The first place you should start EQ'ing after you get a rough mix with your levels is:
a) Your mix bus?
b) Your mix bus?
or....
c) Your mix bus?
If you answered....well...any of them, you
are CORRECT!
Give yourself a pat on the back 👏👏👏
Minor broad strokes EQ'ing on the mix bus can drastically improve your overall frequency balance.
But you've got to be careful.
Too little and you won’t hear a difference.
Too much and you might ruin your mix.
When working on your mix bus, it’s essential to remember that every change, no matter how small, affects the entire mix.
One dB on your mix bus translates to one dB on every track routed through it. So, subtlety is key.
But
with a sprinkle of just the right amount of EQ, you’ll tighten the low end and remove the mud while adding presence and brightness that makes your mix stand out.
For instance, here are six frequency areas to look out for on your mix bus.
A 6 dB per octave filter below 30 Hz gently filters out the lowest frequencies from the mix you won’t need.
A cut around 400-300 Hz addresses boxiness issues.
If
your mix sounds harsh, a subtle cut around 2.5 kHz will make your mix sound smoother.
To add low-end thickness, add a modest boost at 60 Hz.
To add warmth, try boosting around 160 Hz.
High-mid frequencies around 5 kHz can add presence and clarity, while 10 kHz can add “air.”
Luckily for you, the Audio Issues EQ comes pre-loaded with a mix bus EQ preset you can use right away.