EQ Techniques

[motoscholes]

Hi,

 

I am currently working my way through the MacProVideo Logic tutorials. I think they are absolutely fantastic. I am only new to Logic and have found these video tutorials to be very helpful.

 

 

This is my query....

 

I have recorded a bad vocal of myself. I am now trying to EQ my voice, but I am still finding it hard to distinguish what are problem areas in the frequency spectrum. Are these frequencies adding something to the vocal or should be trying to cut them?

 

Are there any exercises available to improve my EQ Techniques?

 

Since I am not a very good singer and don't like the sound of my voice I be manipulating the vocal with effects.

 

I am curious to know whether the bad characteristics of my vocal add interest to the effects/Plug-Ins or for optimum results it is better to have the vocal EQ properly?

 

Thanks

[ging]

An effective way to to look at it is:

 

cut to fix

 

boost to change

 

 

That's a little simplistic but works really good.

[zaque]

One simple (but effective) way to find problems it to sweep the frequency range on your track.

 

1. Solo your track (or a few of the tracks you're trying to mix but start with one for now)

2. Insert a Logic Parametric EQ (this is a limited pluggin but will make visualizing this easier at first)

3. Drag all the sliders all the way to the right. This will set your gain high, your frequency to 20kHz, and your Q to be very narrow.

4. Next, slowly drag the frequency slider to the left and start listening for problems.

5. As soon as you hear something that sounds "wrong" to you, drag the Gain slider all the way to the left. What you're doing here is carving out "problem frequencies". By narrowing in on a small area with your Q and boosting the gain, you can quickly hear where the frequencies are "bad" when you sweep through.

 

Once you've done this a few times try using the Channel EQ which has much more control and will let you visualize what you're doing. You can do this over and over again. Also, keep in mind that you shouldn't boost or cut by 100% as a rule, this is just a technique to help narrow in on problem areas - once you know the problems you can work with them.

 

Best of luck!

[motoscholes]

Thanks for the reply guys...

 

cut to fix

 

boost to change

 

"hear something that sounds "wrong" to you"

 

This does make sense and will help me with the decision process.