EQ during mastering

[Anaon]

Hi everyone!

I need some advices about EQ for mastering. Actually, I'm quite satisfied with my mixes (alternative/prog rock style) but when I do my "homemade" mastering (just a light amout of comp and limiter), I feel that my mix sounds different and that I could add some EQ to brings back some air, and make it brighter.

Could you recommend me some EQ plugins that works well for mastering (transparent or not) and some advices about EQ settings (I'm not talking about presets, don't get me wrong but more about which frequencies I have to work with).

Thank you

 

[iqi616]

I can't help with plug-in recommendations but I can speak to the EQ.

Talking about frequencies isn't much beyond presets because it depends on the source material. You have to use your ears.

First thing is to get select some good reference CDs. These should have been mastered by professionals in the best mastering suites.

Second is to have a CD player going through a volume control. Even better is to rip WAVs to your DAW and make sure they have a volume control that is separate from the volume control for your work. This is important because you need to adjust the reference to be the same loudness as your work.

Now you have to switch back and forth between references and your work and listen carefully. Your ears will tell you where you need to work. Then sweep the filter bands to find those frequencies that you need to cut or push (cutting being preferable to boosting).

If all is well with the original mix, you'll find that only 0.5 or 1 dB of cut or boost are required to make the required enhancements. If you find that you're going further than that, question what you're doing so you're sure it's the right thing to do.

Note that the aim is not to replicate the references. The aim is to make your work sound "right" in comparison to them. You will find that switching back and forth between your work and the references you will develop the ability to hear better what is wrong.