should emphasise any bad or good points and then you can add or takeaway sum sound here to suit you.
the main point is dnt use it unless you need to the less Eq you have to use the better in most cases.
gates are ok but with sum live recorded stuff then tend to mess up th mix coz you got more room ambience kick in at some points in the tracks which is a pain on things like live drums as you get spill on each drum mic.
compressors are useful but find out what they do first dnt just think well ill compress my vocals becuase i heard thats what other people do and dnt add the same effects to every sound as they will just battle each other, make space in the mix for all the instruments so if you change sumthing check it within the mix after to make sure it works you can have the best guitar line in the world in solo, then put it in the mix and it sounds crap, it doesnt matter if every part sounds crap solo if it all works in the mix then its ok !

there you go thats a very rough guide to basic mixing !

 

[Doc Henny]

I think MarkN has some good points, especially with don't eq unless you have to......also, what I've learned is that deductive EQ is the way to go. Rather than boosting frequencies, your much better off lowering the rest of them to emphasize that freq that you want more of. I know it takes a little more time and effort, but believe me, it sounds much better in the end!! and you don't end up w/ way too much high end either, since adding high end can be just a LITTLE addictive...

 

[sYgMa]

Isn't there anyone who can come up with a speccific way to go at it...

MarkN said he starts with the drums, bass, and upwards... ok that's a good start... but what I'm looking for is....

When you know what's the sound you want to achieve, what are the big YES and the big NO NO's... For instance, who do you make sure the frequencies of your guitar dont overlap with the vocals... and how much bass is too much... what frequencies should be cutted off in the bass.

I do understand the general idea of EQing and that you need monitors and different sources to listen to your track, but that's real vague... I dont want to jump any steps, but if I know how people how know how to do it do it, I can find my own way!!!!

 

[Lazy Eyes]

bass: cut below 40hz and above 250 to don't let the bass get muddy.. and boost somewhere between 80 and 130 hz ( a lil different from your bassdrum otherwise the bassdrum won't be noticed in the mix )

 

[5th Sequence]

I need help on cutting EQ. I know which frequency I want emphasized but when I try to cut around that frequency (i usually cut below the frequency i'm trying to enhance) it doesnt sound right.

Any tips on cutting EQ? would parametric or graphic work better?

 

[sYgMa]

...seems like no one wants to share the knowledge...

 

[Producer_GyaL]

I rarely talk about production technics in here, but I'll tell you my opinion about EQ... its not much, but its a little something I have learned . Yes, mixing is an art. Some Engineers out there are PRos and they bring life to your track. You are so Lucky to have FL, cuz this little program happens to make things very easier with all those nice presets and FX. However, You can do a nice lil mixing, but it wont sound like those real masterboard in the studio. People over there can spend H-O-U-R-S mixing the same track. They even spent DAYS, cuz at some point, the ear get tired. They have the accoustic needed ($$$$$) to have that nice sound. For now, FL can do something very nice and simple, but its not about what exaclty frequencies you put here and there...each tracks are different. You just do it like you paint a nice draft. Its an art of the ears. I dunno if you have that already, but get yourself some nice Headphones. You can find Nice ones for $60 and up.

"Listening" is the best way to learn. Listen to accapellas, instrumentals especially. Study them. Listen to how they pan some instruments to the left to the right, how they have put stereo effects in the main samples, layering the kick till they sound tick.. .etc.

If you use samples, its one thing , your drums is something else.. and if you use Instruments/Vst made with a keyboard , its another technic.

I personnally cant stand a bassline made in Fruity. I loove the real sound of a bass. If you dont mind using FL for your bassline, Put a lil "porta" it can help... Layer your bass and put a filter in your second bass. Playyyy with your stuff, dont be scared to try. I dont know, Ive noticed that the bass is sometimes same volume OR LESS as the kick and the vocals. anyways, just take your time to LISTEN, you'll see. Theres a lot of songs out there with the BEST mixing. Your like WOAH! Collin parks beats are a nice examples. Imagine how his music could sound wack without EQ. I was wondering for a long time who are they engineer.. but they are great.

IF nobody want to tell you their tricks, just listen carefully to the mixing of ANY songs. You'll get some answers hopefully..

