EQ on Appassionata Strings

[bobulusbillman]

Hi, does anybody have any recommendations on what EQ to apply to the AP strings? I find that once you've added some convo reverb the sound can be a touch muddy!
Does anybody have any EQ settings they often add to their mixes?

Many thanks

Luke

[PaulR]

Last week I was at Wells Cathedral watching the Amadeus Orchestra rehearse. The string sections sounded muddy, but very good nevertheless. Everything was slightly muddy.
Obviously with the natural reverb of a cathedral this is bound to occur. Convolution reverb, such as Altiverb, can make anything sound muddy and the general rule is to have less rather than more. With EQ, I would suggest roll off rather than add.

[Rob Elliott]

@PaulR said:

Last week I was at Wells Cathedral watching the Amadeus Orchestra rehearse. The string sections sounded muddy, but very good nevertheless. Everything was slightly muddy.
Obviously with the natural reverb of a cathedral this is bound to occur. Convolution reverb, such as Altiverb, can make anything sound muddy and the general rule is to have less rather than more. With EQ, I would suggest roll off rather than add.

Excellent advice on 'rolling off'. If mud is the issue - the first place I look to roll off is in the 250-300 hz range. I think you are familiar with the technique for 'identifying' the problem freg's - get a narrow band and ADD 24 db and roll that across this range and 'listen' for the MUD. Once found, then cut that freq to taste.

Hope this helps.


Rob

[Beat Kaufmann]

@bobulusbillman said:

Hi, does anybody have any recommendations on what EQ to apply to the AP strings?
Luke

Hi Luke
I'm still looking for good combinations (Appassionata - Reverb) as well.
And > The more reverb types the more you need other EQ-settings [:'(] .
"Every Cathedral comes along with an other mud".
Scan the reverb you prefer for all frequencies with an EQ (with a small bandwidth and a high gain). Soon you will find the muddy frequencies which you can reduce afterwards (kill the mud).
So every (long) reverb needs its own muddy-killer EQ-Settings.
[6] ... Unfortunately we don't like the real live-sound at home [6]

Beat

[bobulusbillman]

Thanks for the advice, should I use Channel EQ or the Linear phase EQ on Logic Pro? Not to good on what does what here! Also if anyone has any logic eq presets that are a good starting point that would excellent!

Luke

[Beat Kaufmann]

@bobulusbillman said:

Thanks for the advice, should I use Channel EQ or the Linear phase EQ on Logic Pro? Not to good on what does what here! Also if anyone has any logic eq presets that are a good starting point that would excellent!

Luke

It depends on your CPU power: Linear Phase EQs need a lot more of them and the latency time - which will be compensated of course - is higher.
I don't use Logic but I know that Logic's LinPh-EQ isn't that bad. There was a big comparing test in the Key Magazine (German) once.
Perhaps there are some freeware VST-EQs which have a quality between the channel EQ and the LinPh-EQ

Do you know Hetoreyn? It's the man who produces the VSL-Podcasts. He is a Logic -"Master" as well. Visit him at: http://www.elvenmusic.com/ (Contact)
I'm sure that he will share some EQ-presets.
BTW If you are using Altiverb ...try to use the param EQ (only 1 band :cry[:)]. It "works" directly in the mud [:D].

Beat

[synthetic]

If you're using reverb on a send/return, you could try EQing the send.

Are you using Space Designer for your reverb? That's not the most clear-sounding reverb, and it's a mono-in/stereo-out verb. That could be contributing to the mud, since imaging is getting mucked up. Try something like Altiverb, which is stereo-in/stereo-out.

[bobulusbillman]

Yeah using space designer, since it is free unlike Altiverb! Didn't realise it was mono in - stereo out! Where does it say that in the Logic manual!

[pulse777]

hi,

just to add to things:

as much as the vsl-app are recorded perfectly i wouldnt take out frequencies (the risk is hard to not get the right q-faktor and take of important parts!!)

for me, its mostly the basses and high-frequencies that are not pushing. try to use 1,5 to 2 DB with a small q-faktor at 60-80 Hz and a few high freq at 8-12 khz medium q and also not more than one or two db

at least i think the problem is mostly the reverb... i think you all like the altiverb.. to be honest... not my type of thing... its makes the most things "muddy" [:)]... but thats just my personal opinion

maybe try another freeverb called "ambience"
search it here: www.kvr-vst.com (the site has a search function)
by the way: the overall NUMBER ONE SITE FOR FREE VST-PLUGS!!!!!!

hope this post helps.

greez
markus

[Beat Kaufmann]

@pulse777 said:

hi,
... maybe try another freeverb called "ambience"
search it here: www.kvr-vst.com (the site has a search function)
...markus

By the way:
The Roomworks reverb of Cubase is a variation of Ambiance... It has really a nice and clear sound... and uses a bit too much CPU power. But we are able to freeze nowadays [:D]

Beat