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strange EQ problem
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l!l
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
17
Posts :
48
Posted : Jul 15, 2007 13:10
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Hey guys, heres a strange problem thats
happening with my tracks, maybe you guys
can help.
When my bass+kick (sidechained) plays alone or with percussion elements, it sounds perfect. However, when leads or pads come in, the leads and pads COMPLETELY suck all most of the "power" coming from the bass and kick, almost as if someone had lowered the volume of the bass and kick so to speak. So what I did was just eq some of the frequencies I thought were "colliding" with the bass and kick...it worked...sorta...
is there anything else I can do or check out?
Thanks in advance  |
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Inner Demon
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
321
Posted : Jul 15, 2007 14:05
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Use your ears, and if its not enough work with a spectrum analyzer.
As a general rule, your bass has most of its power in the 50-250 hz region, and with a little headroom above that I'd say highpass all your other sounds at 500 hz or so, and there should be more than enough space between the sounds.
Only EQ when its the last option, i.e. try to get less low freqs in your leads from the synth. Remember that your leads don't have to sound good in solo mode, only in the mix... |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Jul 15, 2007 17:41
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Quote:
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On 2007-07-15 14:05, Inner Demon wrote:
I'd say highpass all your other sounds at 500 hz or so |
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I'd say that was a recipe for a really plastic sound. This could well work for the pad on its own but as a guideline for mixing the rest of the sounds in a track - don't do it. There are no absolute rules, but in my own productions I high-pass between 120Hz and 12KHz, depending on the sound.
Inner Demon - you have the right idea by EQing the pad to reduce frequencies that clash with the kick and bass. Pads often sound great on their own but contain far too much low frequencies to fit in the mix.
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Inner Demon
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
321
Posted : Jul 15, 2007 18:03
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Colin - obviously your right, I guess I didn't mean to be so specific in my advice but it just came out that way somehow 
I wanted him to see what happens when exaggerating a little bit, of course its a matter of judgement for every individual sound + how they work in the mix, and also very much dependant on the kind of bass one has.
I too sometimes highpass as low as in the 100-150 hz region. Its music and there are as you say no hard and fast rules - sounds that clash on a spectrum analyzer can sound great together, just wanted to say that one can't make music with the eyes 
I should stop posting when I'm hungover hehe thanks for clearing up!
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Mike A
Subra
Started Topics :
185
Posts :
3954
Posted : Jul 15, 2007 23:14
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It's not only the low frequencies. Sometimes the mid and high frequencies get masked by everything else, which causes it to "lose power".
Just increase the mid and stuff on the bassline, and with time you'll learn what will sound to be good with everything else later on in the track.
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Meta
Meta/Boomslang
Started Topics :
24
Posts :
1045
Posted : Jul 16, 2007 00:02
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Quote:
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On 2007-07-15 17:41, Colin OOOD wrote:
Quote:
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On 2007-07-15 14:05, Inner Demon wrote:
I'd say highpass all your other sounds at 500 hz or so |
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I'd say that was a recipe for a really plastic sound. This could well work for the pad on its own but as a guideline for mixing the rest of the sounds in a track - don't do it. There are no absolute rules, but in my own productions I high-pass between 120Hz and 12KHz, depending on the sound.
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I remember a "veteran" telling me to highpass all leads and pads at 500 a long time ago. If I actually had followed that advice, I shudder to think how "tinny" all my music would have sounded. In hindsight I think he was just taking the piss to see if I'd actually use my own ears.
http://soundcloud.com/aeon604
http://www.metaekstasis.com/
http://the1134.com/ |
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illusions
Erebus
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
626
Posted : Jul 16, 2007 08:48
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Also, giving the bass a bit more high end presence helps it cut through the mix even when there is a lot going on. Try to listen to solo bassline sections in well produced tracks to see how much high end a lot of producers leave in their bass for exactly that reason. |
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