Separating Overlapping Frequencies

[mtglass]

Good day,

On our acoustic gigs, we have a very hard time separating acoustic guitar(s) from our female lead singer.

My main tool for separation is EQ. I band pass the acoustic guitar between 100Hz and 10kHz. I high pass the singer at 120Hz. That's all I do right now. Do you have any tips for keeping both very clear without standing on each other?

We add a bit of delay plus reverb to our vocals, and let the guitarists sort their own effects: usually very dry for acoustic gigs.

My apologies to Bill, I think a huge part of the solution is to use better mains, and I haven't made BFM mains yet.

Have a super weekend!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

You need a board with EQ on every channel. The female voice is most prominent from 500-1000 Hz, as is our hearing sensitivity, so bumping her channel there will bring her up in the mix, with perhaps some boost around 3 kHz. Cutting the guitar in those same frequencies will help as well.

[Bruce Weldy]

Unless she sings really low, you should raise the high pass on her vocal channel to around 200hz. That will help her not to fight with the guitars in the low-mid "mud" area.

Make sure you high pass the acoustics also. At least 80hz to keep out the boominess. And sweep the low-mids with a cut to find the sweet spot.

But, first and foremost - use the Mains EQ to shape the PA to the room. That's where you'll find that pulling some of the 100-250hz from the PA (depending on the room) will clean up a lot of problems before you even touch the channel EQ. I use a song that I know well to do that. Pick something you know and play it - listening for any frequencies that are muddy or too crisp.

[Seth]

First... how's her mic technique? Lips close to the mic or is she off 6 inches. Needs to be in on the mic.

Second... I'd definitely try the what the guys mentioned above. That should solve the issue.

If you're still battling with it and you're using a digital mixer, you can get into setting up a side-chain ducker that pulls the guitar down a little when the female vocal channel gets signal. Really shouldn't have to do this though.

[Tom Smit]

"pulling some of the 100-250hz from the PA (depending on the room) will clean up a lot of problems "

This

[mtglass]

Yes, ok thanks. I had forgotten that we don't flatten the room with our acoustic sets. That's probably the major difference between them and our electric sets. My ear isn't good enough to do that very well, and our Sound guy is training his ear. We'll get better at it.

Bill, Seth, and others, I did take your advice and am using a digital mixer. It has helped a lot, thank you: especially the EQ on every channel as Bill mentions.

We are high passing everything. She does have a very low voice, lower than mine and I'm about average for an untrained guy. I still high pass her at 120, and will try raising that.

Her mic technique is good, but I would like to get her to keep her lips right on the foam. I'll sweep her and the acoustics in practice to find sweet/trouble spots, that's a great idea. I know it changes some with rooms, but at least I'll know where they naturally lay.

100-250Hz makes a ton of sense. That area between 100-1kHz has so much content, it's a lot to handle. Thank you all!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

You don't need high tech to see the room response, just a phone. Use C weighting, slow response. https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... n_US&pli=1

[mtglass]

Thank you Bill, I even have that on my phone. I really appreciate having a place where I can get no BS responses to fixing these problems. I'm sure this is elementary to many of you, so thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Knowledge is like good food and drink, it's best when shared.

[Bruce Weldy]

Her mic technique is good, but I would like to get her to keep her lips right on the foam.

Unless you are in a 20mph wind, there's no need for the foam. If you're using it because the mic is popping, then the internal windscreen may need to be replaced.

[himhimself]

Knowledge is like good food and drink, it's best when shared.

Yes, yes, yes!!!

[Tom Smit]

Knowledge is like good food and drink, it's best when shared.

Absolutely!

[mtglass]

Thank you Bruce, I use foam so I can replace it very easily for mic hygiene. I'm a germaphobe. I also recommend people chew bubble gum while on the mic, then it smells like bubble gum instead of stinky breath, or whatever else they might be consuming.

Don't forget music! Good music is also best when shared.

[Bruce Weldy]

Thank you Bruce, I use foam so I can replace it very easily for mic hygiene. I'm a germaphobe. I also recommend people chew bubble gum while on the mic, then it smells like bubble gum instead of stinky breath, or whatever else they might be consuming.

Don't forget music! Good music is also best when shared.

Just use some alcohol wipes and occassionally wash the inner wind screen. Using foam on the outside kills the high end.

Also, chewing gum means more saliva, which means more spit on the microphone. Assign each person their own mic, then you won't have to worry about germs as much.

Not easy being a germaphobe in the music industry.

[Seth]

Search Amazon for "disposable microphone covers"