Here are some tips and techniques for treating vocal tracks with EQ while mixing.
Most importantly: Every voice is different, and every song is different. That advice bears remembering, even if you've heard it dozens of times. When you find yourself approaching a vocal mix on auto-pilot, applying effects "because they worked last time," consider disabling the EQ altogether to gauge just how badly the adjustments are needed.
Reasons to EQ: The 3 main reasons to filter a vocal with EQ are
1) to help the voice sit better in the mix,
2) to correct a specific problem, and
3) to create a deliberate effect, like "A.M. radio voice."
If you've EQ'd a vocal track for some other reason, be sure the result is improving the mix.
Gentle boosts: The "cut narrow, boost wide" guideline applies to vocals perhaps more than any instrument. Our ears have evolved remarkable sensitivity to the sound of human speech. (Consider how easily we pick up a single conversation in a crowded noisy room.) So we're immediately, instinctively aware when a voice has been processed unnaturally.
High-pass: Most vocals - though of course not all - benefit from a low cut filter. The average fundamental frequency in an adult male voice is 125Hz, and often you can roll off up to 180Hz without affecting the sound. (If your mic or preamp has a low-cut filter, consider engaging it when recording vocals, as most subsonic audio in a vocal track consists of mic-stand noise, breath rumble, popping, and other undesirable sounds.)
Bypass: Especially with high-pass filters, it's easy to remove too much body from a vocal, as our ears adjust so quickly to new sounds when mixing. If your EQ has a bypass option, use it periodically to make sure you haven't gone too far with an adjustment.
Common fixes:
- To reduce a nasal sound, try dipping a few dB around 1kHz, and moving the center frequency slightly up or down to find the most effective point.
- To treat popping P's and T's, cut everything below 80 Hz.
- For a little extra clarity and presence, try gently boosting the "vocal presence range" between 4kHz and 6kHz.
Reasons NOT to EQ: EQ can't make your voice sound like someone else's.
See Also: Better vocals improve your recordings, Great free vocal plugins
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6 comments
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February 10th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Todd
Great tips. I'm not a pro sound engineer, so these specific eq tips will be a huge reference point for me in my home recording adventures. It's amazing how the same vocal source and mic can present different eq and mix challenges from song to song. Again, thanks. This will be a great help!
February 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Matt
If the fundamental frequency is 125, why would we roll off up to 180 ?
I'm not clear on this.
(Your blog is awesome, by the way)
February 11th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
des
Thanks Matt & Todd!
[@Todd] > It's amazing how the same vocal source and mic can present different eq and mix challenges from song to song.
No question! But then, if it was easy, it wouldn't be very much fun :-)
[@Matt] > If the fundamental frequency is 125, why would we roll off up to 180 ?
I could have emphasized the words "average" and "often." As in, the average fundamental frequency is 125Hz, but often you can go all the way up to about 180Hz.
Some voices have more low-frequency energy than others. The key is to recognize that while many male singers never go below 125Hz (roughly low B,) a lot of voices won't get anywhere near that low. And the more low frequencies you remove from a vocal track, the less that track will interfere with the bass instruments.
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
brett
Good Post. I often find that my vocal recordings have a very "nasal" sound, and cutting around 1Hz is a good suggestion. Most of the time this can be corrected by changing how I hold my head while singing… making sure my chin/head is level instead of facing down. This also helps to get rid of the "kermit the frog" effect lol.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Vince
Always a good idea to bypass the EQ and give it a listen for what is really necessary. I know i'm guilty of going with 'what always works' when it may need some tweaks.
Good stuff
February 8th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
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