When mixing, one of core tools we use to shape a sound is EQ.
We all use different plugins for this, some built into our DAW, some online freebies and others purchased from plugin developers such as Fab Filter.
For the purpose of this post, we will be focussing on parametric EQ. Typically having multiple frequency bands, we have control over the frequency, gain and bandwidth (commonly known as Q).
Frequency – Adjusting this control will determine which frequency will be affected by the choices made on the following two controls.
Gain – Adjusting this control will add or subtract gain to the chosen frequency. Remember that without using this control, no other parameters will have an affect.
Bandwidth (Q)– Adjusting this control will determine how wide or narrow the boost or cut to the frequency band is.
If you haven’t used this type of EQ before, the best thing to do is bring up the plugin on an audio track and have a play around. Create a 10dB boost at 100Hz with a narrow bandwidth (see the example below) then sweep up the frequency bands and listen to how the sound of the audio source changes.
Now, to bring this post back to the context of the title. I want to talk about the idea of cutting frequencies with a narrow bandwidth and boosting with a wide bandwidth. I’ll answer the question immediately, I believe narrowly cutting and widely boosting frequencies is just good practice, not a golden rule and I’ll explain why now…
It’s important to look at EQ within the context of what you’re mixing. Are you mixing a snare drum that has an annoying ringing tone? Are you mixing a kick drum that’s lacking some low end thump? Or are you mixing a vocal that needs a little more air adding?
I’ll firstly use the snare as an example. If I have an annoying ringing tone between 500Hz and 700Hz then I usually create a narrow band and boost by about 12-15dB to really accentuate the problem frequency. I sweep around these areas until I hear the ringing most acutely and quite often it will start clipping on the channel I’m working on. Once I’ve found this frequency I will normally cut it by as much as 6-12dB and sometimes more (it’s not about the numbers here, it’s about what your ears are telling you) and I will then bypass the plugin a few times both with the snare solo’d and also within the context of the full mix. The reason for cutting using narrow bandwidths is to ensure the fundamentals and character of the sound are left intact. The important thing to realise here is whether it sounds better with or without the cut, remember to trust your own ears and don’t just cut a frequency because other people say so.
I’ll use the vocal as another example. If I have a vocal that is quite dull and lacking some air, I usually create a 3-4dB boost between 8-12KHz with a wide bandwidth. I then check this solo’d and within the mix and add or reduce gain to taste. The reason for boosting with wide bandwidths is to ensure that the increase in gain is audibly smooth across the frequency band and therefore more pleasing to the ear. In the context of a vocal, imagine boosting a frequency with a narrow bandwidth in an area which happens to be around vocal sibilance and the result would be a dull vocal with accentuated S’s on certain words.
An example of when you might work against the practice of boosting with wide bandwidth is when you’re working with an ambient synth pad and you may want to highlight certain resonances to create a droning sound. Using a narrow bandwidth allows you to zone in on the fundamentals of a sound and choose exactly where you want to boost. You may want to highlight 440Hz which is the musical note of A.
Another example is when mixing a snare drum. One particular area i like to boost is between 170Hz and 200Hz (depending on the drum) to highlight the fundamental which adds a lot of weight to the snare. I prefer to boost using a narrow bandwidth in this frequency band as this is the only part that i want to be accentuated. I will usually boost between 4-6dB. I will often do a mirrored EQ on the bass guitar around the frequency that i have boosted and cut in the same area to allow both instruments to work together without competing for the same area in the spectrum.
The main purpose of this post was to give an insight into why boosting wide and cutting narrow with EQ is just a good practice, not a golden rule. There are always exceptions to a rule and i apply them or go against them on pretty much every mix i do. Remember to trust your ears when mixing and don’t judge a sound based on the visual aspect of an EQ plugin. The important thing to do when making EQ decisions is to ask yourself what you want to achieve and why.
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