Recording w/out E.Q.

[SHEPPARDB.]

Could someone explain to me why this technique is used?
If I turn the E.Q. function on my machine to the off position and record a guitar,and later decide that the guitar track needs E.Q.ing so that it will sit better in the mix,would'nt It be a
mistake to add E.Q.?It is my understanding that you should
always practice subtractive E.Q.ing.
thanks,
sheppard

 

[Freeform]

My take is that you you should always take enough time to get the right sound so you don't have to do too much eq-ing. But I always end up tweaking it while recording to get a better sound, and doing heavy eq changes while mixing

 

[dachay2tnr]

Could someone explain to me why this technique is used?
If I turn the E.Q. function on my machine to the off position and record a guitar,and later decide that the guitar track needs E.Q.ing so that it will sit better in the mix,would'nt It be a
mistake to add E.Q.?It is my understanding that you should
always practice subtractive E.Q.ing.
thanks,
sheppard

I think you have some terminology confused. “Adding” EQ does not necessarily mean “increasing” frequencies. As such, adding EQ is not the opposite of subtractive EQ’ing.

To add EQ simply means to “use” equalization on the material. Subtractive EQ (reducing frequencies) is one of the things you can do with the EQ after it has been added.

The reason for not using EQ while tracking is that it can limit your options afterwards. For ex., if you did a 6db cut at 3K while tracking, and later decided that was the wrong EQ setting for the material, you can not go back and add in the frequencies that you have cut. They have been lost forever.

By waiting until the mixing stage, you retain all the frequencies of the original material, and therefore keep all your options open.

 

[Jblount]

Yeah, EQ is much easier to play around with, after you have recorded a track as close to the way you want it to sound to begin with.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Not only that....

...but the use of EQ - especially EQ circuits on budget gear - degrades the sound quality due to phase irregularities when applying EQ (especially when boosting frequencies).

You'll get best results by practicing minimum signal chain and "getting the sound right at the source" -- vary the mic, the mic pre, the mic placement, the sound source itself before you even consider using EQ to "adjust" the sound.

 

[SHEPPARDB.]

Re: Not only that....

...but the use of EQ - especially EQ circuits on budget gear - degrades the sound quality due to phase irregularities when applying EQ (especially when boosting frequencies).

You'll get best results by practicing minimum signal chain and "getting the sound right at the source" -- vary the mic, the mic pre, the mic placement, the sound source itself before you even consider using EQ to "adjust" the sound.

Blue bear,the thing I am having trouble understanding is this:
if I record a piece of music with out e.q.,and decide to add some later,would'nt I be adding freqs and gain simply by turning the e.q. on?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Not sure I understand your question!

For one thing - EQ doesn't "add" anything, it can increase or decrease the relative level of certain frequencies, but it doesn't add any....

And second, you generally don't put EQ (or any other outboard) in the chain unless it needs to be there anyways!

 

[Tonio]

Re: Re: Not only that....

IMO boosting eq frequencies (depending on how much and what type) can add gain to the track. visa versa can drop the track level.

T

Blue bear,the thing I am having trouble understanding is this:
if I record a piece of music with out e.q.,and decide to add some later,would'nt I be adding freqs and gain simply by turning the e.q. on?

 

[hasbeen]

If you are asking if adding the eq feature on your mixer after it was bypassed during recording will change the sound, the answer should be no...provided that the eq is flat.