Cut That EQ!
EQ is an essential part of mixing used in professional audio work.
Most engineers will grab an EQ knob and start turning until it sounds right. And there is nothing wrong with that approach.
Generally, an inexperienced engineer will ‘add’ frequencies in an EQ device in order to make the track sound ‘brighter’ or give it more ‘body’ or any of about 10,000 terms people use to describe what they are wanting.
Example of #39;cutting#39; frequencies
However, an experienced engineer knows that the first place to start with EQ is to ‘cut’ frequencies.
The reason for this is that generally modern tracks are very ‘thick’ sounding and there is too much audio data for the amount of sonic space available. Cutting frequencies tends to ‘clean up’ a mix to allow for tracks to live together in harmony instead of fighting each other for space.
Another good practice is to roll off sub-bass frequencies in order to clean up the low end and make room for the Kick Drum or Bass Guitar.
Hi Pass EQ Example
I do this almost always for anything that might have sub-sonic frequencies that do not really need to be there for the track to sound right.
An example would be a vocal track… rarely (if ever) does the voice produce anything that is usable or necessary in that range. So using a ‘Hi Pass’ filter for vocal tracks is very common practice.
Example Background Vocals EQ setting
Finally, when cutting background vocals, it is a good idea to run them through a common group channel and EQ that group channel so that you conserve the amount of processing done by the audio computer and to place the background vocal parts in an area of the mix that does not compete with the lead vocal or backing tracks.
Notice that I have chosen to use both a ‘Hi Pass’ filter and also a ‘Hi Frequency Shelving’ EQ for the background vocals.
This has the effect of making the background vocals sound very ‘airy’ and keeps them out of the way of the lead vocal and other instruments.
The Funkerater
Last Friday I played a gig with Karan Chavis at the Pebble Creek Country Club in Bryan Texas.
Pebble Creek Country Club
The gig was great and I met a bunch of great musicians whom I had never played with before.
After the gig, Karan told me she had a Christmas present for me but she had forgotten to bring it along to the gig. So I followed her and her husband Craig to their home to receive it.
Keep in mind that I have just about everything anyone would ever want when it comes to audio and video production here at my studio, but she assured me that I probably didn’t have this particular piece of gear.
I was curious, so I waited with anticipation as she went into her home and returned with a small thin metal object in her hand.
As she handed it to me I busted out laughing. It was a Funk Logic Funkerator.
Funkerater Algorhythmic Prosecutor
Why would I laugh about this?
Well, ever since 99.999% of all work done on audio and video has been handed to computers, the need for external processing gear has slowly and steadily shrunk to near zero.
This process has had the inevitable result of producing a bunch of blank spaces in the many racks that I have here at the studio. In fact, I have so many blank spaces in my racks now, that I actually make excuses for them.
But now I need not make excuses for at least one of the blank spaces in my racks thanks to Karan.
For those who don’t know, Funk Logic is a company that makes nothing but fancy blank panels. They look really really cool, but do absolutely nothing.
The knobs are labeled as seemingly meaningful names like “The Brady’s” or “Thumb poppin good” or “suck less” or similar. But the knobs do absolutely nothing…
And that’s the cool part!
Now, I don’t have to worry any more about at least one of the many blank spaces in my racks here at Electric LarryLand. I have something that looks cool and covers up all of the miles of wires that I have here.
Thanks Karan!
Four boxes of cassettes with original songs
I’ve been writing songs for most of my life… and when I write songs, I usually record them onto some kind of analog tape. Either reel to reel, cassettes, or micro-cassettes are my choices.
David and I need some more songs for our “Wanderer Awakening” project so I’ve been digging through some of the boxes I have at the studio with tapes that have original songs on them.
Typical Audio Cassette
It’s almost overwhelming the amount of songs that we have to listen to… I guess that is what you get when you’ve been doing this as long as I have.
But it’s been worth it!
There are been some real gems that we’ve found. Most of them, I had totally forgotten about until we pulled them out today… what fun!
The bad news is that my Nakamichi cassette deck died today. So while I was transferring the songs from cassettes onto computer for easier access, the Nakamichi decided that it would no longer work for me.
So my good friend Stan Ginsel came through and is letting me borrow his cassette deck for the rest of the transfers.
Thank you Stan!
David Wilcock is at Electric LarryLand
David Wilcock is here working with me finishing up the Wanderer Awakening project.
We hope to be able to post audio and video podcasts of our work sometime during the next 2 weeks, so be sure and subscribe to our RSS Feed to be notified when we do.
It’s exciting here!
Taking some time off
David has gone back to California and I’m taking a few days off for some much needed rest.
However, I did get to play some guitar for Gary Powell yesterday.
Here is a short video of me and him in the studio:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1052842605805
And some pixes:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41736&l=c7400&id=521064518
Enjoy!
David Wilcock is here (http://www.DivineCosmos.com) recording on our new project
David Wilcock is here working with me as we write, record, and mix our new project “Wanderer Awakening”.
We’re writing new songs, recording vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums, bass… everything necessary to make a national release quality recording.
More to come later.
Larry
SongBirth - 01 - Evolution of a Song
I have been writing and producing songs for over 35 years.
And in all of that time, I have never documented the process.
A few weeks ago I was inspired to setup my video camera and record the process I go through when writing a new song.
My hope is that those of you who watch this might find this entertaining and maybe even educational.
I call it ‘SongBirth’… or Birth of a Song.
For the finished song, visit www.LarrySeyer.com and click on the ‘SongBirth’ link.
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