Can you PLEASE do a video on recording bass DI and how to achieve a balanced tone and a good mix ? I feel like it's one of the most important parts of the process and NO ONE has good videos on it. It's always drums, vox, or guitar......
'stop just believing everything that you see on youtube.... use your ears' this is a good life lesson too: stop being so influenced by the opinion and process of other individuals and use your own senses and judgements to come to your own understanding. I know it's not easy but it's necessary. thank you sir
I love that instead of saying “I’ve literally had hit songs on the radio, I think I would know” (which would be very valid) you said “hm ... maybe I’m the one in the wrong. Here, let’s do science. Nope, I was right.” Well done.
Because the first option just makes you come out as an arrogant individual making use of the appeal to authority fallacy. In other words: "I am more successful than you are and have been doing this longer than you, so I am right and you're wrong."
It's actually pretty simple: if you listen and find that there is too much of something - cut it. If you find that there is too little of something - add it.
I'm so glad you went down "this rabbit hole" and took the time to really explain. One of the things I HATE about TH-cam and many of the folks that preach here is that they almost never create and/or explain the context for their opinions. Too often they don't explain their use case because they are far too myopic. Many young folks are here listening to so-called experts with no life experience; not knowing where their audio journey will land them: theatre, film, radio, TV, video games, music production, musical theatre, FOH, etc. Thanks - Love the vids - Peace
There's a reason your videos are blowing up the way they are - honestly one of the most solid tutorials/walk-through's I've seen in a very long time regarding boosts vs. cuts. Thanks for this and keep it up, Colt!
You NAILED it... There is no one size fits all approach to mixing. The end result is based on whatever the track needs, whether that is cutting or boosting. I love your objective to "use as few moves as possible" , so true! "Keep it simple stupid" or K.I.S.S. is something I've heard many times over.... Well done ~
I've been playing music for 30 years and have heard this debate the whole time. Thank you for putting it so clearly. Your channel is one of my favorites!
First of all, I was one of the comments :D thanks a lot for making this video and putting so much thought into it, it's very sympathetic that you questioned yourself about it after reading all these comments, I definetely feel you lol. I've actually watched a mixing masterclass of Bob Power who said that boosting should mostly be avoided. That's how I came to this believe, which I tested and thought it made sense :D I, too do cut to get rid of annoying frequencies and boost to power up missing ones. But most of the time cutting is enough to me, I just boost some low bass or kick frequencies or the highs to brighten up snares and percussion. What's also important if you boost low frequencies is to cut the just above frequeny a little bit to avoid muddiness in the low end. To me, honestly, the cut version in your video sounded slightly better. If you think about it, there are highpass and lowpass filters and not the other way around like highboost and lowboost filter, right? Would be nice to hear your opinion on it :] Keep up the good work, cyu!
This is eloquently said, "Cut to solve problems and boost to shape tone." Like when you used the MB to cut for de-esser in the last video, solving a problem. An engineering showing other engineers why their beliefs are now just misconceptions. What's so brilliant about this experiment is your results can be tested and verified. If only this was possible in other facets of life there would be much less strife in the world.
It's amazing the parallels I see between our mixing styles. I've been following you for months now and almost every video there's a moment where I go "huh, I do that"
After watching tone of videos about EQ on TH-cam I finally have learned how it works and it’s exactly the way you described in this video. Yesterday I finished my first song, all produced, mixed and mastered by me and I’m pretty happy with the result so I have to thank you Colt, your videos have been so helpful, you are a very understandable person, all your tutorials are extremely clear in the topic you are talking about. Please keep doing this, I’m pretty sure it’s helping a lot of people all around the world.
OMG, I'm crackin' up when it goes perfectly silent! Nice work man! The old adage, if it sounds good, it's good, learn some rules, preactice, paractice, practice, then break the rules, and make it sound great!
okay i knew boosting and cutting should have no difference in theory; but i've never tried phase shift because i'm kinda accustomed to my way of cutting eq. But that perfect silence just gave me weird chills. probably i started mixing with old analogue yamaha console. this man is my god
Don’t know how I found you but watched your mid range video . And it just flipped a switched in my head . Thanks for that bro . Then I watched your mix into your mix bus video . And now this . I’m officially a subscriber. Good stuff man
This is both a great rebuttal to the critical comments, but also a generous and helpful instruction on a pro's approach to eq and mix decisions... Excellent video, Colt!
As a relatively new person to making music, boosting seems less complicated. It's funny, I had pro review a track of mine for feedback and he gave me two youtube videos to watch on EQ, one was the one you made with boosting, the other was a guy that said cutting is the proper way. So naturally, I was confused lmao. Thanks for clearing this up.
As few of moves as possible. Them’s key words. New sub. Thanks for doing the thing and broadcasting it. You’re an inspiration to those of us aspiring to do the thing from home.
You know its crazy. Kush after hours was talking about equing a mix in one of his videos bringing up about how people always try to cut and cut to make space for another instrument when the space is already there, and about how boosting the top end will not just affect the top but also the low. This video just helped make it even more sense. Great content man keep it up
Ya I mean EQ should be used to do changes to the frequency balance, therefore you are going to level match the input and output of your EQs. And as it has been shown in this video, a high shelf boost or a low shelf cut yield the same final result in that regard. What you go for has more to do with your mindset than anything else, ie do you think a track has too much bass or not enough highs?
