Hi Pass Filter: on mic while tracking or later when mixing?

[Chris F]

A question I've always wondered about. I record a lot of acoustic instruments and almost always end up using a high pass filter at some point. Some of my mics have them built in (like the RE20 that I use a lot) and I like the sound with the filter engaged. Some others don't (like the older SP B1 I bought years ago that sounds great on upright bass), and with these I usually apply on in the mix as a plugin in Logic.

Is there a real difference? It's convenient to have it on the mic, but is there a compelling reason to filter those frequencies at the mic level when tracking rather than later?

 

[rob aylestone]

Assuming you never want to put back what you already cut, it's fine. The first time you need more of what you cut, you vow to alway record flat from that point on. Which I always do! Live sound is different - then they come in handy.

 

[ashcat_lt]

The big difference is going to be headroom in the input chain. I have a stereo mic on which the switch has been stuck for a decade or more, and it makes it super easy to work with for things like drums and other bass-heavy sources. You just kind of don't have to worry about clipping when things get loud, and contrary to the previous post, I've found that it's pretty easy to just boost the low end back up and have it come out really big and natural.

 

[Chris F]

The idea of headroom in the input chain is one I had not considered, but it is compelling. Just for yucks I turned off th HP filter in Logic on a track I recorded recently and the result was pure mud. I'll plan on making the onboard filter a strong feature to consider when making future mic purchases!