Equalization is one of the fundamental steps when we approach the mixing process. Here you will find the top 12 tips about how to EQ during the mixing and mastering process.
1.Think before you touch anything
One of the most common mistakes among beginner producers. They start immediately adding plugins without even listening to the whole song. Don’t’ rush and try to analyze how is the sound and what it needs. Think about how it should sound and which frequencies can be the problems’ cause.
2. Less is always better
You don’t have to equalize everything. Don’t go crazy with those gains unless it is absolutely necessary. Unless we are trying to achieve some kind of artistic effect, we usually want things to sound natural. Extreme cutting or boosting will result in an artificial sound most ears will find strange (even though they don’t know why).
3. Try cutting before boosting
Sometimes when we feel ‘it needs more low end’ our problem is excessive energy in the high-frequency range. Cutting overpowered frequencies a part of the spectrum can cause the sensation or boosting the opposite part.
4. Don’t do everything in solo. Listen in context
This is a rule of thumb. Something can sound okay on its own but don’t fit the mix when the whole song is being played.
You have to SOLO the sound for certain things but remember to listen to everything in context before applying the final adjustments.
5. Q factor too narrow
High Q factors can be useful when we are trying to reduce resonances. However, if we overuse them (especially boosting) can result in an artificial sound. Think that in the natural world something affecting the sound in a very specific area is an uncommon thing, and therefore, our ears will notice something wrong is going on.
Don’t know what is the Q Factor? Check this post to understand equalizers.
6. Filtering against masking
Remember that high and low pass filters are our best weapons against masking and overcrowded mixes.
7. Over equalizing is the most common mistake
I am sure this situation has happened to you. You have some vocals that don’t sound as good as you would like. Then, you start equalizing here and there and you end up using 8 filters, boosting and cutting +6dbs everywhere but you finally achieve something you like. When you come back to the mix the next day with fresh ears you realize it sounds terrible and the original sound is actually better. When you spend to much time playing around with the same sound you can lose the reference of what sounds natural. Our ears adapt to what we are hearing at the moment. Take this into consideration and don’t spend too much time equalizing the same thing. Take a break, go to do another thing and come back after a while.
8. Readjust the balance after equalizing
When we equalize a sound, we alter its loudness. Equalizing can alter the volume balance within your mix. Remember to readjust gains after equalizing, especially if you are making drastic changes.
9. Use the bypass button
Another golden rule. Always check if you are actually improved you mix or you just simply changed it for the worse.
10. Boosting the high-frequency range? Careful with ear fatigue
Excessive energy within the high-frequency range can lead to a hard unpleasant sound. Sound guys, audio technicians, DJs, musicians in general, we are used to spending our in front of loudspeakers and may have less sensitive for high frequencies than normal people. If you also have an excess of acoustic foam around your home studio, you could tend to boost in excess these frequencies.
11. Be subtle. Respect the sound.
Most times, when you don’t use equalize for changing the sound. What you really want is to improve it or correct fine details. This point
12. Improve your recording. Choose better samples.
If you need to equalize drastically in order to ‘fix the sound maybe you are doing something wrong. Try changing the position of the mics, improving your acoustics, setting up thing differently. If you get good takes from the recording stage you won’t have to spend a crazy amount of time mixing. If, instead, you are using samples, try to find samples that already sound the way you like. This may sound silly, but spending some extra time selecting the proper samples is always worth it.