@@kelainefes They don't yield the same result necessarily... it depends on the EQ you use... do an experiment: boost 10db of 10k on 4 different EQs (and use EQs that model famous EQs, like Neve, API, Pultec, SSL)... you'll hear how different they sound... because as you boost EQ you reveal various unique design aspects of those EQs... cutting doesn't reveal the same things. These different EQs can sound as different as a Fender sounds from a Marshall amp... and those differences become more apparent the more you boost.... but those differences are less apparent when cutting.
@@adamwattsmusic Sorry, I should have specified, my statement is true only for EQs with symmetrical cut and boost curves. I am aware that many EQs are asymmetrical.
@@kelainefes I hear ya... I'm referring more to how when your audio runs through a given EQs circuitry---the tone is getting colored by transformers, capacitors, op amps etc. then, this newly colored tone gets the EQ boost, which then reveals how that color has effected your original track at various frequencies. This is why certain classic gear often has a reputation for being paired with certain instruments... API EQs on guitars... Neve EQs on drums... of course, it's all subjective and based on personal taste... But I'd say it depends on your goal: if you're trying to shape your original tone while retaining it's character--subtractive would be my go-to... but if I'm seeking to reveal things inside the track and color it up, I'd think: additive EQ, then immediately consider what character I want to achieve, then it's "31 flavors" time... and then it's fun to explore how different EQs color the tone... the differences between various EQs can be super-dramatic... and then you get into adding overt harmonic distortion before or after the EQ (with tape, tube or transformer drive simulation) and it gets even more complex... there's so much to it... I've been at it over 25 years and I still find and/or learn new little tricks... #nerd
I made a lot of recordings where I intuitively used boosting but with guilt, because those who knew told me it was wrong. Now I understand that my ears were leading me on the right track. Thank you!!!! Excellent video.
New to your channel. Enjoying your posts. I’m a classical music engineer and I found your eq philosophies all valid. My decision around boosting or cutting involves harmonics and instrument and room resonances. Whenever addressing a problem frequency I will want to confirm that the issue I’m trying to fix could not be better solved by cutting or boasting a harmonic further up the octave. This is all in an effort to be as efficient as possible using the fewest moves needed. Thanks again for your channel.
I used to confused about boost and cut, because a lot of tutorials keep saying they are different. But you phase switch test convinced me, there is no different between two methods, that is mind opening. Thank you Colt!
Loving the scientific approach you apply and the way you explain things. Your mid range vid has already made a big difference to my mixing. Just wanted to say Thanks man, also looking forward to watching your other vids.
Man, love your honesty and transparency about the subject 1000% i agreed...Also tired of the bunch BS online from "experts " , your take was on the money , no rules , what ever it takes to get the result you and your client are after ..God bless bro !! stay safe !! Cheers !!!
i wish so many people will watch this video , super important. also ive learned a lot of stuff that are off topic. theres always more to learn from you , great video
Never seen any of your vids before. Excellent stuff. This is exactly what I have always done and have always thought. It is natural logic to me. Very pleased to hear it from an evident pro. Makes me feel happier about my mixing. Now going to watch your Midrange vid.
This is sooooo good to understand!! Can I use and make this video with Korean language to make many Korean people to understand what you are really talking about? If it's Ok, give me ❤️ please :)
Brah, that is fantastic! Great, data-driven way to make an excellent point. I think one additional reason that people adopt the "only cut" philosophy comes from dealing with PA systems: in that environment, I was always told not to unintentionally overdrive the speakers and possibly damage them. But then: I was a drummer for most of the Nineties and proudly avoided the "knobs and fiddly bits" of rock-n-roll. No longer! Thanks for a great vid! Subscribed.
You will get the exact same phase shift if you cut or boost. I measured in SMAART. If you cut, the phase will shift one way, if you boost it shifts the exact same amount in the opposite direction. The reason it sounds different when you boost then when you cut is because the phase shift on one is earlier then the phase shift on other!!! Kinda fun!
Yo Colt, my last mix-listen in my car was amazing, and it was after taking your advice on the last video with your hints and ideas. I was blown away haha. Thanks for doing the research and experiment to shine even more light on EQ topics.
Awesome video! You remind me a lot of a couple teachers I had back at MI of Hollywood way back in 2006. Been a good decade of busy with work, wife, and now kids and I haven't touched any mixing or writing in over 10 years. Just picked up an apolllo twin and loaded up Luna and was taken back to a lot of fun. Great videos!
Nicely done, Colt. I've been producing and mixing for 25yrs and my simple formula is: Cartoons for cutting; Hardware for boosting. There's a reason an API 550 has a +12dB range... ;)
I think the only potential danger of boosting is if you boost a lot - like 5-10 dB - it'll always sound better, because louder always sounds better. So it might sometimes sound better because the overall sound is louder, not because the tone is better. That said, great idea, with the phase cancellation. Awesome video!
I take the approach of - I got a mixer, I put the manual in the closet and learned how to use it. I got a synth, manual got tossed in closet. I basically do what I want. I think that's so good to experiment for yourself before watching all these types of videos no doubt.
