Mixer or Software EQ

[TropicAllegro]

Hello,
I have been fairly questionative about this lately,

I have all my mics running into a mixer and then into my soundcard. I then use Cakewalk Home Studio 2002 and am wondering if I should be EQing mostly on the software, mostly on the mixer, or a mix of both ( and if so how much on each one). I also am interested in whether or not to pan on the mixer or in the software.

Thanks for any help.

 

[EleKtriKaz]

Definitely do the panning through the software.

The eq depends on how good your mixer eq sounds versus how whatever software eq your using sounds. Unless you're mixer is really nice, I would go ahead and use the software for both.

There is a difference of opinion on this issue to some extent, but I personally don't like to eq on the way in. I leave that until mixing. Not sure if you were thinking about eqing on the way in or not, but I just thought I would throw that out there.

 

[wesley tanner]

when you're starting off learning what you'll need in the end of a mix, don't touch EQ till you get it in the software...

BUT DON'T BE AFRAID TO TEAR IT APART WITH EQ!

use your low and highpass filters! use shelving! use all sorts of peak/dip EQ, and vary the Q! Go extreme, so you can REALLY recognize what you like/don't like. use a REALLY sharp peak boosted as high as you can, find the good the bad and the ugly. boost the good, leave the bad alone, and cut the really ugly.

 

[MXStudios]

You definitely should be bringing it into your sound card without and processing. Otherwise you lose the flexibility of doing the EQ after it is recorded. Use the software mixer, after it is recorded to make your final mixdown. Also by using the mixer before you record, you could be introducing additional noise.

 

[TropicAllegro]

Thanks guys, is there a way for me to use my mixer as a pre for the mics but cancel out its EQing nobs?

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Set the EQ so that its not cutting or boosting and they are as cancelled out as they can be. Nice mixers have switches that bypass the EQ section, so use that if you have it.

There is one thihg you can use the EQ on your board for, though- low cut. If you are recording an electric guitar, the lowest note it can play is 120hz. If you cut everything below 100hz you aren't touching the sound of the guitar and you are cutting out some crap in the low end that you don't need. Why record it if you're just going to cut it out later?

You were going to cut it out later, weren't you?

Chris

 

[gordone]

You didn't tell us what mixer you have (usually a good thing to mention when asking ?s) but alot have inserts, which can function as direct-outs. This way you can bypass the fader and the eq (which usually would add noise and other nastiness which you may or may not notice) and go directly from the pre-amp to your recorder.

 

[FALKEN]

ahhh!

while eq wont ruin your sound as much as time based effects like phasing or delay, or even compression for that matter, keep in mind that the more you put on, the more 'artifacts' will be created. i would do it on the mixer. if you are going software, I wholeheartedly disagree with the "go overboard" comment. less is more. more is less. if boosting, dont boost more than 3-4 db. when cutting you can pretty much do anything. lowpass and highpass filters are cool too. dont forget that your guitar speaker cannot emit tones above like 15k either so you probably want to cut those too. just sayin'.

do not be afraid to eq on your mixer on the way in.

but then again, why would you do that when you can just move the mics anyway?