Frequency Spectrum Graph in Final Mixes

[wictu6]

Hey everyone.

Recently, I took a mix that sounds very finished and easy to listen to and "scoped" it with an EQ spectrum analyzer. The analyzer graph indicated an almost perfectly flat, even level across all frequencies (other than a pretty steep rolloff under 40 and above 18k-ish).

I am curious how common a practice this kind of EQing is, to keep an almost perfectly flat level across the entire spectrum, or if it is a native 'trick' stemming from this particular ME's sleeve.

Any comments or feedback would be appreciated, thanks.

[fondone]

wow amazing discusion topic...

Id love to see pics.

[KFMG]

This should be what you are trying to achieve when you mix. An even balance across the frequency spectrum. No special tricks, just a well balanced mix.

[NorseHorse]

Originally Posted by KFMG

This should be what you are trying to achieve when you mix.

Definitely disagree. Different genres have different sonic footprints.

[KFMG]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Definitely disagree. Different genres have different sonic footprints.

You are absolutly correct, different genres definitely have different sonic footprints. What I should have said is that what the original poster witnessed is not necessarily uncommon, not a trick, and not magic. A seemingly flat response may be typical for the given genre.

What he may want to do is compare the spectrums of songs in a particular genre.

[Darius van H]

Who care how it looks on a spectrum analyzer, it's how it sounds that counts.

Less looking, more listening.

[The MPCist]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

Who care how it looks on a spectrum analyzer, it's how it sounds that counts.

Less looking, more listening.

thumbsup

[macc]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

Who care how it looks on a spectrum analyzer, it's how it sounds that counts.

Less looking, more listening.

I was going to say exactly that... but with more expletives.

thumbsup

[RyanC]

I agree with less looking more listening,

But it can also be very useful to reference something that is mostly flat, on YOUR mix, and then work from there. For me it speeds things up a lot.

On that note what did you scope it with? Were you looking at aggregate for the entire track, or it was just generally flat during live analysis?

[NorseHorse]

Originally Posted by darius van h

less looking, more listening.

that's what she said!

[wictu6]

Originally Posted by RyanC

I agree with less looking more listening,

But it can also be very useful to reference something that is mostly flat, on YOUR mix, and then work from there. For me it speeds things up a lot.

On that note what did you scope it with? Were you looking at aggregate for the entire track, or it was just generally flat during live analysis?

generally flat during live playback.

My intention was never to replace careful listening with the graph, I was just trying to get a feel for an unfamiliar room/monitor setup..... make sure of my surroundings so to speak, and happened to notice the flat-ness.