Recording

EQ in Mixing: When Less Is More

The Music Telegraph | Text 2025/07/03 [16:29]
Recording

EQ in Mixing: When Less Is More

The Music Telegraph| 입력 : 2025/07/03 [16:29]

 

© Unsplash (photo by Teguh Baskoro)



EQ in Mixing: When Less Is More

  

One of the key characteristics of all good mixes is the ability to hear all the individual elements in the mix. There is real skill involved in achieving this. Perhaps the most important tool used to attain this goal (once the recording has been done) is the equalizer.

 

As valuable as the equalizer is, this tool will not work for you by simply plugging it in. The key to effective EQ work lies in the mixer's ability to listen critically and adjust the EQ's parameters (frequency, gain, and Q (bandwidth)) with purpose and intent. Rather than randomly boosting frequencies to make something louder, experienced mixers often employ a technique called "subtractive EQ", where they cut problematic frequencies first before applying any boosts. This creates more space in the mix and helps prevent frequency masking, where one sound hides or competes with another in the same range.

 

By utilizing both boost and cut, an instrument's tonality can be shaped to better "fit" into a mix—emphasizing the sonic characteristics that make it unique, while reducing the parts that clash with other instruments. For example, rolling off low-end rumble from a vocal track, or taming harshness in a cymbal, can clean up the mix and improve clarity without altering the perceived loudness.

 

Remember, sometimes the problem is too much, rather than not enough. It's easy to assume a sound needs more presence when in fact it's already too dominant in a particular frequency range. Less can often be more with EQ—strategic, minimal adjustments tend to yield better results than extreme corrections. The true art of EQ is knowing what to leave alone, what to subtly sculpt, and how each decision affects the overall balance of the mix.

 

 

< Copyright ⓒ The Music Telegraph :: Prohibit reprinting and redistribution >
The Music Telegraph Another articles
Comment
  • 도배방지 이미지

광고
Most Read
1
Katz Praatz 'Jazz Sketch (ver. 1.4)': A Simple Chord Sequencer for Sketching Music with 744 Jazz Progressions and 168 Tension Chords
2
Review #7 (Digital Audio)
3
EQ in Mixing: When Less Is More
4
A Brief: On-Board Effect Processor in Synthesizers
5
Gate Kick Drum
6
About 'Music Sampling': Legal Basics and Costs
7
Visions TNT Music 'MORPHED 2 - Analog Atmospheres': A Kontakt Instrument for Real-Time Sound Morphing and Unique Sonic Exploration, Crafted from Classic Analog Synths
8
Circle of Fifth (Dorian)
9
Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings
10
Basic Waveforms of Synthesizer: Pulse Wave
광고
Recording (popular articles)
1
EQ in Mixing: When Less Is More
2
Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings
광고
Most Recent
Katz Praatz 'Jazz Sketch (ver. 1.4)': A Simple Chord Sequencer for Sketching Music with 744 Jazz Progressions and 168 Tension Chords
EQ in Mixing: When Less Is More
Visions TNT Music 'MORPHED 2 - Analog Atmospheres': A Kontakt Instrument for Real-Time Sound Morphing and Unique Sonic Exploration, Crafted from Classic Analog Synths
Removing Low-Frequency Rumble from Recordings
Record Label Contacts (30)
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고
광고