EQ trouble
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > EQ trouble
Posted on May 21, 2003 04:08 pm
Johnny Hero
Member Since: Apr 26, 2002
Ok, so for some reason on my bass track, the A note is coming through 10x stronger than any other note... this sounds terrible. So I figured I'd do some EQ and cut around 440hz... well it worked a little, but I'm getting a ton of digital distortion... but I'm cutting... what the heck? Somebody please explain...
[ Back to Top ]
May 21, 2003 05:05 pm I've run accross this problem many times in the past with my basses. When I had this problem, I could hear it coming right fomr my amp. The problem was in the pick-ups and electronics in the basses every time! So, you may want to look there for the source of your trouble. This drove me so crazy once that I left in the middle of a session and bought a new bass and came right back! Two words when it comes to basses... "ACTIVE ELECTRONICS" I've never run into this problem with any bass I ever owned that had active pick-ups and HAVE run into it with nearly every bass I've ever owned that didn't.
Now, to fix the problem in your recording, you'll probably need to use a combination of EQ and compression. I would start by applying a compressor to the track and see if you can even it out there. Then try cutting the EQ like you described. Are you clipping at all? I'm assuming that you're not because you certainly would know that to be the cause of your distortion. If you're getting distortion without any clipping, it might be coming from your EQ plug. Maybe try a different one and see what results you get there. If you're having a tough time getting it to even out, fire me over an email with the bass track and I'll see if I can help.
glynbMember
Since: Dec 16, 2002
May 22, 2003 07:57 am I'm certainly no expert, but I'm aware of this problem and suffer it with my bass guitar going directly in to my multitracker (in my case its the E string that booms).
I bought a compression unit and that seems to have helped a lot.
May 22, 2003 08:03 am I have seen that as well over the years I have been playing bass.
What happens many times if you are actually miking the amp and playing live in a room, what you have inadvertantly discovered is a bad frequency in the acoustics of the room. EQing can help, compression can help on the mic channel of the mixer and the recording, but it won't help the sound in the room while you are recording.
What I have found is that it starts happening more and more as strings start to die...one option you have is to get new strings on the instrument and see if that helps, I have had that help in many situations.
MinkusMazBane of All ExistenceMember
Since: Mar 27, 2003
May 22, 2003 10:17 am hey one word on active electronics...that doesn't necessarily mean active pickups. plenty of basses are sold using that term, but all it refers to is that there are EQ knobs on there. if you're looking for active pickups, make sure it says exactly that.
May 23, 2003 01:42 am hey Hero, you said you cut around 440Hz. Unless I'm mistaken 440 is the A string 12th fret on a guitar. 110 is the open A string on a bass. 220 is the 12th fret A string on bass. Or maybe it's 220 is the open A...
anyways, try cutting the 110 (or 220) instead. -j
May 23, 2003 03:50 pm Geez... thanks Jamie. I can be such a retard sometimes.
DanMember
Since: Nov 21, 2002
May 23, 2003 05:15 pm The open A on a Bass is 220, 12th fret is 440. A bass guitar is one octave down from a guitar. An upright bass is one octave down from a bass guitar.
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
May 23, 2003 06:24 pm how do you guys know all this stuff? it blows me away...
MinkusMazBane of All ExistenceMember
Since: Mar 27, 2003
May 23, 2003 06:55 pm look at your tuner. A is 440Hz, and some tuners allow you to adjust it a little bit up or down. a tuning fork vibrates 440 times per second. hence 440Hz, hence A.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 23, 2003 07:10 pm We all learn it from someone else, just like you learned it now. Reading, or listening, or whatever.
May 23, 2003 07:19 pm minkus, are you sure? i recorded my 5 string bass > mixer > soundcard > wavelab and looked at the 3D spectrum analizer in wavelab and it looks like the A string on my bass peaks around 110 where the 12th fret A string is the 220...
just to be sure i hit the low B and it peaked around about 60Hz suggesting that the next A down would be the 55Hz
unless i'm REALLY out of tune :O)
May 23, 2003 07:26 pm Also, it depends on your tuning technique, in hard rock and punk type music it is quite common to tune down a step...
May 23, 2003 08:43 pm but who tunes down a whole octave?
MinkusMazBane of All ExistenceMember
Since: Mar 27, 2003
May 23, 2003 11:28 pm i'm talking about the A above middle C on a piano.
May 24, 2003 03:08 am oops, sorry, that should read:
"Dan, are you sure..."
i was just reading down thru the posts so fast I thought you said that, Minkus. :O)