The great thing about mixing is there are multiple ways of getting a good result and what sounds "good' or better is very subjective. Boost when you need to and cut when you need to just follow your instincts.
Great video! I appreciate that you mentioned Phase and headroom as a concern. It just seems that people are taking considerations and making them "rules" and then preaching the misinformation as if they are the experts. I would like to add that the idea also came from the use of passive versus active EQ's and the characteristics that the gain stage had on boosting in some cases, but again that was a "sound" to consider. Also the asymmetrical shapes of some eq curves were a factor in the decision which matches your philosophy on how you cut and boost. Basically, if it sounds good, it is good. Boost/Cut/mold/mangle do what ever, just know what is involved when you do so and what you may be trading off.
WOW thanks man i been always cutting cause my teacher three years ago told me that digital audio is harsh and cuts of at around 16 herts and any friquency above that is digital noice therfore unlike analogue we should cut then gain it back up it reduces the brittle nature of digital audio but you showed me that its the same thing thank you
Appreciate the follow-up! I think the reality is that most frequency energy in music is in that range referenced in the prior video, that's where muddiness and problems come in. I don't think the issue is phase headroom or noise or even BOOST vs CUT, but more about allocating range and pocketing eq and not just reaching for the boost (or cut) to solve everything. That seemed a bit ambiguous in that last video.
I think the best steel man interpretation of the ‘don’t boost’ argument is that boosting=louder=sounds better because louder. Doing it on solo’d elements they might have a point. In context of a mix louder individual elements don’t create that louder/better effect (for me at least.) That initial mid eq video is a super cool way of getting consistency in mixing. Great one 🙏🏻
Boost or cut in a controlled environment like a studio makes sense. No problem there. But in the live world boosting can be problematic. You can’t just boost for that bite, grit or shimmer without reaching the threshold of feedback. I’ve seen plenty of young engineers crank certain frequencies and then wonder why the PA or monitors are feeding back.
someone finally said it :) also, boosting on an analog device (or emulation) can affect harmonics generated depending on the circuit as well definitely. and boosting or cutting creates phase shifts within that frequency in virtually the same way. it's literally just the shape of the phase shifts you're hearing, or the original spectral balance of the original input that gives it a space in the mix
....way back in the day, WHAT ? 48 or 56 channel consoles were in the 1980s ! I'm from way back in the day, I started building gear in 1959 and I was recording in 1961. One (1) track. My Dad was active in the 20s, make that 1920s, he talked about musicians playing into the megaphone, direct to wax, yup REAL wax ! That's old. Nice presentation, Colt ! Bill P.
Cole they hatin bru don't even sweat..yo gear get hotter than that hate. They young and novice. Yeen even have to make this vid you a G.O.A.t I remember seeing you tune in on Pensados Place as soon as you left a comment I left one also. I believe in you big dawg. (Aargggh)Blessings.
I like your channel very much, Colt... your contents are technical and applicable in a fundamental way... It helps me a lot because I'm still struggling to upgrade my sound engineering skill
Love your videos man... Great Great stuff ! Finally... WHAT COMES OUT OF THE SPEAKERS IS ALL WHAT MATTERS ... Right ? You are a pro... and its your... EARS & YEARS !!!! Peace all.... Rezi... Love from Sri Lanka... 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for doing these basic and very valuable videos - these topics should have been addressed as clearly as you have long ago. We all appreciate you doing these. Forces me to clearify my thinking. Here it is: IMO: Less is almost always more. Here is why: I am trying to teach myself to expose the frequencies i like by cutting adjacent frequencies....Why dont I just add amplitude at 3k - wouldnt that be easier? The emotional soul is where? Sure mid range carries most of it. However the soul of the songs in prog metal i like is closer to the bass guitar. Listen with your ears for problems, listen with your heart for soul. Reveal problems: 1) sweep the amplitude accross the entire range - "notch out the problems with parimentric...once those irritating parts are gone 2) listen with your heart - of course most of any song with guitar and vocals is going to be in the mid range - louder often sounds better - how ever - when you expose something by adding - you will cover something else that i probably really like...Why cutting is better: you wont cause yourself problems with going into the yellow if you only cut - if you add - AND you are already ready using all the available clean bandwidth - which you should be - you will have a problem and need to reduce the volumne. of EVERYthing to stay clean.... Summary - the soul and the sound is in the midrange - adding causes 2 problems while cutting does not - therefor if there is no difference as you have proven with your phase shift experiment - then cutting is THE preferred methiod - dont let your ears fool you - louder always sounds better - or does it"?
Dig the the videos Colt... and this one is such a good topic... so controversial! haha. I think the magic really happens when you get specific about why and especially HOW you cut/boost... but especially how you boost. When it comes to boost frequencies... not all boosts are the same! That's why all the plugin companies put so much work into modeling various EQs: they sound different. There's a super fun experiment that can really be paradigm shifting.... pick 4 different EQs and do the same DRASTIC (10db or more) eq boosts on all 4 EQs. I find it especially cool to try with boost in any range above 1k. You'll instantly hear drastic differences in the tonal character of each EQ and they'll be tattoo'd in your "mind's ear"... one will likely be more grainy than the others... one more smooth... another might be really metallic or "ringy"... I've found it super helpful to understand the character of various EQs through exploring what they sound like via this drastic exploration method. Suddenly the pallet of options becomes super clear..... then when I hear a track and start to EQ, I'll reach for the EQ with the CHARACTER I want... rather than just always thinking "I just need some anonymous Xhz turned up (or down)". This would be a GREAT video of its own: Not all EQ is the same!
