Here are some tips on how to successfully EQ vocals:
1. Kill the excess low end
During mixing, the excess low end of everything except for the bass and the kick should be rolled off. This is because too much low end makes vocals sound "thick" and muffled.
The thickness is caused by the fact that during recording, the artist is too close to the microphone. The shorter the distance of the sound source from the recording microphone, the more the bass response of the microphone
The use of a high-pass filter to remove the unwanted low end will make the vocals sound better.
2. Remove problem areas
EQ is best used as a tool to subtract rather than to add. This helps give the EQ a sound that is more natural. EQ cuts are subtle and not as easily detected as an EQ boost. Phasing problems are normally caused by boosting EQ.
A rule of thumb is that anything that is below 140 Hertz should be rolled-off. Should the vocals seem to have a nasal quality then, anything between 2Kz to 5Kz can be cut. Should the vocals seem to sound boxy, then the cut needs to be given to anything between 250Hz to 350Hz. Any vocals that sound 'boomy' need to have anything between 400 to 500 Hz cut. Any boosting should be done for the high-end, maybe around 12 Khz. So, if you have managed to buy beats online, make sure you check it out to see where you may need to cut. Sites like billboardexec.com have a wide variety of beats you can purchase or lease.
3. It is best to EQ before any compression.
The thing about compression is that it tends to make the parts that are quiet louder and the parts that are louder, quieter. This makes it important that any EQ be done before compression as frequencies will get boosted once compression happens.
Low frequencies are full of energy and all that energy will trigger the compressor at levels further than may be desired. That will only cause excess compression.
Rolling off the frequencies before compression will make the compressor behave naturally. This is also important if you buy beats that you use.
There are two special considerations when it comes to vocals and they are sibilance and popping. Those exaggerated high-frequency sounds that are more prominent on the letters "f" and "s," is sibilance. Though sibilance can be minimized during tracking, EQ can make it serious. Sibilance should be handled with a de-esser that has a special setting. Popping sounds should be taken cared of entirely during the tracking. However, if it is too late, a combination of EQ with a high pass filter, volume automation, and compression to solve the problem.
1. Kill the excess low end
During mixing, the excess low end of everything except for the bass and the kick should be rolled off. This is because too much low end makes vocals sound "thick" and muffled.
The thickness is caused by the fact that during recording, the artist is too close to the microphone. The shorter the distance of the sound source from the recording microphone, the more the bass response of the microphone
The use of a high-pass filter to remove the unwanted low end will make the vocals sound better.
2. Remove problem areas
EQ is best used as a tool to subtract rather than to add. This helps give the EQ a sound that is more natural. EQ cuts are subtle and not as easily detected as an EQ boost. Phasing problems are normally caused by boosting EQ.
A rule of thumb is that anything that is below 140 Hertz should be rolled-off. Should the vocals seem to have a nasal quality then, anything between 2Kz to 5Kz can be cut. Should the vocals seem to sound boxy, then the cut needs to be given to anything between 250Hz to 350Hz. Any vocals that sound 'boomy' need to have anything between 400 to 500 Hz cut. Any boosting should be done for the high-end, maybe around 12 Khz. So, if you have managed to buy beats online, make sure you check it out to see where you may need to cut. Sites like billboardexec.com have a wide variety of beats you can purchase or lease.
3. It is best to EQ before any compression.
The thing about compression is that it tends to make the parts that are quiet louder and the parts that are louder, quieter. This makes it important that any EQ be done before compression as frequencies will get boosted once compression happens.
Low frequencies are full of energy and all that energy will trigger the compressor at levels further than may be desired. That will only cause excess compression.
Rolling off the frequencies before compression will make the compressor behave naturally. This is also important if you buy beats that you use.
There are two special considerations when it comes to vocals and they are sibilance and popping. Those exaggerated high-frequency sounds that are more prominent on the letters "f" and "s," is sibilance. Though sibilance can be minimized during tracking, EQ can make it serious. Sibilance should be handled with a de-esser that has a special setting. Popping sounds should be taken cared of entirely during the tracking. However, if it is too late, a combination of EQ with a high pass filter, volume automation, and compression to solve the problem.
