Today's tip will be a simple one, but so very useful when you're trying to get instruments to fit together.

I did this the other day when I was mixing vocals and the instruments were always cluttering up the vocal.

If I pulled the fader up the vocal was too loud.

If I left it alone some instruments started crowding it so it didn't sound clear.

I'm sure that's a common problem.

But...

Usually people approach from the vocal track. You might start boosting some mids in order to get it to punch through the other instruments. Or you might compress the vocal too much just to get it to sit better on top of the mix.

Unfortunately both of those approaches might not work.

Then it's time to leave the vocal alone and start focusing on the tracks that are actually in the way.

So that's when this trick comes in handy, and look, I even made easy to follow steps!

• Step 1 - Make the vocal sound as good as you can.
• Step 2 - Find the instruments that are clashing with the vocals (let's use the bass as an example).
• Step 3 - Use an EQ to boost and sweep around the mids. Find the area where the bass is masking the vocals the most.
• Step 4 - Cut the bass in that EQ area until the vocals sound cleaner.
• Step 5 - Rinse and repeat for other instruments if needed.

Creating frequency clashes by boosting makes it easier to hear where you need to cut. It's a lot easier than guesswork and reducing frequencies in other instruments to make room for your most important ones makes your EQ'ing cleaner.

That's just a typical example of the easy to follow and practical tips found within EQ Strategies - The Ultimate Guide to EQ. Here's what a recent customer had to say about the guide:

Hi Bjorgvin! I was busy last night working on a 'half time shuffle' beat I created in Ableton and applied your tips on e.q'ing drums... The results had me bouncing off the walls in excitement! :) It really is a great book you have written..keep up the good work and once I have had a month to digest this course, I will come back for your mixing strategies compilation :)
Keep up the good work!
Your friend,
Huwdyni

Thank you Huwdyni! I'm glad you liked it.

If you need some EQ tricks to get you bouncing off the walls grab your guide right here and start your EQ'ing off on the right track (no pun intended!)

www.EQStrategies.net