Oh and... different plugins (especially modeled ones) have a "sound"... do that same boost/cut/phase test thing again, but this time throw a Scheps 1073 on one of the tracks (with no EQ moves).. then flip the phase and hear what tone the modeling is adding... then throw a Puigtec on and do it...
One rule of thumb I use, small cuts to correct problems and keep something sounding similar. Larger boosts to make something sound different. Large boost and cuts are more musical. Small cuts and boosts are more surgical or clinical.
Old School engineers who I grew up around use to say cut before you boost because of TAPE, boosting caused the noise floor to rise so this is where it came from. I remember getting the first DAT recorders which ran at 16 bit 32K or 44.1 and the idea of cutting first died that day. From the moment we went digital with the noise floor below -60 the old saying of cut before you boost faded away. I think that was around 1996. But some teachers still cling to this old school idea because it was drilled into their heads during the tape era. But if you boost a lot with Tape you have to use dramatic Dolby or DBX noise reduction which kills the punch of a song so you had those factors to consider. But in the world of 24 bit audio the noise floor is a non issue if you record at even low levels.
Great topic. If you have two tracks that seem clashing or muddy I generally will cut whichever has more lower/or mid frequencies, and slightly boost the other. By boosting one and cutting the other you add greater separation.
In the days of tape we were boosting highs on the way in and then cut some in the mix to avoid noise........Also when there were not enough eq boost in a channel we were patching it to another one and boost the hell out of it..........So yes cut to solve problems boost to shape sound....
This is awesome. At last somebody who tells it how it is and not follow a bunch of set rules. I always assumed boosting would make something sound better. Really like these videos 👍
I was booting 3k on my fav hat while mixing on iPad. The tone sounded sexy to me but my first thought was ‘oh no you can’t boost’. I automatically turned down the gain and it was perfect. Doing that started to break the rule for me and your video has confirmed what I felt at a gut level. You’ve helped me see it on a technical level so I don’t end up forgetting anything. Cheers man.
i agree with your premise and I like your example! but for the vocal example with the upper mid cut, I was surprised that I preferred the 'boosted' version. dunno why, i assume the volume match was accurate- something about the curve i guess?
I like the video. I believe any cutting or boosting should be in context to what you're trying to acjive in the overall mix. What may sound good soloed may not sound good with the particular mix and visa versa. Just my opinion. I like your real world examples man.
MAGIC IS IN THE MIDRANGE mix tutorial
th-cam.com/video/3PnQWjtMROs/w-d-xo.html
great vid bytheway
"If it sounds good it is good." The best mixing advise out there!
Can you PLEASE do a video on recording bass DI and how to achieve a balanced tone and a good mix ?
I feel like it's one of the most important parts of the process and NO ONE has good videos on it. It's always drums, vox, or guitar......
Good information. I cut and boost most of the time, but are you using mytek converts
@@MrAdrianloera Only because you don't have the musical talent to know what good sounds like.
'stop just believing everything that you see on youtube.... use your ears'
this is a good life lesson too: stop being so influenced by the opinion and process of other individuals and use your own senses and judgements to come to your own understanding. I know it's not easy but it's necessary. thank you sir
My golden tool is my eyes .
Thanks Mr Obvious. I wrote it down
Cut the bad, boost the good.
I love that instead of saying “I’ve literally had hit songs on the radio, I think I would know” (which would be very valid) you said “hm ... maybe I’m the one in the wrong. Here, let’s do science. Nope, I was right.” Well done.
Because the first option just makes you come out as an arrogant individual making use of the appeal to authority fallacy. In other words: "I am more successful than you are and have been doing this longer than you, so I am right and you're wrong."
@@BrunodeSouzaLino no it doesn't. It only bothers certain types of people lol.
It's actually pretty simple: if you listen and find that there is too much of something - cut it. If you find that there is too little of something - add it.
I'm so glad you went down "this rabbit hole" and took the time to really explain. One of the things I HATE about TH-cam and many of the folks that preach here is that they almost never create and/or explain the context for their opinions. Too often they don't explain their use case because they are far too myopic. Many young folks are here listening to so-called experts with no life experience; not knowing where their audio journey will land them: theatre, film, radio, TV, video games, music production, musical theatre, FOH, etc. Thanks - Love the vids - Peace
Since watching you're videos I have began boosting as well as cutting and I was blown back by how much I was able to improve my mix.
You are the only person who is giving new engineers the truth. That's the way I do it, too. Thanks to you...
There's a reason your videos are blowing up the way they are - honestly one of the most solid tutorials/walk-through's I've seen in a very long time regarding boosts vs. cuts. Thanks for this and keep it up, Colt!
