bduffy's tip - cutting 500 hz. im actually amazed

[EoN604]

Mission accomplished!

Actually, I was just working on a mix where I was highpassing everything by-the-book, and I thought it sounded pretty good until I went back a couple versions (to bounce out another drum submix) and heard it without the highpasses; it was way better!

So I went back and set my passes to the lowest I could get away with, and that worked much better for this song. Actually, I just plain removed some EQ's altogether; f**k it, let the ME deal with it! Like JumpingJackFlash says: there is no one formula for them all.

I have experienced that very often myself. Just when you think you've really done everything perfectly you switch back to see how marvellous your work was and notice i didn't actually improve. I reckon it's more about knowing when NOT to apply eq etc.

100% agree with this. On numerous occasion I've compared a track with hi-pass EQ applied on sounds compared to without. The ones without the EQ almost always sound 'warmer'. However how it would sound on a big PA (where lower frequencies will be big anyway) may not do it so much justice.

So, given that it seems to be commonly accepted to high pass everything to allow the kick & bass room to breath, and yet in our experience it removes soul/precense from the track... What's the go?!?!

[bduffy]

Mission accomplished!

Actually, I was just working on a mix where I was highpassing everything by-the-book, and I thought it sounded pretty good until I went back a couple versions (to bounce out another drum submix) and heard it without the highpasses; it was way better!

So I went back and set my passes to the lowest I could get away with, and that worked much better for this song. Actually, I just plain removed some EQ's altogether; f**k it, let the ME deal with it! Like JumpingJackFlash says: there is no one formula for them all.

I have experienced that very often myself. Just when you think you've really done everything perfectly you switch back to see how marvellous your work was and notice i didn't actually improve. I reckon it's more about knowing when NOT to apply eq etc.

100% agree with this. On numerous occasion I've compared a track with hi-pass EQ applied on sounds compared to without. The ones without the EQ almost always sound 'warmer'. However how it would sound on a big PA (where lower frequencies will be big anyway) may not do it so much justice.

So, given that it seems to be commonly accepted to high pass everything to allow the kick & bass room to breath, and yet in our experience it removes soul/precense from the track... What's the go?!?!

Well, sometimes it does, but sometimes it works exactly like it should. I also had another track where, after following some professional criticism here, I highpassed the orchestra in the song much higher than I ever would have in the past, and the song just sprang to life. I do always make sure to bounce out a mix at the end of the day, so I can go back and compare when I feel the mix "slipping away" from me. Usually, it's better now, but sometimes, you're like, "Egad! Time to go back!".

[Epiphany]

The 500hz Mid range is important more than you think....In big system without the 500hz the sounds won't have "attack".

They will, but its a brighter attack, due to less "mud" in the low mid region. At 100 dB on a big rig controlling "mud" is all-important. To me at least.

[BosseJo]

I feel sorry for the frequencies around 500 Hz. What have they ever done to you?

[bduffy]

I believe they endorsed slavery.

[PaulG]

I believe they endorsed slavery.

Come on, BDuf - have some moral sensitivity!

Obviously slavery is good if she's thin and big b00bed...

[bduffy]

I believe they endorsed slavery.

Come on, BDuf - have some moral sensitivity!

Obviously slavery is good if she's thin and big b00bed...

I'm very sensitive to that situation.

[BosseJo]

I believe they endorsed slavery.

Endorsed yes, but do they not deserve a second chance? Is this what they call "reversed racism"? "Get those evil 500 hertzers, and while we're at it raise the Q factor and get the 400 and 600 hertzers as well!" Because of this I am going to boost all frequencies equally.

[bduffy]

I believe they endorsed slavery.

Endorsed yes, but do they not deserve a second chance? Is this what they call "reversed racism"? "Get those evil 500 hertzers, and while we're at it raise the Q factor and get the 400 and 600 hertzers as well!" Because of this I am going to boost all frequencies equally.

Oh - is that what "300" is about?

[egbert]

"Get those evil 500

Sure, you could nuke the 500 but you would have to expect the opening week for the 300 to be in the toilet.

[BosseJo]

Well, I'm just tired of those posh, "higher", 2000KHz+ looking down on ordinary decent frequencies, just trying to make it through day. It's everywhere, buses not allowing lower frequency engines, toilet sound adjusted to 4000KHz+ etc. I even heard that some frequencies have wear "red badges of mudiness. Sometimes you have to take a stand.

[bduffy]

Well, I'm just tired of those posh, "higher", 2000KHz+ looking down on ordinary decent frequencies, just trying to make it through day. It's everywhere, buses not allowing lower frequency engines, toilet sound adjusted to 4000KHz+ etc. I even heard that some frequencies have wear "red badges of mudiness. Sometimes you have to take a stand.

Indeed. Some say there's a secret society, above 12k, that runs everything.

[Hellbilly]

I'm from the 50hz hood and proud yo. Word.

[bool]

400 Hz cut is for snares ...

Actually there's this ~63 - 125 - 250 - 500Hz octaves which look like there are a lot of fundamentals/overtones squashed together and really needs some cleanup for the mix to fit.

And the ~200Hz at speech ...

[Epiphany]

bool, care to elaborate? link/diagram?