5 Tips to Nail the Vocal EQ Every Time 

Probably the most helpful, simple EQ video I’ve seen!

Simplicity is the key 🔑👍

Thanks Joe. Some of the unprofessional tutors on RU-vid are killing most newbies with too much errors I was a victim 🤦🏼‍♂️

Thanks for the tip on using the multi-band dynamics plug in in Studio One to help diagnose the frequency ranges.

Thanks for your simple explanation of not just what to do, but why to do it.... great video.

Another really good video. I'll start using the Dynamic EQ to tame the unpleasantries.

Saving this one. Thanks for the quick, easy reference Joe!

You speak fact, you back it up practically. Thank you for helping us to grow in this creative world of music.

Really helpful! Thanks from Belgium!

Thanks, Joe! This and your recordingrevolution video came at the perfect time for me. Loving how my vocals are sounding!

80 Hz and below - use HPF 80-250 - Muddiness/subwoofer sound. Cut anything that gives a 'headache' 250-1kHz - (sounds like hand on the mouth/low-fi) Don't touch unless needed [ultra nasal can be eliminated] 1-5kHz - Sibilance and a lot of Eee (buzzer sound/annoying kid sound) 5kHz+ - Highs/breathiness of a vocal. 6/7+ has major sibilance sounds

Great stuff as always, Joe. Thank you!

Excellent way to find the problem frequencies!! I've been mulling over ideas about using some frequency specific effects on vocals lately by using parallel processing. On a send through an EQ with steep high and low bypasses (to achieve a specific resonant frequency) and then running them through different effects like a guitar pedal overdrive, chorus, phaser, or saturation to give the vocal a little more grit in specific places.

Much appreciated Joe. I’ve been watching your tutorial vids for awhile now and taking notes. It’s helping immensely in the mix process of my music. I finally feel like I’m getting somewhere with it! Cheers!

Those 5 tips for EQ are helpful

Simply fantastic tutorial! It opened my mind to EQ topic. Thanks a lot Joe!

definitely going to try this

The best I’ve seen yet. Thank you

👍👍👍👍clear, simple, very teaching and easy to apply and go further.Thank's a lot.

Thank you for this!!!

My man! You’re a bad ass singer! Love it dude👊🏼

Thank you so much! I am subscribing. 🙂👍🏿

This is one of the most helpful tutorial I've heard. Yes, I knew about subtractive EQing, but my issue was guessing at what frequencies to control. I figured it was just something that eventually comes with experience. But, this seems like finding the cheat code. Thanks, Joe!!!

Thanks for sharing, i stumbled here looking for ways to eq a voice. We have a good branded audio devices in venue where I sing but surprisingly when listened to the stream, my voice sounded like heavily filtered 50’s transistor radio.. while the rest of other 3 singers sounded clear.. so my first reaction is I need to record again my voice at home to validate if what I heard in livestream is indeed correct bec I dont remember sounding like someone with severe covid cold singing from a lofi transistor radio. I am new singer in the team and I don’t know how to say to audio tech politely- they might think the newbie is acting like a pro singer demanding some eq’ing.. to which I believe tone shaping is their job.

Excellent video. 👍 I use Audition and can't think of a visual presentation of divided frequencies. I agree - subtract to add. :)

Yip..... Thanks Joe, I have found that the LM does not quit cover a lot the "biggest headaches" range though.... What I have done is expand that up by 50Hz to 300Hz. You'll be surprised as to what pops out there if you do that...I had a really nasal vocal that I could not get to sit well inside the mix...... Opening up the band to 300Hz totally changed the vocals "nasalness" and I could compress and tame that band, é-wala... Since then I have a vocal preset with a multicompressor and it has been working wonders. I can not for the life of me remember where I saw this but I have been using it ever since, not all vocals have that exact problem but you'll be surprised at how many vocal issues that can be solved by doing just that one tweak..... Since you brought out your subtractive EQ video I have been using this exact technique and it works like a charm, has sped up my mixing process 10 fold. Thank you very very much for sharing that.

Thx good video

Usually been using just regular EQ's (the improved Presonus stock EQ with dynamic eq'ing is top notch by the way, kudos on making it better than it was two versions before) but haven't tried the multiband. Now i really got to try another chain with it as you got the interest peeking 😅 Good job once again! ❤

This was a very good video… thanks

Nice one boss

Any chance you might be doing another studio weekend Recording Academy in Nashville?

If my recorded vocal sounded that good, I would be very happy!

Joe loves the number 5, perhaps? 5 step mix, 5 eq moves etc...

Yep joe certainly loves the number five 😂

good joe

Bought Studio One because of your videos.

Excellent info. To my ear, the muddy tone is around 400Hz. Lowering it by ~6dB renders appreciable clarity. I would be interested in your approach to obtaining separation in a mix. I know separation of voices starts in the arrangement phase of production, but much can be done with EQ, panning and ?

Very cool. Reminded me that I read somewhere that Brian Wilson got his brother Dennis to sing through cupped hands on purpose on the group harmonies on Wouldn't It Be Nice (I think). He must have wanted to bring out certain frequencies.

Thanks Joe! Pls I'd like to ask can I adjust the vocal from this multiband dynamics?

One of my favorite movies

Any recommendations for mutilband compressors similar to the one in your video

Thanks again for the tips Joe. Lately I've been trying to get a handle on why certain classic bands have great vocal eq. I can almost hear a type of over driven touch applied pre mastering which seems to give them a certain cut in the mix. Nobody talks about this trick. Am I wrong here? The Beatles' Revolution, Queen, and others seem to have used it. I've used it over the top and subtly and like what happens although haven't really analyzed it in detail.

I think this video is as useful as any other RU-vid when it comes mixing and mastering, but sometimes I feel like a video on JUST specifically EQing isn't enough anymore for people trying to nail the perfect EQ'd vocal. Can we get it in combination with how EQ-ing and Compression within the context of the mix because sometimes after I compress, the frequencies sound different from the distortion and harmonics which then makes my vocal sound overly compressed while trying to sit properly in the mix.

Practical tips! The upper mids example reminded me of the buzzer on the old Operation game. Don't light up that nose. Ha!

What comes first? Vocal editing, then post production, then vocal tuning and final vocal mixing or?

❤

Does this all apply when mixing talking voice tracks as opposed to singing tracks?

What if your a low bass singer, A1 and below. Would you still high pass at 80?

Hi joe , when do you decide to go for a multi band . I normally go for f6, la2a then my console 1or ssl evo and maybe waves Mv or just 76 comp blue.there is so much information out here in RU-vid land . Where do you start your vocal mix satnav

I usually pull down mid 800hz about - 0.9 db to make the vocals sit in the mix is this not a good idea?

Dude, I don't even have to watch this to know it's Good! I hope you prosper beyond belief because 1. I think you know Jesus and 2. You are so good explaining things. All the best - Brooke

This is a person who has mixed a lot.

Better play it safe and cut everything out 😂

I didn’t watch the video, but in the thumbnail you are holding up 6 fingers. Cmon man!