low cut.....?
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Posted on Jul 24, 2007 11:53 pm
calvinisright9
Hindu Not Hitler !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Member Since: May 28, 2007
On my mixer there is a low cut button...
What does that mean or do?
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Jul 25, 2007 12:18 am Basically it "cuts the lows" or, if you want to get techinal, it will roll off the low frequencies starting at a certain frequency. Read the manual and it will tell you the frequency along with how many dB per octave. For instance, a rolloff with -6dB/octave will be less steep than say, a -12 or -18dB. In other words, say you have a rolloff at 100Hz at -12dB/octave, the octave below 100Hz will be 12dB softer. Hope that helps. It's just rolling off the low end so it sounds natural. I would hope it wouldn't just cut them off, that might sound a little odd.
Jul 25, 2007 04:08 am use it on EVERYTHING but bass and kick drum!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 26, 2007 09:04 pm AAARRRGGGH!!!!
I hate when people use the low cut on everything! Use it sparingly on things that sound like they have too much bottom end on them.
Some like to use it on vocals if the room is got a lot of bass reflexion. Others use it on acoustic guitar if the same as above applies.
But don't use it on everything. I track and listen before I decide to use it. If I don't need it it stays off.
Jul 26, 2007 09:24 pm hehe agreed noize.
Theres this guy who fancies himself as the best soundy around and all his mixes have nothing below 120. I wonder why :-).
Oh, he also puts flangers on solo artists acoustic guitars, very untastefully I might add. Engineer bashing over.
Jul 26, 2007 10:19 pm Acoustic guitar needs it almost all the time... At least from my experiences.
Jul 27, 2007 05:11 am i'm sorry, i find that in order to keep the lows 'tight' it's best to leave it up to the instruments that actually need it....who the F needs to keep the 80hz rumble on the tambourine? leave the lows for instruments that deserve it! i high-pass damn near everything...it's all just muck down there anyway....
das just the way i roll.
Jul 27, 2007 10:35 am Imagine if Barry White's engineer felt like that.
Well there's no way I'm going to roll off the lows when I record my voice, cuz I'm quite proud of those freqs.
Funny, that's the second time I've mentioned BW in a thread this week.
Jul 28, 2007 05:15 am Quote:
leave the lows for instruments that deserve it
i think the voice is considered an instrument, so that falls into that category. ya gotta call it as ya see it on every project.
Jul 28, 2007 10:10 am I'll back ya there... Nobody likes mud.
Jul 28, 2007 11:09 am Mud can also be avoided with good mic placement, i.e. backing the mic away to reduce proximity effect, or finding the sweet spot on an acoustic guitar or a drum. You don't always have to resort to twisting knobs.
Jul 29, 2007 04:33 am i ain't twistin' no knob, i'm pushin' a button!....again' it's all situational. i can justify using an HPF over placement when the proper situation arises.
Jul 29, 2007 09:25 am When you need it, use it, when you don't, don't... I think that covers everything then. /thread
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 30, 2007 06:24 pm WYD, I do use them so don't get that wrong. And I'm not saying don't use them ever.
The point I was getting at is that some engineer's and producer's tend to over use them at times, cutting the low end out of everything except the bass and maybe kick drum. They seem to think that is the only way to make room for those two instrument's.
I do have to say though that I am with Herb on setting things up proper from the get go though. I tend to move things around including mic's to get as close to great as I can. Then and only then if I can't rid the track of bad low end overtones, then I will hit the low cut switch.
