Cuttin stuff that isn't there...

  • Thread starter Thread starter brokenwindow
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brokenwindow

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Lets say I have a snare hit or kick drum track that I'm listening to.

Should I cut the freq's that do not change the sound of the instrument.

I mean....Would it make any difference If i use a high pass eq setting on the snare and postion it so it's cutting off just before it actually starts to effect the sound? Like taking away the freq's I can't hear?

Hopefully somebody understood..heh

Thanks....
 
Theoretically, doing that should give the other instruments in your mix more room to breathe.
 
I know that cutting freq's in an instrument that you can hear and don't need...will help, but will cutting freq's where you can't hear any effect do anything?
 
You'd be amazed what 'noise' an instrument makes outside its immediately audible frequency spectrum.

I normally do not cut / shelf unless there is reason for doing so. A reason can be:
- Unwanted ambiant noise (like to much kick in the snare mic, like to much drum in a cymbal mic, to much wind in a hat mic etc)
- Frequency interference with another instrument
- Unwanted low and high noise.

It is a good thing to practise doing things like this to study the effect. That is what will teach you a lot about sounds and frequencies.
Set a day aside, just you and some drum tracks. First do a rough mix of the drums just as they are. Print it as a stereo track and keep it for reference.
Then, take track by track. Like for instance the snare, cut out all the top you think is beyond what is needed, do the same with the low end. Do that for each mic / track, do another mix and compare it to the first one............... etc.
Take from that those things you like, and carry on like that.
Believe it or not, that is the ONLY way to really learn how to mix. Trial and error, time and learning.
 
I agree... I experiment with recording techniques all the time... you hear about something new, you set aside a few hours to try it and check it out....

You stretch your skills that way and as Sjoko pointed out, it's really the only way to learn the craft!

Bruce
 
Also....document your experiments so you don't lose track of the effects of the experiment.

Everything I do is experimental, nothing the same as the day before.

Peace,
Dennis
 
Percussive sounds like drums fill most of the freq range. There's probably not a whole lot you can cut without affecting the sound. On the other-hand, it may be worth affecting the sound to make more room for something else.
 
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