Removing "Harshness"
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- KVRist
- 104 posts since 10 Feb, 2005 from Australia, NSW, Wollongong
I've just made a song and the highs and higher mids sound quite harsh, is there a plugin that helps lessen this?
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- KVRAF
- 3441 posts since 15 Mar, 2003
I've had problems like that before also.
I just think some synths need to not be used.
I find that using EQ sometimes kills the sound.
Try a multiband compressor and set one of the bands to cover the range that the harshness is in. A compressor that can work on peaks instead of RMS will work better.
Experiment with different threshold and ratio settings.
I've had some success with the GMulti comp.
I just think some synths need to not be used.
I find that using EQ sometimes kills the sound.
Try a multiband compressor and set one of the bands to cover the range that the harshness is in. A compressor that can work on peaks instead of RMS will work better.
Experiment with different threshold and ratio settings.
I've had some success with the GMulti comp.
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- KVRAF
- 7115 posts since 22 Jan, 2005 from Sweden
I think it's the range 2000-4000 Hz that introduces harschness.
A general rule is not to raise EQ at any point, but to lower EQ at other points, making something come through in the mix.
All digital stuff is so easy to suddenly overflow 0dB in short moments internally, and introduce distortion that way. +6dB is actually doubling level, which is not obvious.
So if you raised level somewhere, I would look through reversing that, and lower other stuff instead.
Other tip is to use compressor as mentioned, but instead of EQ in many cases. A multiband compressor is really good at that, without doing to much damage to the full mix. Instead of increasing bass with EQ, add a multiband compressor and let it increase bass in a dynamic way when there is bass, and not disturbing the frequency response all the time like an EQ.
For higher frequencies harmonizers/exciters might be a good alternative to raising EQ. It will also work in a dynamic fashion just adding stuff when there is stuff.
A general rule is not to raise EQ at any point, but to lower EQ at other points, making something come through in the mix.
All digital stuff is so easy to suddenly overflow 0dB in short moments internally, and introduce distortion that way. +6dB is actually doubling level, which is not obvious.
So if you raised level somewhere, I would look through reversing that, and lower other stuff instead.
Other tip is to use compressor as mentioned, but instead of EQ in many cases. A multiband compressor is really good at that, without doing to much damage to the full mix. Instead of increasing bass with EQ, add a multiband compressor and let it increase bass in a dynamic way when there is bass, and not disturbing the frequency response all the time like an EQ.
For higher frequencies harmonizers/exciters might be a good alternative to raising EQ. It will also work in a dynamic fashion just adding stuff when there is stuff.
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- KVRAF
- 6478 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
A very common reason for harshness is using bad quality sources, ie thoroughly digital samples and synths, and then boosting the high frequencies with EQ or enhancer. Generally prosumer quality recorded stuff tends to get grainy when boosted.
I'd say you've boosted some shitty drum loop or such just a bit too much in the 8-12khz area, or used a cheap mic and preamp when recording.
I'd say you've boosted some shitty drum loop or such just a bit too much in the 8-12khz area, or used a cheap mic and preamp when recording.
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- KVRian
- 1243 posts since 24 Oct, 2003 from Maine
Siblances (short imbalances in the frequency spectrum) create "harshness," regardless of whether or not the source of the siblance problem is analog or digital. Simply correct them with a good EQ. Minimum or linear phase works best IMO, since phase distortion is known for making things sound boring if used with many narrow bands.
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