Your oppinions on how to EQ

[Dj Shuflz]

Hey all, i know this seems like a very mundane and simplistic post whicl will no doubt get fired down but reason i ask is i just wanna make sure my approach to EQing is correct. Currently i mix alot of funk and electro, and with the EQing when i bring a track in:
*mids at 0
*bass halfway between negative infinity and 0 as is the treble

as track1 starts to sorta "lessen" i usually bring the treble on track 2 up progressively to 0 as i get closer to where the bassline kicks in on track 2, and as this happens track 1's treble is slowly trimmed down. when bassline on track 2 kicks in i throw the bass on track 2 up to 0 and the bass on track 1 down to halfway between negative infinity and 0 . then i pretty much down fade track 1. i keep everything in phrase. but yeah just interested as to ur opinions on how to make it smoother or wheter wot im doing is completely wrong right (i know theres not necessarily a "right" answer to this just looking for some experienced opinoins).
my mixes sound fairly smooth

[soeda]

From my experience, what you have mentioned above sounds nice and allows for smooth transitions between tracks.

The only problem is you can only do the full trance jesus pose for a limited period as this technique of mixing takes a lot of time. Although when you think about it, the jesus pose is most appropriate during a breakdown aka emotional peak.

So really, the technique above still allows for an appropriate jesus pose, while at the same time allowing for smooth transitions that sound nice to the ear.

[Shifty-Sly]

different tracks, different styles, different types of mixes require different EQ methods IMO

Gotta learn them all or you will never be the Master :ninja:

[seanious]

I say if it sounds good, do it

[Dj Shuflz]

lol whats the jesus pose??, btw u know wen ur in clubs and it seems like they lead in with the bassline of the next song is that just coz of the way the sound is setup in the club?

[The Silver Fox]

wait wait wait... you have to EQ when you dj?

[soeda]

No it is not.

What you have heard is due to mixing the bass first - basically the opposite of what you have mentioned above and often can take longer as the bassline drops some way into the track rather than right at the start.

Which unfortunately means even less time for the jesus pose.

[NORBY]

http://www.rtl.nl/programma/yorinentertainment/components/cd/images/tiesto-concert282x186.jpg

[seth111]

It's all about personal preference! Do what feels right.

[cosmic_seadog]

Wwjd ?

[Garthyboy]

Jesus pose is a pose used for 99% of a trance DJ's set - as seen above

Horses for courses my friends
I usually try to EQ so it sounds good - there's no one approach!

[louislogic]

just keep experimenting with EQ, there is no one systematic way to EQ.

you need to get to the point where you're not thinking "i'm going to do so and so on the EQ this mix" but rather be at the point where you are in the mix and think "i want it this sound" and you start doing that.

thats a shit explanation so I'll use the analogy i always do here - when you're playing mortal kombat 3 you aren't thinking "back back forward high punch" when you shoot an ice ball as subzero, you're just thinking "ice ball" and your fingers just do the movement for you. you need to be like that with the EQ. so keep trying different things and eventually you'l have that confidence and use the EQ different almost every time you mix a track, without even realising it.

[Spitchen]

No rules, just depends on the current track and the next track and what they sound like, what they are doing at the time and how they've been recorded etc.

[seanious]

EQ'ing is good for DIY flanger

[Dj Shuflz]

cheers fellas, and lol @ the pose thats wot i thought it might have been

[pEAkeR_hAT]

Bass at 9,



Bring in Highs,



Sneak the snare in there (mid)



Switch over bass at dorp




4. ?






profit

[seanious]

Bass at 9,



Bring in Highs,



Sneak the snare in there (mid)



Switch over bass at dorp




4. ?






profit

One day I'll work out number 4....

[johnjay]

as track1 starts to sorta "lessen" i usually bring the treble on track 2 up progressively to 0 as i get closer to where the bassline kicks in on track 2, and as this happens track 1's treble is slowly trimmed down. when bassline on track 2 kicks in i throw the bass on track 2 up to 0 and the bass on track 1 down to halfway between negative infinity and 0 . then i pretty much down fade track 1. i keep everything in phrase. but yeah just interested as to ur opinions on how to make it smoother or wheter wot im doing is completely wrong right (i know theres not necessarily a "right" answer to this just looking for some experienced opinoins).
my mixes sound fairly smooth


r u sure you are playing funk?

[khaiyin]

Each to their own as long as it sounds good ;) have someone critique your mixes for another PoV, cos you may have a distorted view of what the mix sounds like since you know the tracks and know what you're trying to do.
I always try to bring in the treble first tho, not many ppl take notice when hi-hats change and there aren't too many variations on it so it's not as notice-able.

[johnjay]

^yeh coz if he mixes funk he really has time to do all those 2 minute mixes

maybe you are playing funkee house and thats why your cuting the bass and bringing in the treble

[Shanley]

different tracks, different styles, different types of mixes require different EQ methods IMO

Gotta learn them all or you will never be the Master :ninja:


couldnt agree more.

[twistedbydesign]

I CUT PROG



bitches

[DJ D one]

Just do as you feel, at the moment...I don't have any set plan, I might first bring in the treble of the coming tune, or I might first switch the bass of the tunes...I might throw some stabs with both bass and treble on... who knows what i am doing next...so long it does not sound shitty..there is no rule...to each his own technics and style...

[Funkedub]

r u sure you are playing funk?


i had my reservations ...


oh yea ... and pretty much ignore all numbers etc mentioned here, simply because the curve on some EQs/mixers is radically different to others.

