How does male vs female vocal Parametric EQ differ?

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mofat

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My Presonus Studio Channel has 3 parameters with it's own individual gains: Low (20hz - 300hz), mid (200hz-3000hz) and high (2000hz-20,000hz). There's a knob for Q for the Mid. Gains are from -10db to 10db. I know each voice is different but I'm curious to know how they're different so I have an idea of what to do when friends come over to sing. I hate to leave my settings for their voice....wouldn't be fair :D
 
My only suggestion that you should live by was stated by Joe Meek *If it sounds good, It's good*.

That is use your ears they will guide you.
 
It depends on a lot more than if they're male or female. They could be the same or quite different.
 
If you're using a decent mike, you could just run it in flat and worry about eq in mixing.
Presonus has decent pre's. it should sound pretty good.
 
I wouldn't EQ on the way in if you have to ask the question. there is really no reason to.

EQ, just like most things in audio, depends on what the source sounds like. Here is how to EQ something:

1. listen to what you have
2. Visualize what you want it to sound like
3. Set the knobs and buttons on the equipment to make what you have sound like what you want it to.

That's pretty much it.
 
You really can't even start to guess at EQ settings based simply on male or female. My wife, for example, has a voice lower in pitch than the majority of men and sings at the low end of baritone. On the other hand, there are quite a few males singers with relatively high voices.

However, more to the point, you probably don't want to doing too much EQ on the way in. Channel EQ is used mainly in a live situation to correct specific problems as a voice interacts with the PA system. For example, the sort of hairline miking we use in a theatre can make a voice a bit honky/boxy on anything less than a great PA. If so, I may apply some cut in the 4-500Hz range (sometimes, but rarely, going up to 800 Hz).

However, despite having a mixer that gives me 48 channels of 4 band parametric (ALL with Q and frequency adjustment) I rarely, if ever, use them when doing studio recording. I prefer to do any adjustment later, during the mix. If there's a sound I don't like while tracking, I'm more likely to try and fix it through a change of mic placement or placement within the room (or maybe a change of mic).
 
What's the difference between EQ'ing a 5'3" blonde transvestite as opposed to a 6'4" red-haired trans-sexual.?
 
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