Using your ears - Posted on 2012-02-05 by Chris Bell

One of the things that I've encountered in this tecnological era is that people are using their eyes as much, if not more than their ears to utiize effects, eq...etc. I'll elaborate. Say you are applying an eq on a kick drum using an outboard mixer. The first thing you do is listen, then decide what you'll cut or boost. Today it seems alot of engineers and audiophiles alike (myself included) are mixing in the box. Which is totally great, but I think that eq's and other processing plugins are being looked at visually to determine the appropriate setting. Basically using their eyes more than their ears. I've seen it, theres no wrong or right when it comes to plugins v.s outboard gear, they serve the same function. The difference is that plugins have more of a visual display. Hardware is basically buttons, knobs and meters. I've seen engineers say "I like this curve on a kick" and then do the smiley face. (low boost, mid cut, high boost) It seems that there is less and less people are listening to their choices in processing because the're looking at graphic representations and visual displays. Also relying completely on the visual will make it hard to truely know if you are understanding your processors/eq's. I guess i can conclude this with one thing...Trust your ears and rely on them. they're the most useful tool You havein the studio. you have in the studio your effects/ eq. Your effects or eq. Ill conclude this with just trust your ears, theyre your greatest tool in the studio. your eq or effects and how they work. To conclude this my only advice is to use your ears and trust them. Theyre your greatest tool in the studio. the eq or reverb or whatever you are using. So basycally trust your ears. If you mix in the box, close your eyes and just listen.