How to EQ Drums

Summary

This video tutorial provides an in-depth guide to EQing drums for optimal sound, covering key aspects for each drum type. It begins with the kick drum, emphasizing mic placement, high-pass filters, and frequency adjustments for better low-end and attack. The snare drum section discusses adding warmth and avoiding harshness, while the hi-hat section focuses on removing muddiness and managing high frequencies. Tom drums are treated similarly to kick drums, with emphasis on removing boxy sounds. Finally, overheads are tuned to avoid muddy cymbals, with tips on balancing frequencies to enhance clarity and mix. The video concludes with a final mix demonstration.

Takeaways

• 😀 Proper mic placement is essential for getting a good drum sound.
• 😀 High-pass filters should be turned off on the kick drum to maintain low frequencies.
• 😀 For the kick drum, cut low-mid frequencies around 250Hz to avoid muddiness.
• 😀 Removing mid-range frequencies (around 250Hz and 5-600Hz) helps prevent a boxy or plastic sound in the kick drum.
• 😀 Adding low frequencies (40Hz-80Hz) and high frequencies (4k-10k) enhances the kick drum's sound.
• 😀 The snare drum benefits from a high-pass filter to remove low-end noise.
• 😀 Adding low-mid frequencies (around 250Hz) to the snare can provide warmth and body.
• 😀 Boosting high frequencies (3-4kHz) in the snare helps with attack, but too much can be painful.
• 😀 The hi-hat should also have a high-pass filter applied to remove unnecessary low frequencies.
• 😀 For muddy hi-hats, removing some mid-range frequencies or boosting higher frequencies can help clarify the sound.
• 😀 Toms should be EQ'd similarly to kick drums, with cuts around 250Hz and 5-600Hz to avoid boxiness, while adding low and high frequencies for balance.
• 😀 Overheads require a high-pass filter to prevent unwanted low-end frequencies and can benefit from slight mid-range cuts to avoid muddiness.
• 😀 To tame harsh cymbals in overheads, cutting 3-4kHz can help make them more pleasant and prevent piercing sounds.

Q & A

Why is mic placement crucial when EQing drums?

Mic placement is critical because poor mic positioning can result in undesirable sound, no matter how well you EQ the drums. Proper mic placement ensures that the desired frequencies are captured, which is essential for achieving a good mix.

What is the purpose of turning off the high-pass filter on a kick drum?

Turning off the high-pass filter on a kick drum allows the low frequencies to be retained. These low frequencies are essential to the kick's punch and depth, so the filter is usually disabled to preserve the full sound of the drum.

What frequencies should you cut to reduce muddiness in the kick drum?

To reduce muddiness in the kick drum, you should cut low-mid frequencies around 250 Hz. This helps eliminate unnecessary low-end energy that can make the sound unclear or overly boomy.

How can you enhance the attack of a kick drum during EQ?

To enhance the attack of a kick drum, you can boost high frequencies around 4k Hz or 10k Hz. This adds clarity and sharpness to the hit, making the kick more defined in the mix.

What is the significance of adding low-mid frequencies to the snare drum?

Adding low-mid frequencies around 250 Hz to the snare drum adds warmth and body to the sound. Without these frequencies, the snare may sound thin or weak, which can be undesirable in the mix.

Why should you be cautious when boosting 3-4 kHz on the snare drum?

Boosting 3-4 kHz on the snare drum enhances attack and cut-through, but too much of this frequency can be painful or harsh to listen to. It’s important to add just enough to bring clarity without overwhelming the mix.

How can you make the snare drum sound airier and more present?

To make the snare drum sound airier and more present, you can boost high frequencies around 10 kHz. This adds brightness and helps the snare stand out, but too much can cause cymbals to become overly prominent.

What role does the high-pass filter play when EQing the hi-hat?

The high-pass filter on the hi-hat helps remove unwanted low frequencies, ensuring that only the higher frequencies of the cymbal are present. This ensures clarity in the mix and prevents muddiness.

What frequency range should be adjusted if the hi-hat sounds muddy?

If the hi-hat sounds muddy, you can reduce some of the low-mid frequencies. This helps clean up the sound and ensures that the hi-hat cuts through without being overly thick or congested.

Why do tom drums benefit from similar EQ treatment as the kick drum?

Tom drums benefit from similar EQ treatment as the kick drum because both drums have low-end energy that can lead to muddiness. Cutting low-mid frequencies around 250 Hz and 500-600 Hz helps reduce boxiness and allows the drums to sound more defined and natural.

What is the purpose of using a high-pass filter on the overheads?

The high-pass filter on the overheads removes unnecessary low frequencies that can clutter the mix. Since overheads primarily capture cymbals and the higher end of the drum kit, cutting low-end energy helps focus on the essential elements of the drum kit.

How can you reduce harshness in cymbals when EQing overheads?

To reduce harshness in cymbals, you can cut mid-range frequencies, especially around 3-4 kHz. This makes the cymbals sound more pleasant and less piercing, allowing them to be more prominent without being painful to listen to.

What is the final step after EQing all individual drums?

After EQing all individual drums, the final step is to push up the entire drum kit and listen to how everything sounds together. This allows you to make any necessary adjustments to ensure the drums blend well in the mix.