Mic/Pre Amp EQ vs Post EQ
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Mic/Pre Amp EQ vs Post EQ
Hey, I've been recording a lot with a borrowed SM7 and MD421. They both have EQ options on the mic's themselves, which I've been using, but ebbing on the side of caution. I was wondering though, is there any advantage to using the mic EQ rather than just using an EQ during mixing? Or is it just so that you can have a nicer sound right off the bat?
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I like to keep things as simple as I can when it comes to mixing time so I try to get exactly the right sound at the source. Only exception being compression since right now I don't have a way to record it on the way in (though I would generally only do a light touch that way since compression sometimes needs to change as you introduce new instruments). Plus I for whatever reason feel like I want the computer (I'm recording digitally) to be responsible for doing as little as possible to the sound, so by that possibly-dumb theory having the frequencies I don't want in there already cut out it's less that the computer's doing.
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Re: Mic/Pre Amp EQ vs Post EQ
Sometimes having a high pass filter in can affect the sound of other components down the line; e.g., less low end information may mean that the compressor doesn't reach its threshold as easily. This is true of high pass filters on pre's as well as on mic's.mr.adambeck wrote:...is there any advantage to using the mic EQ rather than just using an EQ during mixing? Or is it just so that you can have a nicer sound right off the bat?
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Re: Mic/Pre Amp EQ vs Post EQ
Guess it depends on what your recording, but the presence boost on the SM7 is sweet on some vox. The hpf is great when using it on hi hat. And rolling off low end before a compressor allows it to compress more naturally and without as much "pumping" from low end peaks. Of course, you can always pull that mic back a few and reduce proximity effect naturally.
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Using EQ on the mic is basically just an "early commitment" to a certain sound decision, which tends to scare some people. However, you'll have to make a mix/tonality choice at some point down the mixing line anyway, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. Some people delay all their mixing decisions to the last minute, and this can make things more complex.
A high-pass on a mic is quite useful in another way as well, though. By cutting unneeded low frequencies at the source, you can potentially get a hotter recording level, as you can put more gain on the part of the signal you actually want. A high-pass will also potentially help eliminate plosives in a vocal recording.
Hope this helps,
Damian
A high-pass on a mic is quite useful in another way as well, though. By cutting unneeded low frequencies at the source, you can potentially get a hotter recording level, as you can put more gain on the part of the signal you actually want. A high-pass will also potentially help eliminate plosives in a vocal recording.
Hope this helps,
Damian
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High Pass can be really helpful for all the reasons stated above - but I have to admit, I have never used a 421 in any mode other than "M."
Might just be superstition.
Might just be superstition.
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