What held my mixes back for years was the “don’t do more or less than 3-4db.” Then I watch some of the pros compress, and they’re pinning the needle. And they’re also boosting and cutting by 10db. Haha the moment I started just going to the point where it sounded good and not worrying about how much or little I was pushing something, that’s when I started hearing improvement in my mixes. I love that we live in an age where information is so easily accessible, but it’s also hard to sift through all the horrible advice. Haha glad I clicked on this video! Cheers!

@ProducerJosh

4 күн бұрын

I’ve heard so many crazy “rules” but you’re right! Pros do whatever SOUNDS best, not what looks best. EQ has to be extreme to hear it sometimes. Especially to the average listener. Compression can be a little tricky I think. Mainly master buss stuff. But vocals? For sure. I’m going ham to get the vocal sounding lush. 8 db of compression on a 1176 sometimes. Whatever works for the vocalist. Glad to hear you’re finding what’s working for you! Appreciate you watching!

@elreyabeja4539

4 күн бұрын

Right? All this BS about "always cut, never boost" and you see a AAA mix engineer's screen and they are boosting the everloving hell out of anything they want. The only rule is that there are no rules!

@ProducerJosh

4 күн бұрын

Exactly! The track I used in this video needed 10db of high boost and then some. That goes against a lot of rules haha

@JamieR

4 күн бұрын

​​​​@@elreyabeja4539 couldnt agree more! There are no rules, only guidelines. Learning to close the eyes and listen to change is so crucial. What we see vs what we hear does usually not match, as what we expect based on what we see will alter our perception.

@alchemistrpm82

3 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJoshthe irony to me is when people cut every frequency but the one they want to stand out, then increase gain or fader to sit in the mix, the net result is the same as having boosted.

It's not the digital EQs fault that people these days are to inexperienced/ to impatient to gather enough experience before calling themselves producers/mixing engineers. Digital EQ can do everything and more than an Analogue EQ. You just have to put the proper ear training in to no longer fear the graph and trust your ears more than your eyes. Edit: Don't get me wrong, btw. I still agree with almost everything said in the video. Great job.

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

For sure, it’s not the plugins fault. I just hope to inform people that need the info to start training their ears more. Actively listening seems simple enough but it can be tricky ignoring the screens. I definitely use a mix of digital style EQs and analog or emulations at this point Thanks for watching!

I’ve tried to use graphic EQs but I could never get used to them. I prefer knobs, I call them “yes or no knobs”. Make a move and it works or it doesn’t and do that til it works. My favorite tool right now is the SSL channel strip with the UC1 controller. Not having the ability to get overly surgical with an EQ has taught me how to use other methods to handle resonance and problem frequencies and it’s made my mixes quicker and all around better.

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

That controller looks great! I’ve wanted to get something for a while to control with hardware but just haven’t picked something. Yeah I only use api graphic EQs. They have a classic sounds, but knobs on most everything else haha

Im amateur but I always had that idea that the more you need to put plugins and weird EQ builds, etc. = worse sound. What I mean is that how important is sound selection and the key is that you always should put the less neccesary tools to your audio, because if you NEED to put a lot of compressors and eq and etc, etc. It means the audio itself is bad. So thats the wrong start. AND always trust your ears not ur eyes, you are making MUSIC

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

I do think if you start finding that you’re putting a ton of plugins on a single track, there is something wrong at the source. But there are cases where maybe you didn’t record and you have to get crafty. I try to do as little as possible to get the best sound because things can get funky if you’re not careful

@reverend11-dmeow89

Күн бұрын

not to mention analog gear's intrinsic noise floor get a buttload of it piled on top of each other, totally absent working in the digital domain. But aliasing in the digital domain is definitely not your friend.

I think the tip about not boosting more than 3db is to make things sound more natural not "better".

