How To Find The Best And Leave The Rest - PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE 16.4.2 - V1.12 User Manual

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5.4 Equalizers
How to Find the Best and
5.4.2
Leave the Rest
Included at the end of this section are some general frequency principles to guide you through the
wonderful world of equalization, but these are far from set in stone. So how do you find the best and
worst each instrument has to offer and adjust them accordingly? Here's a quick guide:
First, solo just the instrument with which you are working. Most engineers start building their mix
with the drums and work from the bottom up (kick, snare, toms, hi-hat, overheads). Each instrument
resonates the most in a specific frequency band, so if you are working on your kick-drum mic, start
with the lowest band of the EQ. Tune in the best-sounding low end and move on to the attack. It is
not uncommon to hear an annoying ringing or a "twang" mixed in with your amazing-sounding low
end and perfect attack, so your next task will be to find that offending frequency and notch it out.
Once you are satisfied with your kick drum, mute it, and move on to the next instrument.
Taking your time with equalization is well worth the effort. Your mix will have better separation and
more clarity when each instrument's EQ is set so that it shines through the mix. Some final advice:
• You can only do so much. Not every instrument can or should have a full, rich low end and a
sharp attack. If every instrument is EQ'd to have the same effect, it will lose its identity in the
mix. Your goal is not individual perfection, it is perfection in unity.
• Step away from the mix. Your ears get fatigued just like the rest of you. If you are working
particularly hard on one instrument, your ears will be quite literally numbed to that frequency
range.
• Your memory is not what you think it is. Comparing a flat EQ and the curve that you've
created allows you to see exactly what you've done. So be honest with yourself. Sometimes
that EQ setting you've been working on for 15 minutes is not the right choice, so move on.
• Never be afraid of taking a risk. The best EQ tricks were found by mad scientists of sound.
"Playing" applies to engineers as well as musicians.
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