Recording

Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings

The Music Telegraph | Text 2025/06/19 [15:48]
Recording

Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings

The Music Telegraph| 입력 : 2025/06/19 [15:48]

 

© Unsplash (photo by Lucas Alexander)



Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings

 

Consider the following scenario:

"Somewhere in the middle of a recording session, the building's heating boiler kicked in. Not only did it heat the studio (a good thing), it also introduced a low level, very low frequency signal into the tracks from that time on (a bad thing). How would you go about removing the offensive, non-musical signal using equalization?"

 

Boilers system can emit vibrations in the 20 - 80 Hz range, which can be picked up by sensitive mics or transmitted through stands and floors. This type of rumble can muffle bass instruments and kick drums, add unwanted low-end buildup, or eat up mix headroom. The following steps can help eliminate the rumble:

 

Step 1: Identify the noise

Load a "spectrum analyzer" to locate the frequency range of the rumble, usually below 80 Hz.

 

Step 2: High-Pass Filtering

  • Use an EQ with a high-pass filter, starting around 30 - 40 Hz
  • Adjust upward as needed (up to 80 Hz), especially on vocals or non-bass tracks
  • Set the slope to 12 - 24 dB/octave for an effective roll-off

 

Step 3: Notch out any residual peaks

If a specific hum remains (e.g., at 60 Hz), use a "narrow notch filter" to reduce it without affecting nearby frequencies. Use a tight Q (bandwidth) and sweep the EQ boost across the low end to find the most prominent frequency. Once located, cut that frequency by 6 - 12 dB.

 

 

If EQ alone doesn't resolve the problem, try to use a "multiband compressor" to tame dynamic low-end bursts without affecting higher frequencies. Low-frequency rumble is common, but with the right EQ techniques and tools, you can clean up the noise and keep your recordings clear, no matter what the building systems are doing.

 

 

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