As you can see, I have assigned a specific frequency range for each instrument in the mix. For example, I would like the kick drum to occupy the very bottom frequency (< 100Hz) and then my Trombone bass line at 100Hz to 300Hz, so on and so forth. If you find it very hard to assign a frequency range of a specific instrument, you can confirm its dominant frequency range using an audio frequency spectrum analysis. Now you have clearly assigned which instrument would occupy that specific frequency what would you do next? The next thing is to EQ each of the instruments in the mix using a parametric equalizer. Low shelf and high shelving filters are also used. Using the frequency assignment chart above as the guide; below are the complete EQ settings for different instruments in the sample mix (the dB cut or boost are example only, in actual scenario you should be using your ears to judge if the setting is enough):
Kick drum:
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 75Hz (improve clarity of kick bass)
High Shelf filter of -9dB starting at 100Hz (reduce masking with trombone bass)
Trombone bass:
Low shelf filter of -9dB starting at 100Hz (reduce masking with kick drum)
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 200Hz (improve trombone bass clarity)
High shelf filter of -6dB starting 300Hz (reduce masking with the rest of instruments with frequency assignment above 300Hz)
Trumpet:
Low shelf filter of -9dB starting at 300Hz (reduce masking with kick drum and trombone bass)
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 450Hz (improve trumpet clarity)
High Shelf filter at -6dB starting at 600Hz (reduce masking with sax, snare, organ, etc.)
Saxophone:
Low shelf filter of -9dB starting at 600Hz (reduce masking with kick drum, trombone bass and trumpet)
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 800Hz (improve saxophone clarity in the mix)
High Shelf filter at -6dB starting at 1000Hz (reduce masking with snare, organ and hi hats.)
Snare:
Low shelf filter of -9dB starting at 1000Hz (reduce masking with instruments below this frequency cut-off)
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 1750Hz (make snare sound clear)
High Shelf filter at -6dB starting at 2500Hz (reduce masking with organ and hi hats.)
Organ:
Low shelf filter of -9dB starting at 2500Hz
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 4000Hz
High Shelf filter at -6dB starting at 7000Hz
Hi-hats/Cymbals
Low shelf filter of -9dB starting at 7000Hz
Boost +3dB Q=1.4 at 12 KHz
About compressing the drums, you can refer to the following tutorials for details:
Compressing snare
Compressing kick
If you have another wind or brass instruments, then you will apply the same concept in resolving the masking issues. Do not use track volume faders to solve masking issues. Instead tweak your EQ by trying to increase or cut the affected dB of those instruments. For example if -6dB cut is not enough, make it -9dB. Or if +3dB boost is not enough, try +6dB on that specific frequency range until maximum clarity is obtained. Use your ears.
Content last updated on June 15, 2012