Complimentary EQ

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gargamel
  • Start date Start date
G

Gargamel

New member
I posted an article in the recording technique section. It mentioed Complimentary EQ. Basically if you add eq to one instrument, you should cut the eq of the instrument that lies in a similar frequency range......Has anyone ever heard of this?

ex: kick drum vs. Bass Guitar

Kick: boost 50hz 2db
Bass: cut 50hz 2db

does this make sense?
Will it create better a spatial/openess/airiness to the mix?
 
Yes, I have definatly heard of it. Yes, it does work. No, you do not have to follow it as closely as boosting "X" 3 db @ 80 hz and cutting "Y" 3 db @ 80 hz. The general idea is you don't want your frequencies stepping all over each other. Get them out of each others way using whatever method possible. You might need to cut some of your bass drum even if you don't boost your bass guitar. You might boost one by 4 and cut the other by 2. Very situation dependant. In the case of 2 guitars, you could give the eq room to live by panning them hard left/right. In that case, eq'ing one won't affect the other nearly as much as it would have if they were both center.
 
complimentary EQ makes sense for the same reason that you pan like instruments apart. therefore, not only can you do complimentary EQ on the bass and kick so that they don't stomp on each other, you can also pan them slightly away from center (not too much) to give them room to breath. i'm also finding that it helps the lead vocal (if it's centered) to sit in the mix better as well.

i've been doing the panning in addition to the complimentary EQ (when necessary) of the bass and kick for a few months now and i've got something that sounds great.
 
I think this technique was yet again introduced by Motown, they used it to let the music be louder in respect to the vocals, while still letting the vocal cut through. They did this by subgrouping the offending instruments and applying a cut eq in the middle ranges, so that these instruments didn't step on the vocal any longer. I hope you understood my explanation. :)

I don't know if I remember it correctly, but I think I read this some time ago on www.recordingeq.com/motown/motownb.htm

Hope that helps,

David.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top