Instrument Frequency Output

Golden Rules

• It is the harmonics that give each individual instrument its character, or timbre, and sets it apart from all the rest
• Boosting a sound around its fundamental frequencies will promote warmth, depth, and place it in front of the mix. In contrast, decreasing the fundamentals will promote a cold, thin sound which will be pushed back in the mix
• Boosting a sound around its harmonics gives the impression of more presence, brightness, and air. In contrast, decreasing the harmonics generally gives a dull, less dazzling impression
• The human ear is more sensitive at the midrange frequencies, where speech and voice communication occur. As a result, very small energy changes in the midrange frequencies cause much more noticeable effects than do larger changes in the very low and/or very high-frequency ranges.