Mixer EQ levels

[djtrumptight]

When using a mixer (line mixer or DJ mixer),is it best to set the high,mid,low faders to the 12 oclock position ? This is a habit i picked up somewhere but recently i put all those faders at the 3 oclock position and i certainly noticed the bass felt fuller.It left me under the impression that i had been missing something.

[Chris_Allen]

I would always start with them at 12 and EQ to taste.

Low is usually 80Hz, high around 12KHz and the Mid could be anywhere but generally centered around 2.5KHz.

A factor to consider is the 'Q' of the EQ, this is essentially 'wide' the frequency adjustment is. A very narrow one would be used for feedback elimination where a very wide one would be used for shelving. The mixer will determine what this is set to but is likely to be set somewhere in between.

Ideally, you should EQ your entire system flat and then tweak. TBH, I would most likely raise the crossover mix of the subs and tops about 6dB in favour of the subs (or lower the tops by 6dB) and actually lower 80Hz on the channel strip. You may find this gives you an overall better bass presence across the band pass of the subs. This is assuming you are using the T48s!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

When using a mixer (line mixer or DJ mixer),is it best to set the high,mid,low faders to the 12 oclock position ?

It's best to set them where they sound the best. Most mixers have the EQ at unity gain when set at 12:00, which means they aren't doing anything, and might as well not be there at all.

[djtrumptight]

My system is EQ'd flat with the DEQ2496 outside.I also used some of this guys advice as far as not using EQ beyond +/-6 db and setting the output at -6 db:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAY6TiBC57Y

I have since did away with the -6 db on the output.Keep in mind DJ mixers dont have "Q".I think what im dealing with is what Bill said about unity gain.Thanks.

[Bruce Weldy]

Keep in mind DJ mixers dont have "Q"..

Actually, every non-shelving EQ has a "Q" - but only on fully parametric EQs can you control it.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

.Keep in mind DJ mixers dont have "Q"

They do, you just can't adjust it.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

The description that the "bass felt fuller" is classic Fletcher-Munson Equal Loudness Curve effect.

In general terms, the three band EQ is a blunt instrument that is simple enough to use while beatmixing songs. That is what those controls are intended to do, and in that role they are reasonably useful.

In general, the three band EQ is not best suited for "tuning" the overall sound...but if it is the only tool that you have, then by all means make use of it. Depending on the mixer, turning the low & high "up" will create a nice "smiley face" EQ pattern. Depending on the mixer, turning all three bands up, is "the same" as just turning the whole system up.

[Bruce Weldy]

Depending on the mixer, turning the low & high "up" will create a nice "smiley face" EQ pattern. Depending on the mixer, turning all three bands up, is "the same" as just turning the whole system up.

I would prefer pulling the middle and turning up the whole system, rather than pushing up the high and low.....keeps the distortion to a minimum.

The effect is the same - just cleaner....especially with cheap EQs.

[djtrumptight]

i think the system just sounded better with the channel strip all set at the 3 o'clock position,it didnt take as much Tweaking in the DEQ.

[88h88]

The vast majority of DJs haven't got the finesse to use EQ properly so should just cut and never add. You can get away with maybe 2pm on them at most but I've seen some really poor DJs with no idea of levels rolling them way up. They're there for mostly minor adjustment, not adding something that doesn't exist in the tracks you're mixing.

The only time I ever roll them past 12 is as I'm pulling the upfader down and I want to retain a particular part of the outgoing track and even then that's the lazy way of doing things.

**referring to DJ mixers, obv.

[djtrumptight]

The vast majority of DJs haven't got the finesse to use EQ properly so should just cut and never add. You can get away with maybe 2pm on them at most but I've seen some really poor DJs with no idea of levels rolling them way up. They're there for mostly minor adjustment, not adding something that doesn't exist in the tracks you're mixing.

The only time I ever roll them past 12 is as I'm pulling the upfader down and I want to retain a particular part of the outgoing track and even then that's the lazy way of doing things.

**referring to DJ mixers, obv.

u got that right,b4 i even became familiar with the information i now have it never made sense to me for a DJ to be adjusting sound when the speakers are facing away from you,you cant even hear it but i have seen it.Then some DJ mixers and controllers have terrible preamps (?) and its better to turn some things down than up.Most of the guys i rent to use Rane TTM 57,Rane 62 mixers or the Pioneer DDX controller,those have pretty good sound to them.

Time for me to get back on track.From my recent posts it seems i have gotten away from some basics that have actually been working for me such as limiting with sine waves and keeping everything at 12 o clock on the channel strips,back to basics.I like Bruce's idea of pulling the mids as opposed to boosting the highs and lows,method adopted.

[jimbo7]

I dime'd the knobs on my mixer's eq then cut a lot of freqencies on my 30 band eq to make it as flat as I could. The highs and some mids still sounded a little too harsh, so I backed the highs to about 1pm and mids to 3pm. Doesn't sound as loud, but it does sound a lot cleaner and....uh equal.