A common mistake most aspiring mix and audio engineers make is to rush to an Equaliser and start boosting frequencies like it’s going out of fashion. It’s an easy mistake to make. I certainly did exactly the same, when I first started dabbling with whatever first software or cheap live consoles I was lucky enough to come across. People new to using EQ often forget that they can also cut frequencies as well. The beginner’s folly usually starts along the lines of;
1. Solo a track or instrument to EQ.
2. Boost some frequencies to see what sounds “good”.
3. Once the instrument sounds “good” in solo, add back to the mix and move on to the next instrument or track.
The problem with this method is that first and foremost, you are basically just going through each track, turning up frequencies that sound good when solo’d from the mix. You aren’t listening to what you are actually changing within the context of the mix. This constant boosting of frequencies can (and often does) leave your mix sounding muddy and unclear. The second problem is that you’re still leaving the frequencies that you don’t want, in the mix.
Take the image down below;
Fig 1 sourced from Recordinghacks.com http://recordinghacks.com/microphones/AKG-Acoustics/D-112
It’s a picture of the frequency response of an AKG D 112, one of the most widely used kick drum mics in the business. What should be noted is the low and high frequency boosts, already tailored to the specific use of this microphone in kick drums. This microphone already has EQ applied to it through clever design and engineering. What beginners might not recognize right away however, is the very flat low mid frequency response. This can make the mic sound a little boxy, a reason I didn’t like the AKG D 112 when I first used it. Admittedly I would often reach for a Beta 52a kick mic instead, because of the more “scooped” low-mids, but the clever engineers have left this mid-range “boxiness” in for a reason. So YOU can decide how much of these frequencies to remove or even leave in.
Say you want a more vintage rock or lo-fi RnB/Hip-Hop style kick….you can have it. Want to cut that 300-400Hz range for a more modern rock sound, you got that too. It’s the removal of frequencies that can really sculpt your sound, but it also has the added benefit of creating more “room” for other instruments in your mix. This is the fundamental reason why you should cut unwanted frequencies before you boost the ones you do want. You create space in your mix. Cutting frequencies also appear less obviously in the mix especially when applied with a narrow Q. Don’t just take my word for it. Next time you’re mixing try boosting a frequency with a narrow bandwidth, then cutting it. See which one is more obvious. Try cutting unwanted frequencies before you start boosting the more desired ones, the difference it will make to your mix might shock you.
For a more in depth tutorial on subtractive EQ head to my YouTube Page
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