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Is EQ the devil when used incorrectly
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routingwithin
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
46
Posts :
204
Posted : Mar 10, 2014 13:42:34
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I have a question about EQ guys, and yes I know what a cliché, but I have to know.
If you take a 3rd party plugin like sylenth1 – you get a bunch of presets with it, presets designed by the creators and friends. Those presets were created in a studio environment on good studio monitors and in a room which has the correct acoustics and all that.
Also we take a sound library like vengeance vol 1,2 & 3 – which was also put together by guys that was happy with that particular sound before they added it to their library.
So my main Question.
1.) Should any of those sounds Vengeance & Sylenth1 still be EQ’d, or are they on an acceptable standard ?
Now don’t get me wrong, I know that leads should stay out of bass frequencies way- so I get that low pass and high pass filters should be used on leads and hihats etc.
But, say the kick has some mid frequency which I don't like or the lead – should you EQ a chunk out(wide Q) of the mid range to get a softer sound, or is it my room’s poor absorption skills and bad acoustics playing with my ears.
EQ’ing it out does make it softer, but also makes it muffled and less audible on other systems. Sounds great in the room but sucks on other speaker systems.
I did this mini experiment, same song, one with EQ(trying to get a softer sound) the other without. And on my car stereo the one without EQ sounds fairly normal and clear- but not perfect, and the one with EQ muffled and unclear, but in my room its visa versa. ????
And other questions:
2.) Should you never cut wide with EQ and stick with narrow cuts ?
3.) Was EQ only designed to take out resonant frequencies, giving brightness to recordings and cutting away ranges to stop conflict with other instruments ?
peace out
  " We are together in this matter you and I, closer to death, yes, closer than i'd like. How do you feel? - There can be no division in our actions, or everything is lost. What affects you affects me. " |
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aseem
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
341
Posted : Mar 10, 2014 14:14
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Keep on doing what you are doing..
when it sounds right to your ears, it is right.. there are no set rules.. it is only how well your ears are trained.
get use to your monitors and room acoustics.
Ones you know your sound.. there are many different ways to achieve the sound.
https://soundcloud.com/aseem-2 |
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stonedolphin
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
47
Posted : Mar 10, 2014 15:14
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1. Vengeance samples and Sylenth preset leads may sound perfect when played on their own BUT when mixing them with other sounds it is sometimes unavoidable to use some EQ to help them sit better in the mix.
2. EQing the kick is sometimes necessary to give it the exact sound that you are looking for, so don't be afraid to do that either,
However what you assume is correct and if you can find a good sample that fits your taste EQing is not a must and can be avoided if the sample is good enough. |
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frisbeehead
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
1352
Posted : Mar 10, 2014 15:48
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Quote:
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On 2014-03-10 13:42:34, routingwithin wrote:
I have a question about EQ guys, and yes I know what a cliché, but I have to know.
If you take a 3rd party plugin like sylenth1 – you get a bunch of presets with it, presets designed by the creators and friends. Those presets were created in a studio environment on good studio monitors and in a room which has the correct acoustics and all that.
Also we take a sound library like vengeance vol 1,2 & 3 – which was also put together by guys that was happy with that particular sound before they added it to their library.
So my main Question.
1.) Should any of those sounds Vengeance & Sylenth1 still be EQ’d, or are they on an acceptable standard ?
Now don’t get me wrong, I know that leads should stay out of bass frequencies way- so I get that low pass and high pass filters should be used on leads and hihats etc.
But, say the kick has some mid frequency which I don't like or the lead – should you EQ a chunk out(wide Q) of the mid range to get a softer sound, or is it my room’s poor absorption skills and bad acoustics playing with my ears.
EQ’ing it out does make it softer, but also makes it muffled and less audible on other systems. Sounds great in the room but sucks on other speaker systems.
I did this mini experiment, same song, one with EQ(trying to get a softer sound) the other without. And on my car stereo the one without EQ sounds fairly normal and clear- but not perfect, and the one with EQ muffled and unclear, but in my room its visa versa. ????
And other questions:
2.) Should you never cut wide with EQ and stick with narrow cuts ?
3.) Was EQ only designed to take out resonant frequencies, giving brightness to recordings and cutting away ranges to stop conflict with other instruments ?
peace out
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sample packs usually have frequencies on the entire spectrum. this can't be made to fit inside a mix without mixing - EQ is the main mixing tool.
so it's not that EQ is the devil, it's simply that you haven't mixed things properly. |
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moleqlarsuperstructure
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
36
Posts :
265
Posted : Mar 10, 2014 16:14
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u can use eq in two diffrent processes of making a track.
first is sound design. use a eq to cut or boost whatever you need on your specific sounds.
the second is: using eq in the mix. mostly a more tighten equing to make sure all frequencies have their own place in the mix. and yes if wrong eq´ed you can destroy the whole sound.
when it comes to the mixdown only eq and compressors are really needed to make a brilliant sound overall.
i did spend one year on learning equalizing till i got it...
and basically. you should learn to do your sounds from scratch. so you will explicit know what you have to change when it comes to a use of presets 
http://soundcloud.com/neonjade |
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frisbeehead
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
1352
Posted : Mar 11, 2014 06:39
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1) yes, they need to be. look at them with an analyzer: it's meant to impress users right away, so there's a lot going everywhere. you need to cut a lot to make it fit a track.