[miutante]

I generally turn the bass up. Then I leave it up.

[seanious]

I generally turn the bass up. Then I leave it up.

Cause the girls love bass?

[ferretrock]

i had my reservations ...


oh yea ... and pretty much ignore all numbers etc mentioned here, simply because the curve on some EQs/mixers is radically different to others.
Yep. Alot of people are clueless as to how to play my mixer (you have to use levels a little more), because there's only a -16dB cut.
If you put both channel faders up and the bass is only 1/2 cut on each you get a fair mess of sub.

I'm actually more interested to know how many people EQ the song to sound 'right' - ie. make the songs in your set have a similar timbre.
I for one try to, and people have even tried telling me (when they see me play out) to, for example "turn my mids up flat". No, dickhead - I put it there because I think the track sounds better like that, it's actually very intentional that I've got one track with -3dB on the HIs, or another with -6dB on the mids and -3dB on the bass. This is where I particularly like the A&H 4-band, actually.

[macc4]

white people - turn up the treble
black people - turn up the bass

[pEAkeR_hAT]

SRSLY tho, as long as you don't redline your mixer you should be fine.

[slackas]

CUT the midrange
DROP the bass!

[dudu]

white people - turn up the treble
black people - turn up the bass


qft

[Random_Kiwi]

Why not try mixing without EQ'ing, just using the upfaders...some mixers handle this better than others, Pioneers rocket into the red pretty easily, Allen and Heaths love it...so long as your system can handle it too.

Bring new track into 8/10 on the fader
At the 8/16 bar change, depending on how long you're gonna hold the mix, drop old track down, bring new one up so they're both 9/10
Next change, bring old track down to 8/10, new track up the max
Next change should be you end mix point.

Can sound awful if you've picked the wrong tracks, but can sound fucking magic...full bodied, smooth, lush mixes

Hides slight slips better than when you've got bass dialled out too!

[Funkedub]

Bring new track into 8/10 on the fader
At the 8/16 bar change, depending on how long you're gonna hold the mix, drop old track down, bring new one up so they're both 9/10
Next change, bring old track down to 8/10, new track up the max
Next change should be you end mix point.




or even better ... do that with EQing ;)

i was having a mix with some chuggy, loopy, banging techno last night and took great delight in doing some pretty extreme EQing ... hi's up to 10 (after i cut the gain to compensate) and leaving no bass for several bars then dropping it back it.

It's all about what you want to do with the mix as well ... sure, you can flange ... but you can also get busy with the EQs and remix the mix

[Random_Kiwi]

It's all about what you want to do with the mix as well ...


YAH! Love the way a mix can add amplitude, or if done right, can drop in intensity creating a nice tension build

[Peakin Pecan]

i use a mixture of both EQing and upfaders for mixing. i like to focus on the mixing of the bass levels, adjusting the bass levels throughout the mix. i find that i dont touch the highs and mids a great deal, only occasionally...

[JKWITS]

i use a mixture of both EQing and upfaders for mixing. i like to focus on the mixing of the bass levels, adjusting the bass levels throughout the mix. i find that i dont touch the highs and mids a great deal, only occasionally...

I do the same type of thing. I probably don't spend as much times as perhaps I should on eqing.

[Spitchen]

I'm actually more interested to know how many people EQ the song to sound 'right' - ie. make the songs in your set have a similar timbre.

Timbre or tone? Tis pretty hard to make a flute sound like a saxophone using bass, mid, treble eqs. ;)

[Peakin Pecan]

I do the same type of thing. I probably don't spend as much times as perhaps I should on eqing.

if it sounds good, farkin do it i say. more time for aforementioned jesus poses, drink sculling and line esnufflating 8) :corey:

[walkdogz]

Some of you make it sound quite complicated and thought out, which there's nothing wrong with - srsly. For myself I just do whatever sounds right for the two tracks i.e. I'm going with the flow for what sounds good at the time and not pre-empting it. Mortal Kombat analogy was perfect. That is the zen that your EQing needs to reach OP ;)

[pEAkeR_hAT]

Yeah you can pretty much flange effect with the mid anyway, low pass filter with low, "underwater " sound effect by cutting high,


Yeah im stoned , wanna fight about it ?

[ferretrock]

Timbre or tone? Tis pretty hard to make a flute sound like a saxophone using bass, mid, treble eqs. ;)
:whyioughtta: Fair call, but you could actually make a saxaphone sound more like a flute by cutting the trebs a little and maybe boosting the low mids. Less upper harmonics creates an illusion of a simpler waveform = more flutelike, so there! :haha:

Peaker_hat - you make no fucking sense.

[slackas]

Yeah you can pretty much flange effect with the mid anyway, low pass filter with low, "underwater " sound effect by cutting high,


Yeah im stoned , wanna fight about it ?


GRUBSTEP?

[J0rdz]

This is where I particularly like the A&H 4-band, actually.
Agreed. :thumb:

[Funkedub]

Why don't they make more mixers with a sweepable mid ... there's some serious fun to be had right there!

[ferretrock]

^I really wanted to hack away at an old broadcast mixer or somesuch - you know - heaps of clean gain, nice parametric EQs.

[Peakin Pecan]

Music nerds...


i'd be lying if i said i wasnt jealous of ur knowledge, however :P

[truba]

fuck the eq, try to mix without any eq, i mix without any eq, and only use eq for tweaking, doing silly tricks. 5 times eq in a sentence lol