From the course: Audio Foundations: EQ and Filters

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Balancing expectations from the recording process

Balancing expectations from the recording process

From the course: Audio Foundations: EQ and Filters

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Balancing expectations from the recording process

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One of the most common critiques I have when I review my students' mixes has nothing to do with the mix at all. When the signal you're working with was poorly recorded, sometimes EQ is just not enough, and knowing when the signal just isn't going to get better using EQ is an important skill when working towards the big picture. Take a listen to this guitar that I've purposefully recorded using poor mic placement. Notice the clipping in addition to the overpowering signature of the room's acoustics and the hollowness of the guitar sound. (music playing) You might be surprised, but many novice engineers would find this to be a perfectly suitable starting point in the mix process and then wonder later what they did wrong with EQ or compression when the mix didn't turn out well. The reality is that no amount of EQ can make this guitar sound like it could have if I would've taken more time to place the mic correctly and capture a good source signal. First off, EQ will never be able to…

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