Enhancement Frequencies

All instruments contain a range of various frequencies. Boosting or cutting these will produce a different sounding timbre for any instrument.

Outlined below are tips on equalizing common instrument types to get the best potential sound. Remember that these are only guidelines. Every instrument is unique and has different sound characteristics.

The low cut applies to the low frequencies which are relatively useless for the instrument sound and can be rolled away, if desired, to lighten the mix and free up mix room.

Recommendations

Kick Drum

Kick drum

Tips

  • Boost around 5000 Hz to increase attack
  • Low Cut: None

Frequency Description

50 - 80 Hz
Bottom, boom
100 - 200 Hz
Roundness
250 - 800 Hz
Mud, clarity
2500 - 5000 Hz
Attack

Snare

Snare drum

Tips

  • Cut around 60 - 120 Hz to thin the snare
  • Boost around 5-6000 Hz for a snappy sound
  • Low cut: 80 Hz

Frequency Description

100 - 300 Hz
Fat, full
900 Hz
Boing
5000 Hz
Snap
6000 - 9000 Hz
Presence

Hi-hats

Hi-hats

Tips

  • Cut around 800 Hz if the cymbals sound clangy
  • Boost around 3000 Hz to add brightness
  • Low Cut: 200 Hz

Frequency Description

250 - 500 Hz
Clang, mud
1000 - 5000 Hz
Presence, attack
8000 Hz
Sparkle, Hardness
9000 Hz
Presence
15,000 Hz
Air

Toms

Tom drum

Tips

  • Cut around 100 Hz to eliminate a muddy sound
  • To increase attack, try a small boost around 6000 Hz
  • Low Cut: None

Frequency Description

200 - 400 Hz
Fullness
5000 - 7000 Hz
Attack

Vocal

Microphone

Tips

  • Cut around 100 Hz to eliminate a muddy sound
  • Boost around to 6000 Hz to increase clarity
  • Low cut: 80 Hz

Frequency Description

150 Hz
Fullness
1000 - 5000 Hz
Presence
6000 Hz
Clarity, sibilance
10,000 Hz
Brightness/Air

Violin

Violin

Tips

  • Boost around 6000 Hz to add crunch sound
  • Low cut: 100 Hz

Frequency Description

250 - 500 Hz
Bottom, boom
800 - 1000 Hz
Roundness
5000 Hz
Clarity, sibilance
7000 - 10,000 Hz
Attack
12,000 Hz
Air

Piano

Piano

Tips

  • Cut around 80 Hz to eliminate excess boom
  • Boost around to 4000 Hz to increase the presence

Frequency Description

100 Hz
Bottom
100 - 250 Hz
Body
250 - 1000 Hz
Mud
1000 - 5000 Hz
Presence, honk
10,000 Hz
Brightness

Bass Guitar

Bass guitar

Tips

  • Roll-off around 300 Hz to increase clarity if muddy
  • Boost around to 60 Hz to increase body
  • Low Cut: None

Frequency Description

50 - 80 Hz
Bottom, body
100 - 500 Hz
Fullness, mud
700 Hz
Attack
1000 - 6000 Hz
Presence, pluck

Electric Guitar

Electric guitar

Tips

  • Cut around 100 Hz to increase mix clarity
  • Low Cut: 80 Hz

Frequency Description

150 Hz
Body
300 - 500 Hz
Fullness, mud
1500 - 3000 Hz
Presence
6000 Hz
Brightness

Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic guitar

Tips

  • Boost around 5000 Hz for increased presence
  • Low Cut: 80 Hz

Frequency Description

80 Hz
Bottom
200 - 300 Hz
Body
2000 - 5000 Hz
Brightness
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