2 videos
@ 6:44
Mix with the Masters
Remove harshness with Notch EQ
Leslie Brathwaite demonstrates how to remove harshness from vocals using the Avid EQ III. He starts by boosting the frequency and narrowing the bell curve to its tightest point, then sweeps across the frequencies to identify the most annoying, harsh sound. Once found, he dips the frequency all the way down to hear what it sounds like without it. From there, he brings the band's gain back up to the point where it reduces the harshness without making the vocals sound hollow, ensuring a balanced and pleasant vocal tone.
@ 9:40
SonicScoop
Add presence with parallel EQ
Instead of a simpler EQ approach, where one would attempt to make a signal more present by either adding high frequencies or cutting low frequencies, Catherine Marks adopts a different method using parallel EQ. She duplicates the dull-sounding drum loop onto a new track, applies EQ there (primarily high-pass filtering), and then blends this modified signal back with the original sound. This technique allows her to brighten the loop, enhance its character and crunchiness, and create space for the body of the live drums, all while preserving some of the warmth from the original loop sound.