low cut 75 HZ in mixing

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trumpet_man

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After I mixed my 11 song project, I ran all 11 songs from my recorder through my Mackie mixer into my stand alone recorder to make my master CD. It sounded good, and then I noticed I had the low cut 75 HZ button engaged. Should I re-record my songs without the low cut 75 HZ button off? Does it really make a difference to the ear? Are the frequencies below 75 HZ heard?
 
Some sources; kick drum, bass guitar, tuba etc. would be affected by a cut at 75hz. Frequencies in that range are certainly audible to the human ear, down to around 20hz.

On most other sources it wouldn't make much, if any difference though.
 
I've been starting to use the high-pass filter much more lately...even on kick and bass (especially bass). If it sounds good, keep it....post a clip.
 
I tend to find a fine line between warmth and mud. It really depends on the style of music, I find that metal and such can stand some low cut, while the Rock and Roll stuff I record tends to have something missing. I would suggest you re-record the tracks and listen in other environments.
 
Low cut is good for stage work. That's why the button is there in the first place.
Tracking? I don't think I'd EVER engage it. Unless I had some severe subsonic problem I couldn't fix by changing mic placement. I'd use the EQ instead of the 75hz button since I'd have more control.

Anyhoo....

To the thread starter, get the specs for your board. Find out how the 75hz filter is applied (ie dB slope). Then apply a filter that's the exact same slope, but +x dB instead of -x dB.
That should get you close to what it would have sounded like, you'll probably have a little phase distortion. But that will sound better than no sub-bass in your mix at all.
 
trumpet_man said:
Does it really make a difference to the ear? Are the frequencies below 75 HZ heard?
Click to expand...


Wheather it makes a difference or not is up to the listener. However, the average range of human hearing ranges between 20hz-20khz. You may notice those numbers come up often in audio for that reason. Most humans aren't usually capable of that entire range for a number of reasons. Be that age, hearing damage, years of exposure to loud sounds, race, personal habits (smoking and drinking)...even what you eat can affect your hearing temporarily (the way digestion works on your internal system). It's recommended to eat after a tracking and mixing session.

So by the end of it, you may find yourself listening up to about 15-17khz, which is still alright.

75hz is on the lower end of the spectrum, which would definitely make a noticable difference given the right circumstances.
 
But this is on your final 2-mixes?
Hell yes run it again if there's any low end in there you want to keep.
Question. Why is it going through the mixer at all?

Wayne
 
If it was 40 Hz I'd say it might even help your mix. But 75 Hz seems high - although no one can say for sure until they hear your mixes with and without the roll-off.

I'd reprint at least one of the songs with no HPF, and then A-B the two versions carefully.
 
Why I ran it through the mixer

Mixsit asked why my final mixes were even run through a mixer to begin with. Well, I bought a Korg D3200 a number of months ago and recorded a 11 song project on it. After I mixed it, I burned off a CD on the built-in CDR of my final mixes. I sent it off to be duplicated. A couple of days later the audio tech at the duplication company called to tell me my levels were very low. It never even occurred to me that 0 db on the Korg was actually only about -3 or -4 in the real world. So what I thought was a hot level at 0 db was actually -3 or -4. So I was on the phone to Korg, etc., etc. To make a long story short I had to run my mixes from the Korg unit through my Mackie 1604 into a stand alone CD recorder to get my hottest levels at 0 db. Well, I didn't realize the low cut button was engaged. Anyway, I again ran the whole project through the mixer with the low cut button off and mailed off my new master CD. I'm a little frustrated with Korg. This is just waaaay too quiet for a recorder of supposed high quality.
 
LeeRosario said:
However, the average range of human hearing ranges between 20hz-20khz.
Click to expand...




yes, but more to the point, what is the frequency range of most consumer speakers?


however i do think that 75hz is just a little too high. i do think that a highpass filter can really help clear up a muddy mix. i find anything below about 40hz is generally just low-end rumble that muddies up the mix. of course, i said generally, this isn't always true of everyone situation..
 
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trumpet_man said:
I sent it off to be duplicated. A couple of days later the audio tech at the duplication company called to tell me my levels were very low.
Click to expand...
Obviously a pro mastering job is the ideal but if you can't afford it there should be some 'mastering' effects on the output bus of the Korg. The limiter in particular should be able to bring the level up.
 
Well, that's just it. Yes, I was using the stock mastering compression in the Korg, but 0 db is not really 0 db on it, it's -3 or -4 db. The levels on my meter show it maxed out at 0 db, and yes, the limiter and compressor was engaged, but 0 db is not 0 db. I mean, I had it running hot staying on 0 db consistently. But when I put my CD of the song in another recorder it was only pegging out at -3.
 
MessianicDreams said:
yes, but more to the point, what is the frequency range of most consumer speakers?
Click to expand...


good question and proper point. That's why you hear over and over again that the most important frequencies in a mix are in it's mid range.


So by the end of it, it really depends on the spending habits of a particular culture and all the politics involved with different cultures. But for the most part, mixes will be heard in anything but ideal listening conditions (how we want them to hear it). I think it's safe to say that on a global level.


Also, remember that those things can be planned as well. Hence, mixes mastered only for radio, mixes mastered for DVD, mixes mastered for TV, etc
 
I agree that 75Hz is a little high, but in general I think a low shelf is a good idea for anyone who's mixing environment doesn't allow them to hear the low lows accurately AND isn't sending out for mastering. Better to cut them than to leave a build up down there that you don't even know about.
 
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