What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

[howeguy]

I was experimenting today, and I came up with a really good tone: The Blues Junior's treble and bass were at 0, the mids were maxed out, and on my BOSS GE-7, the two lowest frequencies and two highest frequencies were kept as low as possible. I also maxed out the high mids, and kept one knob of the low frequency and one knob of the treble at neutral. That way, I got this really bright, yet not-harsh-at-all sound.

Would this be a good sound to play with in a band? I can't practice with my band for a long time, and nowadays I'm very careful not to occupy someone else's sonic space.

Before, I would max out my treble on my BJ, and max out the high mids and treble on my GE-7. I don't mic my amp.

EDIT: Here are the exact frequencies that are cut and boosted on the GE-7:

100, 200, 3.2k, 6.4k = -15

400, 1.6k = 0

800 = +15

level = +15

 

[howeguy]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

Isn't 800 the high mid setting on the GE-7? Not 100?

 

[uOpt]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

I think you need to get a Wahwah and listen to Mr. Schenker. Look up "cocked wah".

 

[howeguy]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

Sorry, I forgot about the units. 800 is indeed the mid setting on the GE-7.

And I used to like Schenker...not so much now.

 

[howeguy]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

Don't worry about it. I realized what you meant to say.

Anyway, I am very conscious about the mix of my church band. Like I said, I don't want to invade anyone else's sonic space, and I want us to sound good without blowing the audience's ears off...which is why I might end up micing the amps, to provide a good balance at a reasonable volume.

 

[aleclee]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

In a mix,it's not about boosting/cutting any particular frequencies, it's about each instrument having its own frequency range. The "answer" is emphasize frequencies not used by other instruments and cut frequencies that are used by others.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

Find frequency pockets, and cut any frequencies causing problems.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

I agree with the 1 kHz advice. 1khz is like a magic frequency to make stuff sound much clearer.


BTW, if you have a good arrangement your instruments/vocals will rarely overlap, because each instrument will be working on a particular sonic space. I'm a big believer in slightly modifying an arrangement rather than trying to fix overlap via EQ.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

The room has more to do with your tone than you think. 'Perfect' EQ may be a good starting point, but once you move your amp to another location, be prepared to start all over again. Larger rooms require a larger sound. Long delays turn muddy and indistinct. All those bodies we want to get out to gigs absorb SPL's created a butt tone of ambient noise floor which increases with alcohol consumption, and creates strange comb filtering effects depending on where you are in the space.

 

[dominus]

Re: What frequencies should be boosted and cut to make the mix as clear as possible?

Mix with your ears, not with your eyes.