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

I can maybe see that. I just think with varying sound source, it’s hard to place a hard number. I didn’t record the acoustic in this video as an example of what you can receive. If I recorded it, I probably wouldn’t have to boost much at all.

u made my day !! :)

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

great video! beginner engineers will have wild EQ curves, pros have subtle broad ones. only do extreme cuts to remove extreme resonances

@ProducerJosh

4 күн бұрын

I remember going ham with the EQ when I first started. But it’s true! Broad strokes are really what you can hear. That’s the true shaping. Extreme stuff isn’t as common for me. Gets phasey too

@still616

4 күн бұрын

This is an interesting one. My EQ of choice is the Pro Q3. I really like the visual. It has been a very helpful learning tool for me to understand a shelf vs. a bell and how the Q affects the curve. You can also visually confirm where the problem areas are that you are hearing. I do agree that we should use our ears as that is what is most important, but I do think that there is a place for both styles of eq. Maybe I'm ready to start using the SSL channel now that I understand these things a bit better, but for a while it will feel like flying blind which is contrary to the point. Lol

@CreativeMindsAudio

4 күн бұрын

​@@still616 all about knowing your tool and knowing which is best for the song or mix issue.

@ProducerJosh

4 күн бұрын

I pretty much always use PRO Q 3 at this point. But I think mainly in the learning stage it can be useful to just fly blind. By now I can just hear where the trouble areas are and just fly around Pro Q to quickly work, but thats after years of practice. Also with the SSL strip or any analog style eq, it’s kind of like using a console. Getting the main stuff right first and just using pro q for subtle fixes and such. Could be a fun experiment if you haven’t tried it!

@still616

4 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh I will give it a try on the next one! To your point, maybe I'll find that I get the finish line faster and focus less on the small stuff that doesn't move the needle.

One of the best things you can do for EQ training is just try guessing which frequency needs adjusted, even if you make the wrong choices at first you will get the idea and before you know it you will start knowing exactly which knob or band to reach for.

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

That’s really what it’s all about. Guessing and listening. With any Eq you really just boost and sweep around to find the annoying stuff. Good points!

good thing somebody is making these videos, beginners def need them, especially with guys on youtube basically saying "every eq is the same, at least in the digital domain" which is not false ofc, however completely ignoring the fact making music should be fun, and mixing shouldn't be a surgery operation but a fine tuning part which needs good ear before anything else

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

I’m all about having fun with the mix. I’ve seen some videos that absolutely make mixing like a surgical operation. Doing 30 thing to fight a little snare bleed seems excessive to me. Realistically I want to find ways to do things fast, easy, and that get me results so I’m still having fun in a mix. Fine tuning totally happens but like a painting should be saved till the end. I appreciate your comment!

Most of the EQ plug-ins I use don't have a spectrum display. I like the BlueTubes EQ series. There are three, one is a Pultec clone which is cool, another is kind of like a Pultec except it has three bands, each with a switchable mid-point frequency and just a cut/boost. All as knobs. The third one is a midrange specific EQ, although I don't use that one so much. When you need to EQ, you need to EQ of course, although less is better, as having one of those crazy spiky curves can really mess with the transient response.

@ProducerJosh

14 сағат бұрын

Haven’t tried those yet. They looks cool! I use the UAD Pultec a lot, the different models and such. And the waves api graphic eq too. I try not to get all crazy with my pro q 3.

This topic is why I love Source Audio's EQ2, as a pedal it is all by ear. And the Neural app I can use as training wheels on those same graphs/curves, comparing 'what i think is going on' with what acoustical physics are happening.. Too many follks in this arena do not understand how to 'read' frequency response charts at all. Their mind forgets that octaves means those charts/graphs are not linear in the X-plane. I heard one set of folk that truly do not 'get' this at all. The Solfeggio videos will tell you to add or subtract a set nbumber of cycles-per-second in their gola to retune any given song to follow the 'magic' frequencies, not knowing the higher the freuency the further away from their goal. but no explaining will get through.

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

That looks like a cool pedal! I still rock my mxr in the video. When you say neural do you mean neural dsp? Or a different app? Ive seen a couple EQs that give you pitch reference in the chart for EQing based on key. But im not sure how many people get that scientific these days. Interesting how we decided on the frequencies we use currently!

The biggest destroyer of my productions was not the fact that there are digital EQ ' s with a precision analog hardware cannot match, not the fact that there are very precise spectral tools, unmasking etc. But how I used them, how bad they influenced my composition decisions, so you never get a decent sounding result. Now mix just on the basis of volume panning first, and after that stage I start eq and compression.All the tools are great, there are certainly physics rules (but no recipes) and no matter what, there is no " can do the impossible" tool. Generally, just mixing volume panning first, then EQ, dynamics etc revealed much better and it forces to look at composition

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

This is a great comment. I do think volume and panning are a great way to start. And to follow up on your beginning statement. I think that’s my point of this. Is you can have all these crazy tools but they might make you think you gotta do all this crazy stuff at first without realizing when you actually need it. Starting out with the basics is a great way to go. To me it’s like any tool. Of course I want a full setup of all the tools I could ever need. But that’s just for when a random problem arises and you can find the right thing to fix a certain problem. One tools doesn’t fit all and all the tools don’t need to fit in the one project. Appreciate your comment!