You NAILED it... There is no one size fits all approach to mixing. The end result is based on whatever the track needs, whether that is cutting or boosting. I love your objective to "use as few moves as possible" , so true!
"Keep it simple stupid" or K.I.S.S. is something I've heard many times over....
Well done ~
I've been playing music for 30 years and have heard this debate the whole time. Thank you for putting it so clearly. Your channel is one of my favorites!
First of all, I was one of the comments :D thanks a lot for making this video and putting so much thought into it, it's very sympathetic that you questioned yourself about it after reading all these comments, I definetely feel you lol.
I've actually watched a mixing masterclass of Bob Power who said that boosting should mostly be avoided. That's how I came to this believe, which I tested and thought it made sense :D I, too do cut to get rid of annoying frequencies and boost to power up missing ones. But most of the time cutting is enough to me, I just boost some low bass or kick frequencies or the highs to brighten up snares and percussion. What's also important if you boost low frequencies is to cut the just above frequeny a little bit to avoid muddiness in the low end.
To me, honestly, the cut version in your video sounded slightly better. If you think about it, there are highpass and lowpass filters and not the other way around like highboost and lowboost filter, right?
Would be nice to hear your opinion on it :]
Keep up the good work, cyu!
Shelving EQ is the inverse of HPF/LPF...
This is eloquently said, "Cut to solve problems and boost to shape tone." Like when you used the MB to cut for de-esser in the last video, solving a problem. An engineering showing other engineers why their beliefs are now just misconceptions. What's so brilliant about this experiment is your results can be tested and verified. If only this was possible in other facets of life there would be much less strife in the world.
What's MB? Mixbus/MasterBus?
@@SeanHyland Multiband Compressor. Fabfilter Pro-MB specifically in the previous video.
The wave canceling trick is the most genius way of demonstrating this concept.
It's amazing the parallels I see between our mixing styles. I've been following you for months now and almost every video there's a moment where I go "huh, I do that"
After watching tone of videos about EQ on TH-cam I finally have learned how it works and it’s exactly the way you described in this video. Yesterday I finished my first song, all produced, mixed and mastered by me and I’m pretty happy with the result so I have to thank you Colt, your videos have been so helpful, you are a very understandable person, all your tutorials are extremely clear in the topic you are talking about. Please keep doing this, I’m pretty sure it’s helping a lot of people all around the world.
OMG, I'm crackin' up when it goes perfectly silent! Nice work man! The old adage, if it sounds good, it's good, learn some rules, preactice, paractice, practice, then break the rules, and make it sound great!
okay i knew boosting and cutting should have no difference in theory; but i've never tried phase shift because i'm kinda accustomed to my way of cutting eq. But that perfect silence just gave me weird chills. probably i started mixing with old analogue yamaha console. this man is my god
Don’t know how I found you but watched your mid range video . And it just flipped a switched in my head . Thanks for that bro . Then I watched your mix into your mix bus video . And now this . I’m officially a subscriber. Good stuff man
Man... its so great to have you on YT!!!
But I thought TH-cam comments and Wikipedia are basically the same thing? 😳😋
They are. I’ve learned everything I know about life from the comment section
Sup there man! Greetings here from Philippines! love your song covers from our country.
This is both a great rebuttal to the critical comments, but also a generous and helpful instruction on a pro's approach to eq and mix decisions... Excellent video, Colt!
Dude this is the best video I've seen on this!
As a relatively new person to making music, boosting seems less complicated. It's funny, I had pro review a track of mine for feedback and he gave me two youtube videos to watch on EQ, one was the one you made with boosting, the other was a guy that said cutting is the proper way. So naturally, I was confused lmao. Thanks for clearing this up.
Nice video and you are right experimenting is the key 👌🏾 Cut and boost as much as you need to
You are GOLD Colt, I deeply thank you for sharing your knowledge with us 🙏🏼
As few of moves as possible. Them’s key words. New sub. Thanks for doing the thing and broadcasting it. You’re an inspiration to those of us aspiring to do the thing from home.
You know its crazy. Kush after hours was talking about equing a mix in one of his videos bringing up about how people always try to cut and cut to make space for another instrument when the space is already there, and about how boosting the top end will not just affect the top but also the low. This video just helped make it even more sense. Great content man keep it up
Ya I mean EQ should be used to do changes to the frequency balance, therefore you are going to level match the input and output of your EQs.
And as it has been shown in this video, a high shelf boost or a low shelf cut yield the same final result in that regard.
What you go for has more to do with your mindset than anything else, ie do you think a track has too much bass or not enough highs?
@@kelainefes They don't yield the same result necessarily... it depends on the EQ you use... do an experiment: boost 10db of 10k on 4 different EQs (and use EQs that model famous EQs, like Neve, API, Pultec, SSL)... you'll hear how different they sound... because as you boost EQ you reveal various unique design aspects of those EQs... cutting doesn't reveal the same things. These different EQs can sound as different as a Fender sounds from a Marshall amp... and those differences become more apparent the more you boost.... but those differences are less apparent when cutting.
@@adamwattsmusic Sorry, I should have specified, my statement is true only for EQs with symmetrical cut and boost curves.
I am aware that many EQs are asymmetrical.
