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William Hough
July 18, 2013
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Lesson 12 : Introduction to Plug-Ins and Signal Processing, Signal Processing - Frequency Based - EQ
Lesson 13 : Signal processing dynamic based, Compressors - Volume Control
Today we reviewed EQ and Compression plug-ins. On many occasions I have watched Dahl use EQ to enhance tracks of a recording while also using it to cut certain extraneous frequencies out of his mixes. The constant with EQ seems to be cut before you boost, and cut narrow and boost wide. I for one had not fully understood EQ beyond a graphic equalizer till now. I can see how the Parametric and Selectable Equalizers are preferred in the studio. When used properly, EQ can really help a mix come to life for the listener. Knowing where every instrument sits in the frequency band allows an engineer to really bring all the parts of a recording together and give every instrument their own space in the recording.
Compression can really help to focus all the parts of a recording, making them feel glued together. One point I particularly was surprised by was that in relation to the ratio, 1:1, 10:1 or 100:1, one must be mindful that these ratios don't add up when you have multiple layers of compression happening on a given track, they multiply. Say you have a snare drum with a Gate set to 20:1, and a dynamic compressor set at 4:1, then you have that being sent to a bus for compressing all the drum tracks at 4:1. That's 320:1 compression, and you haven't entered the mastering phase yet where most engineers will compress it to at the very least 2:1. That's 640:1!!! That's clipping, well beyond compressing and limiting (which is defined at a ratio of 10:1) That will quite possibly lead your recording to sound like their is no air in it at all. There may even be a noticeable bouncing to the recording. This was very eye opening information for me and will prove to be helpful as I work in the industry.
