EQ - Mixer or Recording Software?

[Bloodsoaked]

When recording guitar, bass or vocals should I use the EQ on my mixer or in my recording software (Mixcraft) for the best results? If I should use my recording software what should I leave my mixer at for the EQ? Should it be 0 for the Hi, Mid and Low (I think this is called flat) on the mixer?

I have just gotten my Behringer Eurorack UB802 Mixer and I really like it. The only EQ is Hi, Mid and Lo.

Thank you...

 

[Calwood]

Prolly the best answer here is,..use what you got,..when you need it.
If you use your software eq and think that its still a little bit bottom heavy,..then you roll off the low on the mixer and it works,..well,...wallah!

Honestly,..arguably no-one can really answer what you asked. Use what you got and if it works keep doing it,..if it dont try something else.


Take 'er easy,...
Calwood

 

[gecko zzed]

If you only have hi, mid and lo on the desk, then my inclination would be to sue software EQ. This is because it can give a highler level of control. It is possible that a bit of acoustic nastiness in the signal can not be dealt with by the desk because of its EQ limitations.

However, if it turns out that you can in fact deal with it ok on the desk, then go for it. It makes the recording process more pleasant if you can hear a good sound in, rather than putting up with something less pleasant until it is in the system

 

[metalhead28]

Of course microphone placement makes for an even better EQ than either of those!

If you know you need to eq as you are tracking, take a step back and try to get the source right before you do anything else. That includes moving the mic(s) around.

Sometimes moving a mic a half inch makes a huge difference in the tone.

 

[Bloodsoaked]

Of course microphone placement makes for an even better EQ than either of those!

If you know you need to eq as you are tracking, take a step back and try to get the source right before you do anything else. That includes moving the mic(s) around.

Sometimes moving a mic a half inch makes a huge difference in the tone.

Hey Metalhead28,


I have posted three guitar tracks here: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=481840

If you are willing to take a listen and give some feedback that would be great. The three guitar tracks were recorded with one mic into my mixer. I lowered the Lo on the mixer a bit as I was getting allot of low end. I did NOT EQ the guitar tracks at all. Any and all advice would be great.

 

[gummblefish]

im with metalhead on this, you should definetly get the source right before you go to eq. I listened to your tracks, the guitar is fairly muddy witha alot of bottom end on it for my liking, personally i would add some mid, but then its whatever you prefer that makes the difference.
What amp and mic are you using on those tracks? the reason i ask is because to my ear there is not too much difference in your settings on those guitar tracks.

 

[Robert D]

This is a lot like asking which wine is best. EQ is all about flavour, and there are getting to be as many software EQs as there are wine options. Some, like the emulations of Sony Oxford, Pultech, etc. are world class.....and some others are awful. In the middle are some inexpensive, even free ones that sound pretty good. Your ears and your budget have to decide the sound you want, and can afford. I don't think you'll have to go far to get better sounding EQ than the Behringer's.
Then there's the question of EQ' during tracking, vs during mixdown. Most engineers will tell you the EQ to use during tracking is mic placement, and to save any knob tweaking till mixdown. This goes for dynamic processing as well, and is simply because anything you do during recording is permanent, and a good take can be ruined by commiting to a bad EQ up front. The only time to use EQ up front is, in my opinion, when you have a really good hardware EQ and don't want to suffer additional D/A and A/D conversions to use it during mixdown.

 

[Bloodsoaked]

im with metalhead on this, you should definetly get the source right before you go to eq. I listened to your tracks, the guitar is fairly muddy witha alot of bottom end on it for my liking, personally i would add some mid, but then its whatever you prefer that makes the difference.
What amp and mic are you using on those tracks? the reason i ask is because to my ear there is not too much difference in your settings on those guitar tracks.

I have tried to get the bottom end out but i just can not get it right. I am using a Marshall MG Series 250DFX amo and 2 Behringer XM8500 Microphones. The 3 guitar only tracks online were all recorded with the exact same set up. Just different tracks so you could get an idea of the sound.

 

[gummblefish]

yeah i can tell they are recorded on the the same setup, try varying this, also get yourself a shure sm57 mic, usually cant go too far wrong, boost the treble on the amp and move the mic around to find where the sweet spot is, maybe try a mic further away, also raise the amp off the ground, and try it in different rooms, maybe one with a hard floor.