EQ TIPS! frequencies

Instrument Cutting Boosting Comments

Human voice

Scratchy at 2 KHz. Nasal at 1 KHz. Popping Ps below 80 Hz. Hot at 8 KHz. Clarity above 3 KHz. Body at 200-400 Hz. Aim for a thinner sound when blending many voices, especially if the backing track is full.

Piano
Tinny at 1-2 KHz. Boomy at 300 Hz. Presence at 5 KHz. Bottom at 100 Hz. Don't add too much bottom when mixing with a full rhythm section.

Electric Guitar
Muddy below 80 Hz. Clarity at 3 KHz. Bottom at 125 Hz.

Acoustic Guitar
Tinny at 2-3 KHz. Boomy at 200 Hz. Sparkle above 5 KHz. Full at 125 Hz.

Electric Bass
Thin at 1 KHz.Boomy at 125 Hz. Growl at 600 Hz. Bottom below 80 Hz. Sound varies greatly depending on the type of bass and brand of strings used.

String Bass
Hollow at 600 Hz. Boomy at 200 Hz. Slap at 2-5 KHz. Bottom below 125 Hz.

Snare Drum
Annoying at 1 KHz. Crisp above 2 KHz. Full at 150-200 Hz. Deep at 80 Hz. Also try adjusting the tightness of the snare wires.

Kick Drum
Floppy at 600 Hz. Boomy below 80 Hz. Slap at 2-5 KHz. Bottom at 60-125 Hz. For most pop music, remove the front head, then put a heavy blanket inside resting against the front head.

Toms
Boomy at 300 Hz. Slap at 2-5 KHz. Bottom at 80- 200 Hz. Tuning and adjusting the head tension makes a huge difference too!

Cymbals, bells, tambourines, etc.
Annoying at 1 KHz. Sparkle above 5 KHz. [Analog only:] Record these instruments at conservative levels, especially at slower tape speeds.

Horns and Strings
Scratchy at 3 KHz. Honky at 1 KHz. Muddy below 120 Hz. Hot at 8-12 KHz. Clarity above 2 KHz. Strings are lush at 400-600 Hz.