How is it that an 8khz Low Pass filter on my vocal/Ac. Guitar track sounds better?

[junplugged]

I find it a bit odd that it sounds more like a produced recording. I'm just using a Boss SE-50 Equalizer only setting with all else flat.

It was during a test of that unit on a track I did, I was sweeping mids, taking notes and cutting 12dB then -4, +4, and +12 dB from 250hz to 4kHz then I tried the LP filter and my ears said yes, it's less highs, a bit less lively, but sounded maybe, familiar?

It did cut the room sound out, or am I hearing something I've heard before somewhere that my mind is playing a trick like a Diner jukebox or somewhere, some time that I remember having fun? Car FM radio?

Any experts know what's going on here?

 

[junplugged]

Because I've been listening to a POS stereo system for 15 years!! I'm just not used to hearing upper mids and that's where the vocals are and higher. I've been mixing out my own friggin vocals and acoustic guitar for 23 years. Make me a mud pie.

I have to relearn what sounds sound like, it's driving me crazy. The only thing that saved my current mix that I've been working on for 3 weeks is a button called 'bright' on my dAW, I'll post it sometime soon.

 

[junplugged]

The last thing I have to say about this and the first thing I have to say to anyone is monitors monitors monitors monitors monitors monitors....

 

[Ronan]

Cutting all the highs on stuff can sound really nice. Listen to a Daniel Lanois record. Its not too common to low pass vox, but if you have a cheap condesor the high end on those can be really harsh so it tames that. But cutting the highs on things like guitars or keys etc can be really nice because it frees up space in the mix for the cymbals and top of the vox

 

[chessrock]

The highest frequencies are also where you're delving in to the limitations and inaccuracies of a typical 44.1 khz digital sampling rate. Then there's all that filter design, oversampling, dither and noise-shaping stuff.

Your ears could be sensitive to that without your even knowing it. You might have golden ears, dude. Nah.