[Tekker]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Where did you come up with these numbers? Did you use a ruler? It sounds like you have a remeditated opinion before going into a mix. I realize that you may just be trying to explain your ideal sound in text form. However, there is a real risk with this premediated stuff (one could even call it prejudice). If you decide how you are going to pan and what EQ you are going to use on vocals before hearing it, then you are using your brain way too much and not your ears.

I think he was just using them as an illustration. Creating a "width" and then move it around in between your speakers. It's usually easier to demonstrate with numbers.

He should be recommending to beginners not to reach for the EQ at all. Instead really work on mic selection and placement to capture the source as intended.

That's great if you have the equipment and the great sounding acousticallly treated rooms to be able to get those sounds exactly like you want when you record... But try taking a $15 Radio Shack mic into the bathroom and get the sound you want with no EQ. Probably not gonna happen.... It probably won't happen with EQ either, but you can get closer.

I've got decent equipment (not great, but not Radio Shack) but my room acoustics are terrible and I can never get the exact sound I want without tweaking it. I do spend a lot of time on mic placement, espeically on vocals. I'll move it in close, try it further back, angle the mic, etc. etc. and it never sounds the way I want it. So hence the need for tweaking.

I've heard recordings on recording message boards where people simply throw up the faders and it sounds awesome, but they are using several thousands of dollars worth of equipment in big open rooms that don't have the issues my cramped little space does. I have also mixed other tracks that was recorded with very nice equipment and mixing it is SOOO much easier.

For me, EQ is only used during mixing because I have to cram a lot of tracks into a dense space. EQ is just there to help make room for everything (usually by thinning instruments out).

That is what the article is describing though. To make room for each instrument by carving out certain frequencies so they don't step on each other. I think you just have to take their charts with a grain of salt. The idea that the vocals have very little below the 2.1KHz range is certainly not accurate.

After that effects come in to play, but be very careful with effects. The stereo images and wideners may make the track seam huge on your monitors but this effect doesn't always translate well. Some mixes will sound completely screwed in your car. Try it. You'll see.

Exactly, and that brings up another topic that you should burn a CD-R and play it on as many sound systems as you can such as studio monitors, stereo speakers, headphones, computer speakers, in your car, and even take it to friends' houses and try it on their systems. The more you listen the better idea you'll have about how it translates to other stereo systems.

-trk