KVR Audio

Everglide · Post by **Everglide** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 2:55 pm

HP filters sucks the life out of my music...

I'm curious how others handle this. HP the low end makes my music sound cold and sterile but it creates space in the mix. I'm thinking the next step is to preserve more low end to bring back it back to life with automation.

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 3:09 pm

HP may not be needed all the time... try low shelving band instead.

One important aspect when working with filters is phase distortion..it can easily make a sound weak when played against another

Try bringing 'fullness' back with lower level pitch shifted doubles and sub sinewaves

Everglide · Post by **Everglide** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 3:24 pm

Thanks. So you shift pitch the low end to avoid cancellation?

Distorted Horizon · Post by **Distorted Horizon** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 5:09 pm

Everglide wrote:HP filters sucks the life out of my music...

Don't over do it?

I (try to) make (psy)trance so I highpass all non bass tracks from 100hz. Though for break, all is highpassed from 20hz..

Anyways, then I decide which track needs higher highpass and what track needs more space to be heard. Often for example a pad sounds a bit thin but plucks are punchy and have as much space as they need. Sometimes other way around

Jay Ass Blach · Post by **Jay Ass Blach** » Sat Mar 10, 2018 5:17 pm

You are imagining things.

jordonpmusic · Post by **jordonpmusic** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 12:11 am

Dr Dre used a lot of HP.

What sucks the life is when you over use HP AND don't compensate with a thick low end that's when you get these really thin sounding EDM type mixes.

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 12:43 am

Everglide wrote:Thanks. So you shift pitch the low end to avoid cancellation?

No, I pitchshift parallel tracks when needed... and on individual tracks and not the master channel..

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 8:58 am

If a certain technique does not work for you, then just don't waste more time on it.

AsPeeXXXVIII · Post by **AsPeeXXXVIII** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 1:08 pm

Just don't HP the bass at too high a frequency. Or don't HP it at all.

imrae · Post by **imrae** » Sun Mar 11, 2018 2:47 pm

Where are you putting these filters relative to fundamental frequencies? If a highpass onset is below the lowest fundamental of a part then it should do a fairly harmless reduction of low-freq noise. If the filter is reducing the fundamental on some notes more than others then it will make the tone inconsistent which is unnatural.

Everglide · Post by **Everglide** » Tue Mar 13, 2018 2:35 pm

Thank you for the replies. I like the "just don't do it" responses and the low shelf is the key.

Everglide · Post by **Everglide** » Tue Mar 13, 2018 2:36 pm

imrae wrote:Where are you putting these filters relative to fundamental frequencies? If a highpass onset is below the lowest fundamental of a part then it should do a fairly harmless reduction of low-freq noise. If the filter is reducing the fundamental on some notes more than others then it will make the tone inconsistent which is unnatural.

My synth parts often have added sub oscillators which creates additional frequencies and a richer sound. HP removes the warm in my patches and I'm not talking about the sub frequency region. Point is, I'm trying to free up the bass and kick rejoins but I don't like the steeliness that comes from the HP.

CosmicClayton · Post by **CosmicClayton** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:11 pm

You may be pulling the highpass too high. I typically set it at 100-150 hz. And you have make sure you have a bass and kick drum to fill up the low end and make the sound full and give it oomph.

BMoore · Post by **BMoore** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:29 pm

Try Dell.

Jafo · Post by **Jafo** » Wed Mar 14, 2018 11:38 pm

There's also the Pultec trick of using a resonant HP filter; this adds some weight above the cutoff, so it feels like less is taken off. Highly (sorry!) recommended.

HP sucks the life...