Yesterday’s post on things I wish I had known when I recorded my first albums revealed some interest among a few readers for more information on EQ and compression.
I’ve got some bigger plans for the future, but I’m still thinking through how I want to work out all the details. In the meantime, here’s an Intro to EQ video. It’s a longer video, around 16 minutes, but I cover quite a bit of ground. Enjoy!
Having trouble watching this? Try watching it over at Viddler.
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Very nicely done, Joe. As I said to you on Twitter, people should pay special attention to your EQ work on the vocal where you remove the boominess around 400hz. That ringing is subtle but really makes all the difference in the world when it’s tamed, so there’s definitely a lesson in critical listening to be had here. Keep it up!
Thanks Nick. You’re right. That frequency buildup between 200 and 500 Hz can be a nightmare if you don’t makes some healthy cuts.
Thanks a whole lot Joe! This really helps. I like the way you present everything. You really make things a whole lot easier to understand. All this EQ stuff is not too complicated after all.
You’re welcome, Karim. Thanks for watching!
Very helpful…thank you, sir!
By the way, any tips/tricks I should know about for this problem:
If I EQ my guitars and vocals like you’re suggesting, I can tell I’m going to run out of RTAS memory (or whatever it’s called) pretty quickly. I’ve actually already run out on one song just using virtual guitar effects. Is there a way to get around that?
I think most people have problems with EQ because they think they need to turn something up to hear it, while it’s often just the opposite. Your tutorial does a good job of showing how to cut things and the impact…great job!
Thanks so much Joe, clearly explained and well presented.
So in general, are you adding an eq device to every individual track? And you then apply eq to isolate a particular track’s frequency band so as to allow room for the other tracks’ sounds to shine through (more or less)?
Do you typically have your entire drum kit on a single track? If so, how would you apply eq in that scenario?
I applied your technique to an electronic “song” I am working on, and it did seem to work, although I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, just mimicking you for the mostpart.
After you’ve eq’d each track, do you then apply eq to the master track?
Thanks very much, looking forward to seeing/reading more.
Hey Adam. Thanks for visiting! To answer your first question, yes, I typically EQ every track. Sometimes I do nothing more than roll off the low end. Other times I’ll do more extreme changes. You’ve got the right idea though, EQ is much more effective if you use it as a sculpting tool to remove frequencies rather than using it as an effect to boost different frequencies.
I usually split my drum tracks out to individual tracks – kick, snare, overheads, etc. However, starting out, I’ll just have it on one track for simplicity’s sake. With drums, I’ll usually cut out a lot around 400 Hz using EQ. You’ll find this is a standard approach, it removes the “boxy” sound of the drum kit. I may EQ each individual piece or the entire kit…it just depends on the song.
I rarely EQ my entire mix. I find that it does more harm than good, since it’s affecting every single track in the mix.
That was excellent, Joe. Thanks a ton.
Thanks Chris!
Thanks!!! Great Vid, very, very helpful that you explained each section in the 7band EQ. It helped a lot. You should definitely do a video on Eq’N Bass; that is where I have a problem. Not sure if you have one, but a Video on when to use compression, how it works, est.; will be very helpful.
You have a buyer when that ebook comes out
Thanks! I’m guessing you found the compression video?
well worth taking the time to watch this video, joe. i’ve been reading about and struggling/experimenting with EQ for a while. my god, there are encyclopedias out there on the subject! but to listen and watch while you demonstrated was a huge help. of course now i have to go back and re-EQ some tracks that i considered “done”. but it’ll make them better tracks!
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but do you have a chart that will tell me what to make mono, and what is stereo? Like Drums, I was told to make those mono on your tracks. Is that right?
Thanks for answering.
thanks for the video tuts learn a lot and even more but can u do a tuts on multiband compressors thank you
how can i learn about the different types of delays and how and when to apply it to a beat/rhythm towards the vocals to create a room effect please can u be of asistance please.
once again, extremely helpful. you have the best tutorial videos i’ve found on the internet. you should replace the guy that does the expert village videos on youtube. he is horrible! i learn a ton every time i watch your videos. thanks a lot!
one question: do you record your vocals/guitar or anything for that matter going through hardware before your 003? (ie: compressor, EQ, etc.) I’ve heard different scenarios on this topic and listening to your vocals and guitar, it sounded so good on your dry track i was wondering if you did anything like that.
thanks.
Hey David. I’m really glad you like the videos. Tell your friends!
To answer your question, I think for this particular song I simply recorded directly into the 003 preamps. I do have an outboard Focusrite pre, and I definitely LOVE using outboard preamps and compressors, but I don’t do it all the time.
Great video on EQ. Much better than most I have watched where they move so fast and don’t explain why or what for. I tried reducing EQ on some things I have done and it sounded great. Keep up the great work on the videos. Keep them simple and straight foward. Thanks Wayne
Best tutorial on EQ I have found. Thanks so much for the info. Can’t wait to try this out tomorrow on some of my mixes. You explained things in a way someone new like me can understand. Maybe this will reduce some of the muddiness I keep getting.
The EQ Video is equally informative at the Compression Video. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your website. Thanx again – Carl
Destroyed relationship between higher and lower tones of bass gtr…
Find the fundamental freq of higher tones and boost them or just cut some lows to acchive the same thing
hey watched the eq video,,i have never touched the eq,,and i now know what the high pass filter is ,,cant wait to apply,,lot easier for me to watch your videos than read
the ultra generosity is very much appreciated
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Thanks Joe, God has certainly blessed you, and thanks for blessing us in return.
My mixes are finaly clean and not boomy!
SO glad to hear it, Joe.