If you can get EQ right, your mix is almost done. It’s really that important. And like we looked at in yesterday’s video, how you approach EQ has a lot to do with your final result. Today’s tip is no exception.
If you want mixes with more clarity, musicality, and headroom, then consider using EQ to cut away the bad stuff than to boosting the good stuff. If you use EQ as primarily a carving tool it will serve you well in the mixing process. Lets take a look.
Graham Cochrane is a creative and versatile producer, engineer, songwriter, and worship leader based out of Tampa, FL. He provides remote recording, editing, mixing, and mastering services to clients worldwide through his service Mobile Studio Plus.
As the founder of The Recording Revolution, Graham's articles and tutorials have been featured worldwide by Avid, Presonus, Editors Keys, and Behringer to name a few, reaching readers in over 40 countries.
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Comments
I agree, that’s the right way. I taught myself to use subtractive EQ all the time. But sometimes I can’t achive the desired sound with subtractive EQing. For example on a kick drum, when I sometimes desperately need this 100-110 Hz punch. I can’t think of any other way to get it. So I make a slight narrow boost.
Yeah, I agree. Sometimes I end up making a boost instead of a cut, but I try to make it my last resort. But with time, cutting has gotten easier. I used to have a really hard time getting a good vocal sound with the eq (especially mixing live, as I don’t have a de-esser available), until my ear for cutting had developed a little more. Now that I’m able to do only cuts on vocals, I get better results, and it’s faster. When mixing live I can get beautifully bright vocals without harsh s’s.
it is one of the best advice I’ve gotten in several years
thank you
Hey Graham, my master bus wanted me to thank you for teaching me to not to hit it so hard. Your tips on gain staging and subtractive eq have made my mixes sound sweeter than any gear upgrade ever has (or could). Thanks for all the hard work making great free content!
Haha. That’s what I like to hear. Keep up the great work my friend.
I have to be honest, and I have a hard time understanding this (although I’ve read it several times). I’m going to forget that most EQ’s that I’ve seen from Dave Pensado have major boosts, trying just to use examples that I’ve experienced (please note that I’m most likely wrong). Let’s say that I want more presence around 3 Khz. I can boost 5 dB at that frequency, or cut all frequencies a little below and above 3 Khz by 5 dB. Unless I’m using a HPF/LPF combo to cut out completely some frequencies, I can’t really see the advantage in using two EQ’s instead of one in order to achieve the same goal. If I do the same EQ curve (either by boosting one frequency point, or cutting two), the one with the cuts will be 5 dB quieter, but then I’ll have to add gain to the volume fader, which is going to bring some “noise” with it… Sorry if this sounds stupid, but while using a HPF to cut the unneeded information was the greatest simple tip I learned, this one it’s trickier for me to understand/implement. Cheers and thanks a lot for all your help.
[...] now “fixed” sound in order to sit in the mix better. If I’m going to do a lot of subtractive EQ, then I’d rather remove the unwanted frequencies before I go turning them up with a [...]