How to EQ Vocals Like a Pro (5 Fast & Easy Tricks) | - Mix School #2

→ Pro mixer reveals vocal mixing secrets (free ebook): -- 01:16 - Subtractive EQ 04:25 - Stay Below 5dB’s Cut/Boost 06:41 - Use A High Pass Filter 08:42 - Emphasize Clarity 10:21 - Remove Muddiness -- The song used in this video is Let it Rain by Daniel Greenwood () -- After applying these 5 simple steps, your vocals will sound clean and professional. Recording and equalizing vocals in a home studio isn’t easy. A lot of people go over the top when they EQ vocals. The key is to keep it subtle. The human voice is something that we hear every day. We know how it should sound. As soon as you become heavy handed with an equalizer, vocals start to sound unnatural and weird. You have to approach vocal processing with care, and in this video I will show you how to EQ vocals the right way. Subscribe: Facebook: Twitter: Website: Music from Daniel Greenwood: The Mix Starts in the Recording Phase Decide on the sound and tone that you want to achieve before you start recording. Want a warmer sound? Use a dynamic microphone and get close (2-5 inches). Want a clear, open sound? Use a large diaphragm condenser and take a step back (5-10 inches). You can’t change the tone of a vocal recording in the mixing phase. The sound of the vocal is decided when you record it! So make sure you spend plenty of time on mic choice, room choice, mic setup and room treatment. More on recording technique and DIY acoustic treatment in this free short course. Now, here are 5 tips for when you EQ vocals. #1 – Cut before you boost This applies to EQ’ing in general. For example, if you want the vocals to sound warmer, cut the highs (maybe 6-10kHz) rather than boosting the lows. You should always cut to make something sound better, and boost to make something sound different. So cut away any odd room resonances, and then cut any elements of the voice that you don’t like (more on that in a second). Then boost later to give your vocal a slightly different character if that’s what you want to do! It’s always good practice to apply your cuts before compression and your boosts after. #2 – Never boost or cut more than 5dB If you have a tendency to be heavy handed with vocal EQ, this is a great way to keep yourself in check. This is just a guideline, to keep your vocals sounding natural. Never boost or cut by more than 5dB. #3 – Cut everything below 100Hz Most voices are centered between 120-250Hz (depending if you’re male or female). This means that, in most cases, everything below 100Hz is rumble and noise. Cut it, and be done with it! (Unless you have a male vocalist with an extremely low voice.) #4 – A wide, gentle boost between 2-6kHz can improve clarity If your vocal recording sounds muffled or a bit too warm, try applying a wide boost of 2-3dB between 2kHz and 6kHz. Make sure you do this after the compressor though, not before! On the flip side, if the vocals sounds harsh or brittle, try reducing these frequencies. #5 – Remove the mud Muddiness is one of the biggest issues in most mixes. Especially when we have the typical band set up of several guitars and a vocalist. Most of these instruments are centered around 250-350Hz, so we soon get a build up of frequencies in this area. Try a cut of 3-5dB around 300Hz (move it around a bit until you find a sweet spot). This will only work on vocals that already sound full. If the vocal sounds thin, cutting around 300Hz will only make it sound worse! If you have a muddy mix but the vocals can’t afford to lose anything around 300Hz, cut the other instruments around this frequency instead. One last tip… Don’t forget that if it sounds good, it is good. These are some good guidelines and tips to get you started. But the most important thing is to experiment and trust your ears. -- More info on the different types of microphone here: More info on how to EQ vocals here: