7. Step 2: Cut narrow, boost wide
Subtractive EQ is integral to the mix process, but it can have a dark side. Remove too much of a signal, and you’ve stripped all its defining characteristics. A mix with 30 scooped-out sounds is thin and hard to listen to. For this reason, your cuts should be focused and narrow. Remove only the parts of a sound that can stand to go to make space. Or those parts that cloud a particular sound.
It can be tempting to apply this rule to boosts, as well. The ear, however, hears boosts very differently. The resonance of a narrow peak is almost immediately apparent and sounds unnatural. Wide, subtle boosts, on the other hand, sound natural and pleasing to the ear. Using all these techniques together can be challenging. It will require a rethinking of the way you use EQ. We assure you, the results are worth the effort. Happy mixing!
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