@@adamwattsmusic I think this deserved to be discussed in the video but was overlooked.
@@kelainefes I hear ya... I'm referring more to how when your audio runs through a given EQs circuitry---the tone is getting colored by transformers, capacitors, op amps etc. then, this newly colored tone gets the EQ boost, which then reveals how that color has effected your original track at various frequencies. This is why certain classic gear often has a reputation for being paired with certain instruments... API EQs on guitars... Neve EQs on drums... of course, it's all subjective and based on personal taste... But I'd say it depends on your goal: if you're trying to shape your original tone while retaining it's character--subtractive would be my go-to... but if I'm seeking to reveal things inside the track and color it up, I'd think: additive EQ, then immediately consider what character I want to achieve, then it's "31 flavors" time... and then it's fun to explore how different EQs color the tone... the differences between various EQs can be super-dramatic... and then you get into adding overt harmonic distortion before or after the EQ (with tape, tube or transformer drive simulation) and it gets even more complex... there's so much to it... I've been at it over 25 years and I still find and/or learn new little tricks... #nerd
I made a lot of recordings where I intuitively used boosting but with guilt, because those who knew told me it was wrong. Now I understand that my ears were leading me on the right track. Thank you!!!! Excellent video.
I appreciate that you open the door wide for different mixing techniques - no gold standard attitude. If it sounds good, it is good.
New to your channel. Enjoying your posts. I’m a classical music engineer and I found your eq philosophies all valid. My decision around boosting or cutting involves harmonics and instrument and room resonances. Whenever addressing a problem frequency I will want to confirm that the issue I’m trying to fix could not be better solved by cutting or boasting a harmonic further up the octave. This is all in an effort to be as efficient as possible using the fewest moves needed. Thanks again for your channel.
I used to confused about boost and cut, because a lot of tutorials keep saying they are different. But you phase switch test convinced me, there is no different between two methods, that is mind opening. Thank you Colt!
Love me a null test LOL! Had a good chuckle, thanks
Loving the scientific approach you apply and the way you explain things. Your mid range vid has already made a big difference to my mixing. Just wanted to say Thanks man, also looking forward to watching your other vids.
Man, love your honesty and transparency about the subject 1000% i agreed...Also tired of the bunch BS online from "experts " , your take was on the money , no rules , what ever it takes to get the result you and your client are after ..God bless bro !! stay safe !! Cheers !!!
i wish so many people will watch this video , super important.
also ive learned a lot of stuff that are off topic.
theres always more to learn from you , great video
Never seen any of your vids before. Excellent stuff. This is exactly what I have always done and have always thought. It is natural logic to me. Very pleased to hear it from an evident pro. Makes me feel happier about my mixing. Now going to watch your Midrange vid.
This is sooooo good to understand!!
Can I use and make this video with Korean language to make many Korean people to understand what you are really talking about?
If it's Ok, give me ❤️ please :)
"I don't hear anything."--Colt Capperune
I laughed out loud.
Brah, that is fantastic! Great, data-driven way to make an excellent point. I think one additional reason that people adopt the "only cut" philosophy comes from dealing with PA systems: in that environment, I was always told not to unintentionally overdrive the speakers and possibly damage them. But then: I was a drummer for most of the Nineties and proudly avoided the "knobs and fiddly bits" of rock-n-roll. No longer!
Thanks for a great vid! Subscribed.
You will get the exact same phase shift if you cut or boost.
I measured in SMAART.
If you cut, the phase will shift one way, if you boost it shifts the exact same amount in the opposite direction. The reason it sounds different when you boost then when you cut is because the phase shift on one is earlier then the phase shift on other!!! Kinda fun!
Yo Colt, my last mix-listen in my car was amazing, and it was after taking your advice on the last video with your hints and ideas. I was blown away haha. Thanks for doing the research and experiment to shine even more light on EQ topics.
Awesome video! You remind me a lot of a couple teachers I had back at MI of Hollywood way back in 2006. Been a good decade of busy with work, wife, and now kids and I haven't touched any mixing or writing in over 10 years. Just picked up an apolllo twin and loaded up Luna and was taken back to a lot of fun. Great videos!
Colt - I am a longtime musician - now trying to learn production. I am thankful for your help! Your videos are great!
Nicely done, Colt. I've been producing and mixing for 25yrs and my simple formula is:
Cartoons for cutting;
Hardware for boosting.
There's a reason an API 550 has a +12dB range... ;)
loving your videos man, learning alot. my take away from this one is "cut problems -boost tone" and to trust my ears. thanks for teaching
I think the only potential danger of boosting is if you boost a lot - like 5-10 dB - it'll always sound better, because louder always sounds better. So it might sometimes sound better because the overall sound is louder, not because the tone is better.
That said, great idea, with the phase cancellation. Awesome video!
I take the approach of - I got a mixer, I put the manual in the closet and learned how to use it. I got a synth, manual got tossed in closet. I basically do what I want. I think that's so good to experiment for yourself before watching all these types of videos no doubt.
Brother your videos are very practical and intelligible. New fan😇😇🙏
THIS IS SO GOOD ! YOU OPENED TO ME A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND WAY TO WORK ON MIXES.