@timepainter6831

3 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh yes, this video made a good point. On my channel there are a lot of mockups. And on my older channel I was really in the begin. With mock ups it starts with time, but the main reason things go wrong are then twofold. I bought a new machine and I have to use it. But with these frequency duckers, precise EQ as a total beginner a few years ago...it starts with composition. Beethoven didn't had an EQ, but he wrote compositions deaf. And especially for home producers, with all these synths, with all these tools, you start to forget...there have been hours of me trying to do the impossible...deaf Beethoven would laugh...

I started engineering in the early nineties. I learnt to mix on budget consoles and bad monitors. I will always appreciate good analogue gear. However. Digital stuff can be equally good in getting things done. I agree, do not mix with your eyes, but if people use the tool in a wrong way, it is not the tool that is wrong. Also, there is no EQ rule. 3db, cut only, boost with wide shelf and cut with narrow one - that is all just bunch of bull (that btw pre-dates digital gear and internet, because I heard it too). Just exercise critical listening, learn basic tools like eq and compression and it will matter not if you are using stock plugin or 300 quid worth of analog emulation (or 20,000 quid real thing).

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Good points here! Critical listening is a great word for this whole situation. Learning how to critically listen is so important. What kind of music were you working on in the 90s? That was a great era!

@earlsfield

3 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh Great era indeed. As my own project I worked on electronic music, inspired by lots of 80s and 90s stuff (Bristol, house, jungle, Warp etc). Akai Sampler, DX7, Roland JV1080, Jupiter 6, simple mixer and 8 track tape recorder, sequencing on Atari. Had 24 channel Mackie mixer, outboard was Alesis Quadraverb and Alesis 3630 (and 3632 lol) .However, I was also super lucky to score studio assistant job in a decent studio very early, and became recording engineer (I never changed profession since, grew my studio, learnt production etc.) - I worked on all kinds of stuff really, anything that was booked, lots of live bands of all genres, and this diversity was great education - like, how do you learn to mic the horn section for the first time till you actually get horns in the studio? Picked up a lots of great stuff about miking, recording, tracking, comping etc. It was a good era indeed, for so many reasons (well the first one was I was young:).

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Hands on learning really is the best. I had a lot of just figuring stuff out in my career at the beginning. It really made it easier to learn faster. Sounds like a fun time for you musically! Happy you got to experience that kind of thing too.

@earlsfield

3 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh Oh man everything was trial and error for me. No manuals back then no internet. The little I was shown I would practice and build upon, fix the mistake and hope it doesn't happen during the session "at work". Most of the people around me (except the studio owner who got me the gig) never wanted to share as it was "livelihood". I have a different view on these things - I ve made a living from music production for 30 years now and I would do it all over again. I used to teach audio engineering at institutes etc, so I support what you are doing!

@ProducerJosh

2 күн бұрын

I appreciate you sharing some of your background! It can be a hidden world for sure but it’s definitely blossomed on the teaching side. I see so much more than I did when I first started out. I really had no other option than figuring it out on my own. Thanks for the support!

When i boost 10 db on my 3 band chambord eq on 2k it sounds great, When i do it in the plugin it sounds thin and brittle. don't know why.

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

Just depends on the EQ really. I do think analog has some smoothness and magic. But I’m starting to find plugins that give me that seem feel. Every curve and design is different

Digital EQ don't suck, the way you use them might.

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

That’s kind of the point of the video. It’s learning how to utilize EQ in general, so when you open up a fancy digital EQ you can use it with ease.

Why did you have to push that far? Are you not recording in a controlled room with the right equipment? Are you recording in the bathroom with a potato smartphone?

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

I didn’t record this acoustic, but I found it and thought it would be a great example for how drastic you might have to EQ sometimes. Focusing on how it really should be about whatever it takes to sound right.