2) you can do that. assuming you wouldn't be cutting much, if it helps to make the sound fit inside the mix better. but if you think a sound needs to much EQ to fit, and that EQ changes the sound dramaticly (in a non intended way) then it's probably not the best sound or make room for it by removing others
3)that's it's main use of course. and it's even enough if it's being used like that and nothing else. but another part of it is something like: enhancing the good parts (by); removing the worse. |
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frisbeehead
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
1352
Posted : Mar 11, 2014 06:43
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^removing a strong word, cutting a bit gently is more like it...
actually just shaving of the extremes (highs and lows) on all sounds should be nearly enough to get all sounds coming through perfectly |
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routingwithin
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
46
Posts :
204
Posted : Mar 11, 2014 09:29
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Quote:
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On 2014-03-11 06:39, frisbeehead wrote:
1) yes, they need to be. look at them with an analyzer: it's meant to impress users right away, so there's a lot going everywhere. you need to cut a lot to make it fit a track.
2) you can do that. assuming you wouldn't be cutting much, if it helps to make the sound fit inside the mix better. but if you think a sound needs to much EQ to fit, and that EQ changes the sound dramaticly (in a non intended way) then it's probably not the best sound or make room for it by removing others
3)that's it's main use of course. and it's even enough if it's being used like that and nothing else. but another part of it is something like: enhancing the good parts (by); removing the worse.
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Thanx man
Other question would be:
4.) If you cut wide, with how much db's
I am really achieving a nice sound now, by boosting the high frequencies, kick @ 15-18Khz by 6db with medium Q, bassline @ 5Khz-20Khz by 6db with highshelf, and Leads @ 15Khz by 6-7db with medium/narrow Q, to add presence and opens it up. Also gives a nicer balance to everything, based on the logic that if your bass has too much bass, boost the highs to balance it out. When I boosted this on the kick and bass it really gave me that new age open sound, no muffled closed sounds no more- and my music sounds more real now, very exited with the developments lately- thank you everyone
peace out
" We are together in this matter you and I, closer to death, yes, closer than i'd like. How do you feel? - There can be no division in our actions, or everything is lost. What affects you affects me. " |
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moleqlarsuperstructure
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
36
Posts :
265
Posted : Mar 11, 2014 13:42
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you really need an analyser.
earlytimes i used to throw like 4 eqs in a chain to have it perfect. also if i make fm dark sounds. i shape really a lot with a eq..... and i mean really a lot
http://soundcloud.com/neonjade |
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jizy
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
90
Posts :
1493
Posted : Mar 14, 2014 02:43
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load a synth , get a deep slighty modualted pad sound,sind a note u like,low octave and play it...
add additinal eq for Hp x? lp and
shelves...compress limit bla bla the usual
i was using one from z3ta
now the fun part in between the above
load 4/5 pro-qs in audio effect rack... select either hplp bell shelve whatever... split it to L R Sculpt a shape symetrically
L -BANDTYPE
R -BANDTYPE
then Selct notch keeping it symetrical on another proq, variate L or R q point
Now do the same but only this time key it to m/s mode on another proq or what ever easy interface eq , again, scultp some curves symetrically using and trying different band types till u get a balance
M-BANDTYPE?
S-BANDTYPE?
... now the extra fun part, config sumof the bands or q points to a macro then assign MACRO to a midi lfo using slow rates and medium depths...
add fx like reverb and a nice delay with feedback after this compress use a widener to balance overall image and limitmaximize,but dont squash to fuck
this is not a tutorial or a tutorial i copied,... this is simply havin fun with automating EQS to get intense results having fun with sound design!!
if u catch the timings right and concentrate getting it right it can sound amazing!just been playin for hours with a smile on my face
Gradually filter creeps in like a phaser whilst the image gets bigger ,then altinate it , variate it till u get synchronized movement instead of a random mess ...
i guess u could use automation instead of the lfo it doesnt matter at this point beacuse we are just jamming..
basicall make your own trippy DIY dynamic modulated phaser filter with automated wideners and frequency sweepers  ... great fun!!!
happy tweakin
my answer is make a devil out of the EQ!!!!!!
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