Tips for EQing? (Song included)

[Det_Nosnip]

So, I've written a song and run the MIDI through softsynths (VSTs) in Sonar 6 through Cakewalk's TTS-1 general MIDI VST. The sound is pretty decent as far as artifical instruments go, but the mix could use some work. Specifically, I'm trying to bring the strings (two violins, a cello, and a viola) forward a bit in the mix and give them more seperation and audibility. At the moment, the strings, particularly the cello and viola, are being buried by the guitars, erasing some of the cool little counterpoints and harmonies that I've written for them. I would also like to bring the bass guitar out a little more. I've thought of cutting the high end on the guitars, but I'm worried about what this will do to the leads, as most of them dominate in the mid/upper range.

Here's the track:

http://media.putfile.com/Desolation-94

[ares]

I think that the drums are much to loud in the mix, and they tend to overwhelm some of the other instruments. Try using a compressor on the bass to help even it out, but don't over do it and crank it's volume up too much, though it's almost perfect as is. Don't EQ the bass at all, it has a nice low-mid punch already.

you also might want to cut the upper highs on the drums a teensy bit. This would help get rid of the super over produced midi sound. When people make drum samples they enhance the crap out of them rather than just leave them be, usually resulting in an unnaturally clean sounding sample. By reducing highs, you give it a bit more of a low-fi sound.

i wouldn't do anything to the guitars other than maybe give them a little more separation. As for the strings, just bring them up in the mix a little. They just seem really quiet.

[Det_Nosnip]

Hmm...turning the high end down on the drums definitetly helped! The toms in particular sound alot better. It'd be nice to see if I could split the parts up and keep the high end on the cymbals.

[Det_Nosnip]

Played with it a bit...I think it sounds alot better!

http://media.putfile.com/Desolation-94

[TravisBarkerrules]

You think you could make it so we could download it and Ill see what I can do then tell you.

[The Chemist]

Not so much EQ as Multi-Band compression.

[Eliminator]

You can download it from putfile..

[Det_Nosnip]

Chemist: Multi-Band compression? :confused:

Eliminator: yep...

I pretty much solved the strings issue by panning the guitars away from the center...right now the only complaints I have about the recording are that the guitars still sound a tad synthy, a few of the lead/breaks aren't loud enough, and the acoustic is a bit TOO loud.

[shayne_122]

Chemist: Multi-Band compression? :confused:



A multi-band compressor compresses certain frequency ranges, as opposed to entire waveforms... which allows instrumental presence to be adjusted quite nicely.


in Sonar 6:
effects -> sonitus:fx -> multiband

[Moseph]

Some free VST multi-band compressors:

GMulti by GVST
BuzzRizerLight by Trifex
GeneComp3 by buzzroom

[Det_Nosnip]

A multi-band compressor compresses certain frequency ranges, as opposed to entire waveforms... which allows instrumental presence to be adjusted quite nicely.


in Sonar 6:
effects -> sonitus:fx -> multiband

Oh, nice...that sounds interesting. I'll have a go at it...thanks for the explanation!