Standard Drum EQ

[PhilGood]

OK, but be warned!!

Too much EQ may sound good to you on your system, but the more you apply, the more you risk sound deterioration! Try to keep it as close as possible to the natural sound of the mic or you could alter the sound too much to be natural on all systems that play the track. A couple of dB max!!

 

[punkin]

I have found that the best EQ is no EQ. You are better off trying different mic placements and using good quality mics rather that EQing. We often listen to a mix and try to figure out how the engineer EQ'd the damn thing, when in reality our minds think its EQ'd when its actually just the sound of the mics. You have to remember that mics don't hear the same way as our ears. They create that EQ'd sound all by themselves.

If I add anything, its 4k-6k boost on the kick for attack and 150hz for low end. On snare I'll boost the 2k and 6k ranges, but only a dB or two. On the overheads, I might cut some of the high end so the cymbals aren't harsh. Usually I leave it alone. Same with toms - no EQ.

I agree for the most part...I must be lucky with my setup, mic placement and room...I don't EQ the over-heads at all. I put a light touch of lowpass in my bass drum mics and a touch of high cut to take a little of the cymbals out of the toms but that's it. I find that it was even easier when I was just using two mics. Once in awhile when I get a chance to do some tasty jazz stuff, I go back to a two mic set up on the kit and one omni out front about 8 ft but again without any EQ.