Ableton Forum

Hi everybody !


This is probably a stupid question but I didn't figure out how to do that !
I wan't to do proper equalization to avoid some frequencies to be overcrowded in the final mix. However, is there a tool in live 7 which does a frequency analysis and tells you when a frequency band is overcrowded ?

spectrum

Thanks man ! Actually I tried to use spectrum as well but it just tells you which frequencies are used, not which ones are "overcrowded", i.e you don't have a green-yellow-red part like in the VU-metter, do you ?

you're supposed to put the spectrum device on each instrument and the combined output of the instruments. raise your resolution to 81xx samples or whatever on everything and check it!

schcope from stillwell audio is a bit more accurate and WAY more zoomable. i use it on EVERyTHING

Ok thanks a lot ! So basically,I have to check every instrument frequency range over time, and make sure that instruments ranges don't overlap, and if they do, Iuse equalizer to remove a freq range, that's it ?

Sorry for the silly questions but I'm a real beginner in this topic !

dinaiz wrote:Ok thanks a lot ! So basically,I have to check every instrument frequency range over time, and make sure that instruments ranges don't overlap, and if they do, Iuse equalizer to remove a freq range, that's it ?

Sorry for the silly questions but I'm a real beginner in this topic !

Yes, and then with experience you no longer look at it but you go by sound.

Cheers Aussiemate !!!
And can frequency ranges overlap a little bit or not at all ?

theres no way to tell if a frequency is overcrowded. all the computer see's when the sound comes out is the spectrum.

you have to use spectrum on all the instruments and make sure that you don't have to many running in the same range.


you can have more than on instrument in a frequency, BUT be carefull. if they are both going balls out, they will deffinatly blend together.

you can also try side chaining a filter or a compressor so that when one isntrument in a frequency is playing, it can kick a less important one back.

That's really interesting, thanks to all !

Last question : is it a good idea to high-pass all the instrument except bass and drums, so the drums and the bass have all the low frequencies, or is it totally stupid ?

I tried but I'm not very convinced by the results. Now I don't know if it's because I didn't do it correctly or because it's not a good idea.

My idea is to add some punch to the song by leaving the really low frequencies (around 60 Hz) to the bass drum, then around 100 hz, to the bass and the rest (above 200 ?) to the other instruments.

It really depends on the instruments and the mix, sometimes its nicer to leave them in.

I almost always find its better to deal with problems of heavy frequency overlap at the source. i.e. using different mics/synth settings before EQ. Helps if you try to get sounds that work from the start. e.g. with drum kits you can spend hours with eq and compressors or just find the right sample.

In terms of kick loudness sidechaining is your friend!

Thanks again for all your tips ! I guess now, I have to keep tring until I love the sound ! One million thanks for all this precious advice

I think that volume modulation over the course of an arrangement can be a good complement to careful EQing. To be specific, lowering the volume of elements to make room for more important elements at that point in your song. I like when music is dynamic in terms of its instrument volumes.

I just found a great site about mixing/mastering. Most of you probably know it already, but I think it's worth mentioning for people who beggin in the world of home production

http://www.tweakheadz.com/

Great tutorials, and it's all free.