Action Steps:
- Watch the video above
- Figure out which EQ plugins or hardware units you have available.
- Pick a set of multitracks (one song that includes different types of instruments / vocals) or, ideally, a full rough mix that's already balanced for the upcoming exercise. Remove all EQ plugins, if there are any in the session.
- Add a frequency analyzer to your master output.
- Do a round of clean-up EQ to get rid of any resonances, unwanted frequencies, rumble, harshness, or other problems. Remove anything that just sounds bad, even without context.
- Do another round of clean-up EQ. This time focus on parts that are clashing with other elements in the arrangement. Make space for the important things, remove everything that's not serving the song. Context is everything here.
- Do a round of sweetening-EQ, boosting the good stuff and enhancing your tracks. Try different tools for that and make notes about what you like or don't like about the different EQs you have and how they behave.
- Pick a reference song and setup a reference system in your DAW that allows you to toggle between your mix and a reference quickly and seamlessly. Use a plugin like Metric A/B or just import the reference track into your DAW and come up with a way of quickly switching back and forth.
- Compare the different parts of the spectrum in your mix with those in the reference. What's going on in the low end? How about the the lower midrange? The midrange? The upper mids? The top end? You get the idea. Then listen to the song as a whole. Anything completely different about the overall, broad frequency balance? What exactly? Any narrow resonances/peaks in one of the mixes? If so, good or bad? Use your analyzer to help you figure those things out.
- Adjust your EQ moves, clean-up, separation, clarity, and overall frequency balance based on your reference, but don't try to copy it! Your mix and song are unique! Only adjust things that are really off and need fixing. Always serve your song!
- Double check and A/B your decisions to make sure you've made things better with every move.
- Add any favorite EQ plugins to your template(s).
- If you want our feedback, please upload your results and let us know through the coaching portal.
- If you have any questions about this Playbook, please comment below!