Complementary EQ

[HIMbeats]

What is Complementary EQ and how the heck do I use it?

Complementary EQ involves cutting and boosting like frequencies within your track.It is really all about knowing your frequencies and how to properly use them in your song. In short,Complementary EQ means if you boost at one frequency, you should cut out that same frequency elsewhere.

First you should get a hold of a carnegie frequency chart (or something similar). Many books on production come with one or you can simply Google it. Study it and learn your instrument frequencies.

Next, (with help from the chart and your ears) listen for the center of power with that instrument. The center of power or the sweet spot is just the best frequency that instrument is being played at within your track. EQ to taste.

What you want to do is use this technique for instruments that are in the same frequency range. Bass Guitar and Kick Drums. Guitars and Piano. The Bass Guitar and Kick Drum are in the same frequency range and so is the Guitar and Piano. Both of these instruments tend to mask each other in a mix. Complementary EQing will allow both instruments some real estate in your track and clear up your mixes.


Example: Let's say you are working on a track with a piano and a guitar. The piano is a little hard to hear, so you boost it at the 440 Hz because the piano is playing in the key of "A" at a forth octave. Now I want to cut frequency in the guitar because they both share a similar frequency range and this way they both shine in the mix.

Complementary EQing is a great way to carve sonic spaces within your mixes. This along with proper panning (another subject) will open up your mixes and bring them to life.

 

[Step Soprano]

Instead of boosting the frequencies that you cut in other instruments... find the primary frequency in the instrument, and don't boost or cut it... just cut that band in the other instruments. Always better not to boost if you can, unless you need it.

Think of it this way, Cut to make space for other sounds. Boost when you want to change the tone or color the sound.

 

[HIMbeats]

Instead of boosting the frequencies that you cut in other instruments... find the primary frequency in the instrument, and don't boost or cut it... just cut that band in the other instruments. Always better not to boost if you can, unless you need it.

Think of it this way, Cut to make space for other sounds. Boost when you want to change the tone or color the sound.

I would agree Step Soprano....generally speaking it is always,always (did I say always..lol) better to cut rather than boost frequencies if you can. I should have been a little more clear in my post (sorry was running into a session).

In a masking situation you have two instruments sharing the same frequency, one of the two will be affected. If you have ever had a great sounding kick and then you as soon as you introduce bass into the mix the kick sounds lower...that's masking at work. Whichever sound is louder will draw sonic energy way from the sound that shares the same frequency. By boosting one instrument and cutting the other (same frequency), both will become distinct in the mix when done correctly. The key here is that a very small movement (3 db for example) will allow both to become audible fully in the mix.

The EQ is such a great tool so much so that just about every console has one built in right there to use. Of all the audio effects (maybe except the compressor) the equalizer is the most misunderstood and misused effect. It can be used effectively in a number of ways, this is just one of them. I believe masking is a problem for newbies as well as old engineers like myself..lol..and this is a good way to quickly correct the issue and move on to completing the mix for your client.

 

[dacalion]

good ish HIMbeats!