 

[5th Sequence]

I rarely talk about production technics in here, but I'll tell you my opinion about EQ... its not much, but its a little something I have learned . Yes, mixing is an art. Some Engineers out there are PRos and they bring life to your track. You are so Lucky to have FL, cuz this little program happens to make things very easier with all those nice presets and FX. However, You can do a nice lil mixing, but it wont sound like those real masterboard in the studio. People over there can spend H-O-U-R-S mixing the same track. They even spent DAYS, cuz at some point, the ear get tired. They have the accoustic needed ($$$$$) to have that nice sound. For now, FL can do something very nice and simple, but its not about what exaclty frequencies you put here and there...each tracks are different. You just do it like you paint a nice draft. Its an art of the ears. I dunno if you have that already, but get yourself some nice Headphones. You can find Nice ones for $60 and up.

"Listening" is the best way to learn. Listen to accapellas, instrumentals especially. Study them. Listen to how they pan some instruments to the left to the right, how they have put stereo effects in the main samples, layering the kick till they sound tick.. .etc.

If you use samples, its one thing , your drums is something else.. and if you use Instruments/Vst made with a keyboard , its another technic.

I personnally cant stand a bassline made in Fruity. I loove the real sound of a bass. If you dont mind using FL for your bassline, Put a lil "porta" it can help... Layer your bass and put a filter in your second bass. Playyyy with your stuff, dont be scared to try. I dont know, Ive noticed that the bass is sometimes same volume OR LESS as the kick and the vocals. anyways, just take your time to LISTEN, you'll see. Theres a lot of songs out there with the BEST mixing. Your like WOAH! Collin parks beats are a nice examples. Imagine how his music could sound wack without EQ. I was wondering for a long time who are they engineer.. but they are great.

IF nobody want to tell you their tricks, just listen carefully to the mixing of ANY songs. You'll get some answers hopefully..

nice stuff P-gyal

I went out and bought a few engineering books last week. They have some really good information and i've learned some good tips on EQing.

in general..

use a wider Q when boosting and a norrow Q when cutting.

make sure your monitoring setup is good. Trying to EQ on pc speakers isnt going to give you good results cuz the sound will be colored or not accurately presented. Also make sure your not playing it too soft or too loud, try to find a comfortable spot to EQ at.

keep harmonics in mind when EQing. For example, if you have a kick drum that has a dominant frequency of say.. 80hz, try boosting a little at 160hz as well (harmonics are the frequency doubled). This also works going into the lower frequencies as well. If you were mixing your kick drum with a bassline(and the bassline has a dominant frequency of 95), then you would cut however many db's at 80hz and 160hz on the bassline so the kick drum still dominates its natural range. Then you could add some boost at 190Hz and 380Hz while also cutting frequencies that you added to the kick drum.

I used the kick drum and bassline in this example, but play around with it on all of your instruments.

Also if you cut frequencies, make sure you adjust the gain for the cut. that was one of my problems after cutting with EQ, it wouldnt sound right becuase the volume was lowered.

 

[sYgMa]

Nice stuff guys (and girl )
keep them coming!

 

[Hita_K]

Nice stuff guys (and girl )
keep them coming!

I tried to eq using my pc speakers but noticed other people would tell me that my bass is too high for example, but i would say it sounds fine on my speakers. When it came to using headphones everything sounded so different through them then the pc speakers. So from then i started using headphones to make and eq the beat as well, but I'm still having a lil trouble getting the eq stuff properly done.

 

[5th Sequence]

thats a better start Hita K, you should definitely check into getting monitors as well. things will still sound a world apart from mixing in headphones. Same concept on pc speakers applies to headphones. If they're cheap and not quality stuff made for making music, then thats exactly what it is. I dont remember the technical reasons as to why its not best to mix everything in headphones, but do what you gotta till you can get ahold of monitors!!

 

[Producer_GyaL]

If you read this month Scratch magazine with the Roots on the cover, theres a nice interview inside with Dr. Dre's engineer Steve Baughman. He is sharing the basics of a good mix. You'll enjoy reading that.

 

[StressWon]

If you read this month Scratch magazine with the Roots on the cover, theres a nice interview inside with Dr. Dre's engineer Steve Baughman. He is sharing the basics of a good mix. You'll enjoy reading that.

good looks PG,,,I'll have to go grab that.

 

[sYgMa]

If you read this month Scratch magazine with the Roots on the cover, theres a nice interview inside with Dr. Dre's engineer Steve Baughman. He is sharing the basics of a good mix. You'll enjoy reading that.

Do you know where I can buy it, in MTL?

 

[Producer_GyaL]

des kiosques où on vend des magazines...check les dépanneurs de métro.. ils l'ont souvent.. downtown...