Setting aside frequencies

[Freak Of Metal]

I am not very proficient at giving instruments their specific frequencies to dwell in. How does everyone go about setting apart frequencies for each instrument? E.g. the bass drum needs more clarity, so you scoop out the frequency from another instrument?

 

[guitarguru777]

I just futz with the parametric EQ and sweep the frequencies till I find what works for the mix. There is no real "MAP" in my opinion just general idea of where things should sit in the low end in my opinion.

Personally I like my bass to rumble at about 80hz and My kicks to rumble at about 70hz

Other then that its all trial and error till I find something that works in the mix I am working on.

 

[guitarguru777]

This also comes from somewhere here in the forum. I have had it forever and its a good general guideline. by no means is this absolute.

General Recording Information:

EQ and Frequency Response
This is a general guide for finding areas to EQ when mixing, remember not to OVER DO IT. Its always better to PULL frequencies then add them. Adding frequencies just ads noise!

50hz -
Increase to add more fullness to lowest frequency instruments like bass drums, toms, and the bass. Reduce to decrease the boominess of the bass and will increase overtones and the recognition of bass line in the mix. This is most often used on loud bass lines like rock.

100hz -
Increase to add a harder bass sound to lowest frequency instruments.
Increase to add warmth to piano and horns.
Reduce to remove boom on guitars & increase clarity.

200hz -
Increase to add fullness to vocals. Increase to add fullness to snare and guitar
Reduce to decrease muddiness of vocals or mid-range instruments.
Reduce to decrease gong sound of cymbals.

400hz -
Increase to add clarity to bass lines especially when speakers are at low volume.
Reduce to decrease boxy sound of lower drums like bass drums and toms.

800hz -
Increase for clarity and "punch" of bass.
Reduce to remove "cheap" sound of guitars.

1.5Khz- (probably the most problem frequency when recording guitar)
Increase for clearer, cleaner bass.
Reduce to remove dullness of guitars.

3Khz -
Increase for more attack of guitars.
Increase for more attack on low piano parts.
Increase for more clarity on voice.
Increase for more attack on the snare or other drums.
Reduce to increase breathy, soft sound on background vocals.
Reduce to disguise out-of-tune vocals and guitars.

5Khz -
Increase for vocal presence.
Increase low frequency drum attack.
Increase attack of piano, acoustic guitar and brightness on guitars.
Reduce to soften thin or tinny guitar

7Khz -
Increase to add attack to percussion instruments.
Reduce to decrease sibilance or that annoying ssss sound on singers.

10Khz -
Increase to brighten vocals.
Increase for slight brightness in acoustic guitar and piano.
Increase for hardness on cymbals.
Reduce also to reduce sibilance

15Khz-
Increase this will pretty much brighten anything, but use sparingly as this will enduce hiss

 

[ahjteam]

There is this really cool feature in Electri-Q plugin called "Definition range" that gives you a graphical guideline map what goes where, heres 2 examples:

 

[Pablo333]

There is this really cool feature in Electri-Q plugin called "Definition range" that gives you a graphical guideline map what goes where, heres 2 examples:

hey man that is a cool feature - I'M surprised no one else does it

 

[Harry Hughes]

I tend to actually boost around 4.4-4.5KHz for brightness on guitars and will sometimes cut around 7KHz to reduce that annoying fizz so that you're left with more of just the air of the guitars rather than grating fizz. Of course sometimes you can even boost that frequency.
Sometimes I'll cut around 3KHz to remove certain harshness from guitars too

 

[Pablo333]

y'know, i've been tinkering with my post eq'ing of my L/R gtr group track and on the "POD" - try setting a narrow Q on the eq (i use waves Q10) and sweep from 3k to 6k and usually theres an offending "nasty" frequency (i find around 5.6khz) and i just cut around 9db - smooths out the harshness and you can then do a small high shelf to compensate around 7k.