My go to EQ is the brainworx digital v3 as far as a digital version…..only because it saves me so much time when looking for the sound I wanna cut or boost but I also enjoy the Linear phase EQ outta Logic Pro…..if I wanna turn knobs I really like the Harrison 32 plug it seems to boost and cut at the same time.

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Sounds like some good choices. I definitely miss some of the features in logic. They have really transformed it since I used it.

Hi, I’m working in Protools studio, is there are reason why I can’t bypass inserts? I’ve always had this problem, I would have to delete the insert just to by pass.

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

I just read up on this. I think bypass isn’t an option but inactive is? I was making the hardware insert “inactive” I think the keyboard command is control+command clicking on it. Should Grey it out

@Ilikethatmusic_typebeats

3 күн бұрын

Oh, that's what I've been doing wrong, lol. Thanks a lot! You're also making me want to set up my Trident 500 series and Eurekas again. However, I need to invest in a Ferrofish because all my compressors are using the six inserts I have available on my Clarett+. I also connected my 40Pro via light pipe, but the loose ADAT port is causing issues.

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Trident makes some good stuff! Haven’t heard the Eureka in a while! Sounds like you have an interesting setup. What compressors do you have hooked up? I know the Adat issue, seems like a lot of those ports are never tight enough!

@Ilikethatmusic_typebeats

3 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh Yea the trident is very clean, the eureka to me has a SSL type of sound, one of them I picked up was modify so the preamp is nice and compressor is great for tracking. I’m also waiting on the heritage audio HA73Eq to add harmonics to my TLM103 then chain it to the Golden age 2A which has a tube.. I have Distressor, DBX160, 2A and on my 2bus I place the AudioScape Bus Comp also Heritage Audio SYMPH .

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Heritage audio makes some of the best neve style pieces In my opinion. Can’t go wrong with em! Been curious about audioscape. You have some great gear!

Lit ♥

This is why I use Acustica Audio and Mainly Nebula EQ's mainly Surge which is the Live analog sampled GML Studio Mastering EQ

First, all plugins are digital EQs, only interface is different. Second, it's not a fault of curve interfaces that some people have strange ideas about what kind of curves to create. Nothing prevents you from using your ears when you create curves. Once that is out of the way, curve based EQs are actually better GUI design in every objectively measured way.

@ProducerJosh

2 күн бұрын

Sure all plugins are digital technically. But some emulate what an analog EQ curve is doing as opposed to a more linear digital pro q style plugin where you make the curve. But in reality it’s all just EQ yes and it’s how you use it

Yeah EQing with your eyes instead of your ears....thats a really bad Idea....I agree....I like Purple, White and Sand 4 by Acustica Audio and the Nebula GML or the Pulsar Audio 8200 GML those are pretty much my Go To...I use Kirchoff to find a Frequency and then still use one of my Gotos to acuatilly do the equing

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Been trying out the purple compressor plugin. Liking it so far. Sounds like some interesting choices, haven’t used a couple of these!

I’ve never understood some of these internet “rules” either. If you get a track with a frequency area that is deficient by 9dB somewhere, then what will a max 3dB boost get you? Same thing with compression. I usually track vocals through an 1176 into an LA2A and each of them might be doing 8-10dB GR at certain moments.

@ProducerJosh

4 күн бұрын

Same on the compression. I’ve used 4 compressors on a vocal chain once. With plenty of gain reduction and it sounds awesome! Only cutting frequencies is funny to me too. Because you’ll end up having to gain up the track anyways, so what does it really prevent? Why have a knob that goes up and down 🤔

@mirkomarkovic3438

2 күн бұрын

Had a vocal chain consisting of 1176-LA2a-Sta Level. 1176 doing -20db, LA2a doing -10db and Sta Level doing -40db. Sounded awesome and not overcompressed.

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

@@mirkomarkovic3438 I really want to use a real sta level. Love the plugin I use for it

@mirkomarkovic3438

Күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh which plugin do you use? 'Cause i have the arturia one and that's shit haha

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

@@mirkomarkovic3438 haha that’s the one I’ve been using. I’m noticing it cuts a bit of too high end off. Do you have any others you know are good?

Digital EQs are often criticized because many users lack the expertise to use them effectively. Audio engineers, however, can utilize them proficiently. Musicians often prefer one-knob analog EQs, viewing them as musical instruments rather than repair tools, and prioritizing warmth and distortion. This preference can be amusing.