This is amazing. Really nice channel bro, I thought the same when watching your previous video. You nailed that one. Thumbs up !
Some honest and great videos that anyone at any stage of their audio career can understand. Keep 'em coming Colt.
Great videos Colt. Thanks for sharing your tips
The great thing about mixing is there are multiple ways of getting a good result and what sounds "good' or better is very subjective. Boost when you need to and cut when you need to just follow your instincts.
Colt, your color correction has been on point lately! Great info as always.
Great video! I appreciate that you mentioned Phase and headroom as a concern. It just seems that people are taking considerations and making them "rules" and then preaching the misinformation as if they are the experts. I would like to add that the idea also came from the use of passive versus active EQ's and the characteristics that the gain stage had on boosting in some cases, but again that was a "sound" to consider. Also the asymmetrical shapes of some eq curves were a factor in the decision which matches your philosophy on how you cut and boost. Basically, if it sounds good, it is good. Boost/Cut/mold/mangle do what ever, just know what is involved when you do so and what you may be trading off.
honestly since you uploaded the midrange video I got my mixes to sound incredibly better, couldn't thank you enough. Keep it up
WOW thanks man i been always cutting cause my teacher three years ago told me that digital audio is harsh and cuts of at around 16 herts and any friquency above that is digital noice therfore unlike analogue we should cut then gain it back up it reduces the brittle nature of digital audio but you showed me that its the same thing thank you
Appreciate the follow-up! I think the reality is that most frequency energy in music is in that range referenced in the prior video, that's where muddiness and problems come in. I don't think the issue is phase headroom or noise or even BOOST vs CUT, but more about allocating range and pocketing eq and not just reaching for the boost (or cut) to solve everything. That seemed a bit ambiguous in that last video.
I think the best steel man interpretation of the ‘don’t boost’ argument is that boosting=louder=sounds better because louder. Doing it on solo’d elements they might have a point. In context of a mix louder individual elements don’t create that louder/better effect (for me at least.) That initial mid eq video is a super cool way of getting consistency in mixing. Great one 🙏🏻
Boost or cut in a controlled environment like a studio makes sense. No problem there. But in the live world boosting can be problematic. You can’t just boost for that bite, grit or shimmer without reaching the threshold of feedback. I’ve seen plenty of young engineers crank certain frequencies and then wonder why the PA or monitors are feeding back.
Another highly informative video. Great inspiration for my own channel and music production! Thanks, Colt!
Thank you for making it clear about the magic is in the mid range. You opened my mind and my tracks has changed dramatically. I so 😊
Sir that magic mid range video is a game changer. Thanks for sharing the knowledge with us. I hope you become a big on TH-cam very soon ❤️
Niceeee man. I lvoe you for your honesty. I told so many people just use your ears..Does it sound good? yes then its good !!!
someone finally said it :) also, boosting on an analog device (or emulation) can affect harmonics generated depending on the circuit as well definitely. and boosting or cutting creates phase shifts within that frequency in virtually the same way. it's literally just the shape of the phase shifts you're hearing, or the original spectral balance of the original input that gives it a space in the mix
....way back in the day, WHAT ?
48 or 56 channel consoles were in the 1980s !
I'm from way back in the day, I started building gear in 1959 and I was recording in 1961.
One (1) track.
My Dad was active in the 20s, make that 1920s, he talked about musicians playing into the megaphone, direct to wax, yup REAL wax !
That's old.
Nice presentation, Colt !
Bill P.
Totaly agree, a tool can be used in many ways and the "regular" way i not always what you need to get to your goal.
Cole they hatin bru don't even sweat..yo gear get hotter than that hate. They young and novice. Yeen even have to make this vid you a G.O.A.t I remember seeing you tune in on Pensados Place as soon as you left a comment I left one also. I believe in you big dawg. (Aargggh)Blessings.
I like your channel very much, Colt... your contents are technical and applicable in a fundamental way... It helps me a lot because I'm still struggling to upgrade my sound engineering skill
Thank you colt this one reallyyyy helped me get through that idea that I should only cut
Love your videos man... Great Great stuff ! Finally... WHAT COMES OUT OF THE SPEAKERS IS ALL WHAT MATTERS ... Right ?
You are a pro... and its your... EARS & YEARS !!!!
Peace all.... Rezi... Love from Sri Lanka... 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for doing these basic and very valuable videos - these topics should have been addressed as clearly as you have long ago. We all appreciate you doing these. Forces me to clearify my thinking. Here it is: IMO: Less is almost always more. Here is why: I am trying to teach myself to expose the frequencies i like by cutting adjacent frequencies....Why dont I just add amplitude at 3k - wouldnt that be easier?
The emotional soul is where? Sure mid range carries most of it. However the soul of the songs in prog metal i like is closer to the bass guitar. Listen with your ears for problems, listen with your heart for soul. Reveal problems: 1) sweep the amplitude accross the entire range - "notch out the problems with parimentric...once those irritating parts are gone 2) listen with your heart - of course most of any song with guitar and vocals is going to be in the mid range - louder often sounds better - how ever - when you expose something by adding - you will cover something else that i probably really like...Why cutting is better: you wont cause yourself problems with going into the yellow if you only cut - if you add - AND you are already ready using all the available clean bandwidth - which you should be - you will have a problem and need to reduce the volumne. of EVERYthing to stay clean.... Summary - the soul and the sound is in the midrange - adding causes 2 problems while cutting does not - therefor if there is no difference as you have proven with your phase shift experiment - then cutting is THE preferred methiod - dont let your ears fool you - louder always sounds better - or does it"?
very well put together video, well edited, and the content was entertaining and informative, thank you.
