EQing a Dozen Voices

[ragani]

May 17, 2008, 5:34am, lyle wrote:I spend 60-70 hours a week running a pizza shop...Pizza??? MMMMmmmm.... I'm not sure I'd get anything done if I ran a pizza shop...!

[ibanez468]

Yeeah, PIZZA, yum yum. Sounds good ta' ME!

[Mark Kaufman]

May 17, 2008, 5:54am, ibanez468 wrote:May 17, 2008, 5:34am, lyle wrote:What I had done here was to record without compression, but I compressed the mixdown at 3.5 to 1 with a high make-up gain, using the Cubase SX stock compression program.Mark,Yeah, 3.5 to 1 for compressing the mix might be a bit TOO much.Try a more subtle compression setting, like 1.5 to 1. That'll give you some compression without the "pumping" effect.I-468Yeah baby. That helps tremendously. See, rather than truly LEARNING about compression, I just sorta fumble around until the knowledge finds me. Thanks! -Mark

[Mark Kaufman]

Thanks Glenn!Mmmm. Pizza.

[mazz]

The compression ratio is one important aspect of setting a compressor but the attack and release settings are very important as well, particularly when compressing an entire mix.On a rudimentary level, if you think of a compressor as an automatic volume knob, then the attack setting is how fast your imaginary hand can turn down the volume and the release setting is how fast it turns it back up.Imagine that the attack is set to a fast reaction time. Every time a kick or snare drum hits, if it's one of the louder sounds in the mix, the volume will get turned down by the amount set in the ratio control and will get turned back up by the amount of time set on the release control. If you were to go to your stereo and turn the volume knob up and down in time with the music, you'd hear a similar sound to a pumping compressor.Setting a compressor on a mix is tricky business and there's no magical settings, every song is different. Experimenting, study and deep listening is the best way to get the optimum results.MMMMM.. Pizza and Beer!Mazz

[nickfever]

I owe you a a beer Mazz. Will you be at the Road Rally?Nick

[mazz]

I haven't made room or plane arrangements but I've made a firm commitment with my inner self to be there. Does that count?See you in November!Mazz

[ernstinen]

May 17, 2008, 11:04am, mazz wrote:Setting a compressor on a mix is tricky business and there's no magical settings, every song is different. Experimenting, study and deep listening is the best way to get the optimum results.Mazz is a gentleman and a scholar --- well said!A few more thoughts: 1.) Compression, especially on the full mix, should never be "heard." You shouldn't be aware of it, even if it's there taming a few peaks or bringing the overall level up a bit. It should be transparent --- that is, if you use it at all. A really well-recorded track, with tracks individually limited/compressed, might not need any, or very little, compression when you're mastering the final product.2.) BG vocal EQ can many times be quite exaggerated so as to make them stand out from all the midrange stuff like guitars, snare, lead vocal, toilets flushing etc. Listen to what Lindsay Buckingham does with EQ on some of the Fleetwood Mac songs like "Little Lies" and "Sara." He's cranking up the EQ on the BG vocals from about 12kHz to 16kHz, or even higher. That creates the "airy" sound that makes the harmonies stand out. L.B. was a BIG Brian Wilson fan, and even the Beach Boys recordings from the 60's have quite a bit of high end on the vocal harmonics, and I'm not talking about hi-mids either! Really WAY up there past the point of sibilance. You get that clarity without having obnoxious "S's" that are so boosted you need a de-esser to get them out of there.My old analog Soundcraft board has a high parametric EQ sweep that goes up to 15kHz, and I've always used that a lot on vocals. My favorite analog EQ that I've rented many times for mastering is made by George Massenburg, and that sucker goes up to 22kHz or higher! Don't be scared to experiment with extremely high EQ frequencies. The old adage that humans can't hear that high anyway is nonsense, IMHO!Ern

[Mark Kaufman]

What a treasure trove this is turning out to be..I was able to spend a little time on it this morning. Although I had bumped up some of the high end EQ on the mix you've been hearing, what I needed to do was to roll off more from the low end...in some cases, almost completely off. That cleaned things up quite nicely. I'll spend some time on this before posting a new mix, but probably in a few days. Lots to consider...and so little time, always in a hurry. Deep gratitude for all this good knowledge. I'm sure I'm not the only one benefiting. Thanks again. -Mark

[Mark Kaufman]

Well I posted a remix. What do you think?Sorry there isn't a before/after shot...but thanks to a lot of advice here, I can hear all the parts now, and there is some crispness and clarity that was lacking before.I guess the biggest lesson I learned about EQ in this exercise is: Less is More.Thanks Maestros!