@ProducerJosh

2 күн бұрын

I would say most audio engineers and producers are musicians of some sort. But both sides use both styles. Really just preference. Before computers audio engineers used consoles. Some do have the warmth debate of analog style. But to me it’s more of what workflow do you prefer.

Listening on 1.75

At the end of the day, everything is digitized..... so what

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

This is really more of a method for learning how to EQ by hearing when starting out, rather than a digital vs analog thing.

@truthseeker630

Күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh Yes, point taken as well.

*versus

But they won a lot of Grammys using what you call “sucks”😂

@MexManny

2 күн бұрын

if you cant afford hardware just say so pal

@tangtang510

2 күн бұрын

@@MexManny oh break ur heart? 😂😂😂😂

@tangtang510

2 күн бұрын

@@MexManny BTW hardware dude where’s ur Grammys? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@mongobeni4992

2 сағат бұрын

They won because they are talented. With good skills you Can achieve every thing

So, it seems like the title of the video is clickbait, and the real title should be "mix with your ears, not your eyes". It has nothing to do with digital vs. analog, not sure why you even brought that into the discussion.

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

Kind of just rolled with this title and it did well so I went with it. The algorithm can be tough! But I do mention in the beginning it’s not really an analog vs digital type thing. You could infer I’m saying analog style eq (real or emulated) is better to learn on. Appreciate the comment nonetheless

Yo what's that background noise? And too much a formant on the mic bro :)

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

I fought some camera electric noise if you mean that sneaking in. Not sure what ya mean by formant on the mic though 🤷‍♂️

@ProducerJosh

Күн бұрын

Ahh I usually associate it with pitch software. Not used to the phonetic definition. Thanks 🙏

@reverend11-dmeow89

Күн бұрын

If I paraphrase this toward, "The fancy frequency response curves are great, if one KNOWS the science, the math, what exponential means tears their brain up. Otherwise, it is every one for themselves what each individual has boiled their limited understanding down to, borrowing words they know nothing of. Education today is why 99% of today's 'music' has no guts, no body, no flourish, no filigree, no verdigris, no edge

Sorry way to slow for me to get to the point man... Digital Eqs do tons more than analog man... Get real!!!! HAHAH Just kidding but seriously I never used my eyes .... I know for a fact I can find an issue frequency with Fab Filter or any other brand that has similar features... Then the dynamic EQ controls certain other problem things so YEAH... ANALOG SUCKS to me... Why pay 10,000 dollars for some Boutique EQ when you can do the exact same thing with Pro Q 3 and Saturn 2?

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Haha I’m definitely finding my pacing with videos. But don’t get me wrong I love using pro q 3! I just think when people are learning they can be quick to throw 20 points of eq onto something when in reality you might just need a high shelf and a tiny cut here and there! It’s more so the concept of analog gear. Not that you need to buy a fancy hardware gear. But understanding how useful it can be to not have a display telling you where to eq. Love Saturn too btw!

@JamesJones-th3ml

3 күн бұрын

@@ProducerJosh Thats cool I just thought Id give ya a hard time HAHAHA I always do on here HHAHAHAH Keep jammin!

@ProducerJosh

3 күн бұрын

Rock on dude haha 🤘

@timepainter6831

3 күн бұрын

@@JamesJones-th3ml Since I started working hybrid my question converted to, why put so much much effort in all these digital EQ and saturation if by the turning of some knobs on my hardware units I have all the saturation, balance I need? I know I'm somewhere a hypocrite. There's also another thing people tend to look over, analog gear is much more forgiving, and when you mixdown, do tracking or even master you'll attain benefits that don't exist in the digital realm...

@JamesJones-th3ml

3 күн бұрын

@@timepainter6831 problem is cost with old school analog stuff. I can't afford that crap. I am an old school metal guitarist / vocals/ bass!/ keys hahahah I do everything now. I did lead guitar and vocals for fifteen years five for vocals back in the day. We tried to record with the what we had. I wish I had the knowledge then that I have now working the digital recording for sure... But once you have your presets man you don't have to do much as fast as using turning a nob as an example. Once you know what you need digital stuff got real simple here lately. I got a crushing tone on guitar and bass using krimh drums it all blends like a full band with zero analog stuff other than my tube app of course hahahaha the preamp on my Interface analog but that's about it man.