Dig the the videos Colt... and this one is such a good topic... so controversial! haha.
I think the magic really happens when you get specific about why and especially HOW you cut/boost... but especially how you boost. When it comes to boost frequencies... not all boosts are the same! That's why all the plugin companies put so much work into modeling various EQs: they sound different. There's a super fun experiment that can really be paradigm shifting.... pick 4 different EQs and do the same DRASTIC (10db or more) eq boosts on all 4 EQs. I find it especially cool to try with boost in any range above 1k. You'll instantly hear drastic differences in the tonal character of each EQ and they'll be tattoo'd in your "mind's ear"... one will likely be more grainy than the others... one more smooth... another might be really metallic or "ringy"... I've found it super helpful to understand the character of various EQs through exploring what they sound like via this drastic exploration method. Suddenly the pallet of options becomes super clear..... then when I hear a track and start to EQ, I'll reach for the EQ with the CHARACTER I want... rather than just always thinking "I just need some anonymous Xhz turned up (or down)". This would be a GREAT video of its own: Not all EQ is the same!
Oh and... different plugins (especially modeled ones) have a "sound"... do that same boost/cut/phase test thing again, but this time throw a Scheps 1073 on one of the tracks (with no EQ moves).. then flip the phase and hear what tone the modeling is adding... then throw a Puigtec on and do it...
Fletcher Munson Curve can explain alot about your method. Great video, bro! Cheers!
I do both :)
great job Colt
Ah, much better video than the previous eq video... great :)
Great video. No more to say. Awesome always enjoy your videos. You always get to the point and always good information.
One rule of thumb I use, small cuts to correct problems and keep something sounding similar. Larger boosts to make something sound different. Large boost and cuts are more musical. Small cuts and boosts are more surgical or clinical.
absolutely agree! I have some presets for room recordings using 3 parametric EQs, 2 for cutting and 1 for overall shaping, works great ;-)
Nice one Colt, some bang on advice!
Old School engineers who I grew up around use to say cut before you boost because of TAPE, boosting caused the noise floor to rise so this is where it came from. I remember getting the first DAT recorders which ran at 16 bit 32K or 44.1 and the idea of cutting first died that day. From the moment we went digital with the noise floor below -60 the old saying of cut before you boost faded away. I think that was around 1996. But some teachers still cling to this old school idea because it was drilled into their heads during the tape era. But if you boost a lot with Tape you have to use dramatic Dolby or DBX noise reduction which kills the punch of a song so you had those factors to consider. But in the world of 24 bit audio the noise floor is a non issue if you record at even low levels.
Great topic.
If you have two tracks that seem clashing or muddy I generally will cut whichever has more lower/or mid frequencies, and slightly boost the other. By boosting one and cutting the other you add greater separation.
Very nice video and well explained! I personally use cutting and boosting for the same scenario you mentionned and I just think it make total sense
In the days of tape we were boosting highs on the way in and then cut some in the mix to avoid noise........Also when there were not enough eq boost in a channel we were patching it to another one and boost the hell out of it..........So yes cut to solve problems boost to shape sound....
Great video, thanks Colt!
wow, great video man. the point here is, do what works for you. Big thumbs up! you are a great contributor to our mixing Community!!!
This is awesome. At last somebody who tells it how it is and not follow a bunch of set rules. I always assumed boosting would make something sound better. Really like these videos 👍
Best Video about it I've ever watched. Good Job!!!!!
That dude literally commented saying your video was bad advice hahaha. Keep up what you're doing my man.
That dude was just asking questions and looking for some clarity.
excellent, thanks for this, I'm happy because I was only doing it like I was feeling it!
I was booting 3k on my fav hat while mixing on iPad. The tone sounded sexy to
me but my first thought was ‘oh no you can’t boost’. I automatically turned down
the gain and it was perfect. Doing that started to break the rule for me and your video
has confirmed what I felt at a gut level. You’ve helped me see it on a technical level
so I don’t end up forgetting anything. Cheers man.
So good bro. Keep these up! I'm takin' notes!
Gems upon gems my friend thank you fr clarifying .!
Great video! Thanks so much!
i agree with your premise and I like your example! but for the vocal example with the upper mid cut, I was surprised that I preferred the 'boosted' version. dunno why, i assume the volume match was accurate- something about the curve i guess?
I like the video. I believe any cutting or boosting should be in context to what you're trying to acjive in the overall mix. What may sound good soloed may not sound good with the particular mix and visa versa. Just my opinion. I like your real world examples man.
Well played, Sir!
MIND BLOWN. LITERALLY... 0 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOOSTING AND CUTTING... I WENT TO COLLEGE FOR THIS BRO... THEY DIDN'T TEACH ME THIS.
Thanks for watching!