Forums - Mixing & FX
Subject: shelf eq'ing on tracks
Original Message 1/11 18-Mar-02 @ 04:40 PM - shelf eq'ing on tracks
I have a song that gets real busy toward the end and it sounds all mushy... the top end doesn't cut through - there's a lot of sounds competing for space...
I read that some ppl take each track and hi and lo-pass it to center kind of a bell curve on just the audible frequencies for the track....
is that worth the time and effort? (I would have to do it offline since VST doesn't have shelf EQ)
I realize that I will need to do more EQ while all the tracks are playing together to really solve all my problems, but I was wondering if any of you routinely did that kind of shelving EQ to help out, or as a starting point.....
also, would I lose anything by doing that? I always hear that those upper inaudible frequencies add to a mix, so am I going to lose something there? or will some of those freq's be replaced by decaying reverb?
any EQ tips/advice appreciated....
thanks!!
Message 2/11 18-Mar-02 @ 04:47 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
For what its worth, I normally shelve off some of the lowend on bass and hats etc. as a matter of course and then only do so on other stuff if I can hear definate problems.
Message 3/11 18-Mar-02 @ 05:15 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
ugh. I won't even mention my PII.
Message 4/11 18-Mar-02 @ 09:29 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
Try using the shelving on fx returns to clean up reverb as well. some pros use the reverb mono as well over the stereo option. But the mudd can definatly be helped by removing these low-mid bass harmoonics out of strings and synth parts and open up the bottom for better bass and kick drum imaging. It goes beyond just shelving, but also boosting and cutting frequecies using notches or narrow bells as well. If it sounds good, do it. Don't worry about rules.
Message 5/11 18-Mar-02 @ 09:29 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
[image file]
at first i would say try not to have too many
parts in the same range playing at the same
time. what about using less sounds or picking
sounds that don't interfere with one another? if
you really must have them all, then here are
some eq and multiband compression tips:
EQ Frequencies
9KHz-15KHz:
Adding will give sparkle, shimmer, bring out
details. Cutting will smooth out harshness,
and darken the mix. Common processing:
Very little compression, add/reduce gain for
timbral shaping.
6KHz-15kHz:
Air and presence. Common processing: Slight
gain boost.
4KHz-9KHz:
Brightness, presence, definition, sibilance,
high frequency distortion. Common
processing: Compression to reduce
sibilance/HF distortion. Add (gain) brightness
or liveliness to a mix.
5Khz-7KHz:
De-essing. Narrow band compression.
800Hz-4KHz:
Edge, clarity, harshness, defines timbre.
Common processing: gain reduction to
reduce harshness.
200Hz-1.5KHz:
Punch, fatness, impact. Common processing:
Compression and gain boost.
150Hz-400Hz:
Boxiness. Common processing: Reduce gain
to remove 'mud'.
200Hz-below:
Bottom. Common processing: Compression
to tighten a boomy bass sound.
Example Settings for a Multi-Band
Compressor (5-Band)
LOW - tighten up bottom end.
Frequency Range: 0Hz-150Hz
Ratio: 2.5:1
Attack: 20ms
Release: 150ms
Threshold: very low to almost always trigger
compression.
Gain: make up gain lost in compression.
LOW MID - tighten up the mix.
Frequency Range: 150Hz-600Hz
Ratio: 3:1
Attack: 20ms
Release: 150ms
Threshold: trigger regularly, but be about 2dB
below the point of rarely triggering.
Gain: make up for compression, or just a little
more for warmth.
MID - add punch to the mix.
Frequency Range: 600Hz-1.5Hz
Ratio: 6:1
Attack: 10ms
Release: 150ms
Threshold: set fairly low to almost always
trigger compression.
Gain: add 4-6dB or more to make up lost gain
and add guts.
MID HI - add presence and increased clarity of
individual instruments.
Frequency Range: 1.5KHz-6Hz
Ratio: 3:1
Attack: 10ms
Release: 150ms
Threshold: trigger regularly, but be about 2dB
below the point of rarely triggering.
Gain: add 1-3dB for presence/clarity.
HI - reduce harshness without losing sparkle
Frequency Range: 6KHz-15Hz
Ratio: 2:1
Attack: 10ms
Release: 150ms
Threshold: only trigger when harshness
present.
Gain: maybe add 1-2dB to recover sparkle lost
in compression.
Gain after each band of compression can be
used to shape the sound.
Message 6/11 19-Mar-02 @ 01:01 AM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
Message 7/11 19-Mar-02 @ 03:36 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
Message 8/11 19-Mar-02 @ 04:51 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
Ape
Message 9/11 19-Mar-02 @ 08:38 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
[image file]
oh, i hope you guys don't think i came up with
that!
that's from snipwarp. pretty good stuff.
Message 10/11 19-Mar-02 @ 09:41 PM - RE: shelf eq'ing on tracks
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