EQ during tracking: if, then when?

[patrox247]

About 90% of the time I'll have a Pultec on kick and bass respectively.

[ssaudio]

yup, more often and not, drums and maybe bass, not on much else, though. However, I do make great use of Hi and Low passing during tracking

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by ssaudio

However, I do make great use of Hi and Low passing during tracking

Now that's making a serious commitment.

I'm no authority myself, but I tend to EQ at the tracking stage here and there, although nothing surgical at all. Maybe that's because I don't have any surgical outboard EQ's? I do however have 14 channels of MM61 modules, and they have a 2 band, very broad bell/musical EQ that can work wonders on almost anything.

I guess I almost always end up doing a 2db boost on the Snare @ 5K.

[Sigma]

whats wrong with cutting thru eq? why would you cut flat?

[London_Richie]

Hi,
Dopey question here, but what's tracking? When you talk about applying eq to tracking, do you mean the final mix?

Being self taught, I'm not up on the pro terminology...

Whilst I'm at it - what's the mix bus? I was reading a thread about a plug in - URS control strip Pro, and people mentioned using it on the mix bus...
Does this mean applying it to every audio channel and tweaking it as necessary, or applying it to the main stereo output as an overall analogue sound thing - 'glueing the sound' (I'm learning sort of!)

When I write, I generally add stuff to each channel as I'm going along to get things sounding ok, then go back through and do a final mix, tweaking eq compression etc, and then finally master it on the stereo master output - so im guessing this process includes tracking and mix busses somewhere...

Cheers
Richard

[dubrichie]

Originally Posted by London_Richie

Hi,
Dopey question here, but what's tracking? When you talk about applying eq to tracking, do you mean the final mix?

tracking = recording. so, recording through / with the EQ.

Originally Posted by London_Richie

Whilst I'm at it - what's the mix bus?

the mix buss = the main stereo output, that signal which is comprised of all others "mixed" together.

[London_Richie]

Hey Richie,

I now see the light. You obviously took pity on my name

Cheers,
Richie

[ssaudio]

Originally Posted by Benmrx

Now that's making a serious commitment

Nah, it just saves doing it later. It's just experience, understanding the sounds, mics and what's needed etc...etc...

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by ssaudio

Nah, it just saves doing it later. It's just experience, understanding the sounds, mics and what's needed etc...etc...

Agreedthumbsup

[rainsinvelvet]

I will almost always do some EQing on the kick and snare while tracking. Other things as needed. BUT, I've been tracking to 2" tape and so I'm adding/ cutting more eq than I might normally do..

But, yes.. I have no problem making it sound like a finished record as soon as possible. I HATE leaving things to decide at mix time..

ERic

[AllAboutTone]

I eq kick and bass guitar, the rest is more on the flat side, if needed i do it post.

[insomnio]

I don't like anyone to bring me eq'd tracks to mix. I love to shape my mixes and have all the possibilities opened. So, don't eq while tracking unless you really know what you're doing, and know the productors concept well.
You can do wonders with mics and possitions. There is nothing like the adequate mic.

[patrox247]

Originally Posted by insomnio

I don't like anyone to bring me eq'd tracks to mix. I love to shape my mixes and have all the possibilities opened. So, don't eq while tracking unless you really know what you're doing, and know the productors concept well.
You can do wonders with mics and possitions. There is nothing like the adequate mic.

I agree with this in the case of inexpierienced engineers. A good vet will only make your job easier.

[C_F_H_13]

I always track with EQ. I'm all about commiting to sounds before they hit tape, makes mixing alot easier.

Kick/Snare always get some neve or api console eq, never much though, a couple of db of 10khz or a little boost at 60hz.

Room mics. I always go bananas with eq on these. Top end, low end, and probably a healthy dose of compression.

Bass a little bottom, cut some low mid.

Guitar I don't touch, and rarely do I eq a vocal. If I do it'll be a little top end.


OF course, before I eq I always switch mics, preamps, and all that. Placement is still one of the best eqs.

[u b k]

shelves and wide bells are your friend, think of it less as 'eq'ing' and more as 'tone shaping'.

i just recorded vocals for my latest track with the 120hz hipass engaged on the pre; the engineer was highly suspicious, but it allowed me to get nice and cozy with the 84. it sounds like butta.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[deuc647]

Yeah i always do, people need to start being confident in their skills

[cfdude]

Here is a thread I started. Good stuff! Eq or not while tracking drums?

[macleodgrant]

i only eq some instruments like accoustic guitar and then it's on 1.5dB with a high & low shelf. it's crap listening to too full a sound that's drowning other instruments. you can also identify easier if the part is working or not.

i think for beginner, rather try and get the sound you want by adjusting the mic position but once you're comfortable with that and mixing then start playing with the source but use a good eq

[ssaudio]

Originally Posted by insomnio

I don't like anyone to bring me eq'd tracks to mix. I love to shape my mixes and have all the possibilities opened. So, don't eq while tracking unless you really know what you're doing, and know the productors concept well.
You can do wonders with mics and possitions. There is nothing like the adequate mic.

I agree with what you are saying in principal, but well engineered drums itch the crap taken out (which is all I do) should never be a problem - and never has been for anything I've passed on

[Sinewave]

OT: Hello gents, could some of you be kind enough to list some of the EQ's you use to do surgical or sweeting work and if they are Solid State or Tubes.
Thank you for your time.

[Unclenny]

Hey...if I like the feel that I've dialed in...and it sounds good, I track. Gotta commit sometimes, right?

It is, after all, only music.

[rainsinvelvet]

Originally Posted by insomnio

I don't like anyone to bring me eq'd tracks to mix. I love to shape my mixes and have all the possibilities opened. So, don't eq while tracking unless you really know what you're doing, and know the productors concept well.
You can do wonders with mics and possitions. There is nothing like the adequate mic.

At this point in my personal quest for better sounding recordings I am all about doing whatever it takes to make it sound like I want it to.. I always move mics / change the source/ ect. first but then if I need to add 10db of eq or make an eq look like a topical map to make it jump I will do it !

I have found that the more things that I leave up to mix time the longer it takes me to get to where I want it to go.. Now, while I understand the idea of leaving yourself "outs" I also want the band to be stoked the minute they here playback..

Now, this is just my way of working. everyone is different (obviously)..
I feel like the above quote is a little bit rigid with the "rules" concept but, maybe it wasn't directed at me

ERic

[Sigma]

anyone who can't eq to todays recoding storage mediums would never have made it in analog only days..your tracks would have tons of hiss once you put top end in on the tape out side of the equation.. in the old days it was also better to do the concept of "1/2 in and 1/2 out eq" [not really how it worked but split the extremes] so the comb filtering thru analog eq's didn't get to be too much

[RoundBadge]

Always.using good eq's.
boost,cut,lowpass,hipass..whatever.
Vox seem to get the least until mix.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

Always.using good eq's.
boost,cut,lowpass,hipass..whatever.
Vox seem to get the least until mix.

Exactly the same thing here as well with the exception that vox seem to get the least during mix for me as well.

I might do a little EQ on lead vocals but usually things just start getting strange when I get radical with vocal EQ. I will add a little top EQ to an electric guitar when tracking but keep the R121 up there without a question etc. On a vocal I am much more likely to search for "the mic" for that singer and song over EQ settings... but that is just me.

[ssaudio]

Originally Posted by rainsinvelvet

maybe it wasn't directed at me

I think he was making the point from a mix engineers point of view

I can see it both ways. If I'm going to be mixing, I'll work your way, if the mix is someone else's task, I'll be mindful of that when I track