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The Fractal Thread

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  • Settled on Celestion IRs, for now. Seem to have gone simple and settled on an SM57 in most cases, just fuller sounding when using a single mic instead of mixing.

    Incidentally, saw this video and decided to peak a PEQ block at 400hz and 2k based on his advice, must say, being a newbie to EQ stuff and not understanding things really, I think it’s sweetened things up and really helps it cut through https://youtu.be/YhuryXGMt1o

    Any other tips you guys like to use?

    The Celestion IRs are good, glad you found something that is working for you.

    Tips is a bit of a broad subject.

    The thing with EQing is you can't really give specific tips for cuts and boosts as it always depends on the source sound, and intended goal.

    Personally I almost always approach post EQ with a subtractive first mindset - what are the things I don't like about this sound, and if I reduce those things does it improve the sound.  Or if you have two competing instruments at the same frequency, can I get it to sit better by reducing that frequency on the instrument I want to be less dominant.

    It takes a while to train your ear to hear what you should be doing with EQ, I'm not sure of where to point you in terms of YouTube channels to teach basics because I didn't learn it that way myself (I just bugged people who were better than me to show me stuff after I'd been unsuccessfully noodling for years).
    Thanks man, I appreciate that. Maybe something that could be easier to give tips on...how do you match levels between clean and distortion without it sounding weird or thin when switching to the other?

    @clarky any thoughts on all the above, mate?
    Read my guitar/gear blog at medium.com/redchairriffs

    View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • ClarkyClarky Frets: 3261
    Settled on Celestion IRs, for now. Seem to have gone simple and settled on an SM57 in most cases, just fuller sounding when using a single mic instead of mixing.

    Incidentally, saw this video and decided to peak a PEQ block at 400hz and 2k based on his advice, must say, being a newbie to EQ stuff and not understanding things really, I think it’s sweetened things up and really helps it cut through https://youtu.be/YhuryXGMt1o

    Any other tips you guys like to use?

    The Celestion IRs are good, glad you found something that is working for you.

    Tips is a bit of a broad subject.

    The thing with EQing is you can't really give specific tips for cuts and boosts as it always depends on the source sound, and intended goal.

    Personally I almost always approach post EQ with a subtractive first mindset - what are the things I don't like about this sound, and if I reduce those things does it improve the sound.  Or if you have two competing instruments at the same frequency, can I get it to sit better by reducing that frequency on the instrument I want to be less dominant.

    It takes a while to train your ear to hear what you should be doing with EQ, I'm not sure of where to point you in terms of YouTube channels to teach basics because I didn't learn it that way myself (I just bugged people who were better than me to show me stuff after I'd been unsuccessfully noodling for years).
    Thanks man, I appreciate that. Maybe something that could be easier to give tips on...how do you match levels between clean and distortion without it sounding weird or thin when switching to the other?

    @clarky any thoughts on all the above, mate?
    The fella in the vid is talking about a technique used by mix engineers / producers called complimentary EQ.
    essentially.. each instrument in the mix will have a pair of small frequency bands [one high and one low] where they are most tonally distinctive.. only a single instrument and strongly occupy a given band.. so the other instruments get a small cut to let that through..
    easy example...
    kick drum is nice where the low freq = 90Hz and the high freq = 2.4k [the 'boom' and the  'click]
    looking at the low part... the bass guitar lives in that 90Hz area too..
    during mixing either the kick will vanish or be too strong.. but never quite right because the bass guitar will [on a certain played note] cancel it out..
    so... using a parametric EQ, you cut a narrow [Q=2.5 -ish] notch at 90Hz by around 6dB [the actual value is judged by ear] on the bass guitar track..
    the notch is narrow enough such that the bass guitar don't seem to miss anything..
    and the kick drum has a little 'hole' in the frequency spectrum to pop though..
    now you can hear kick and bass guitar clearly..

    EQ in general...
    there are two types:
    1 - corrective: this is to mend things [eliminate a boomy low end or shrill high end.. or 'boxy' sounding mids]
    this tends to be 'subtractive'.. you remove want is causing the issue by finding the offending frequency and knocking off it's level [with a parametric or graphic EQ] until it stops offending..
    2 - sweetening: this is a good name for it.. sweeten things up.. to enhance something [add power in the deep lows or make something sound more energetic / exciting in the highs]..
    this usually means boosting something...

    guitars and EQ
    note: this is my personal experience.....
    in the Axe-FX I apply EQ in 2 places [usually cos there is a 3rd place]
    1: corrective in the amp block: 
    - I choose the amp that offers the tone / feel I'm looking for
    - I choose a cab / mic combination that brings out what I'm looking for in that amp [even if the EQ is not quite right]..
    example..
    Diesel Herbert channel 3, thick full bodied hi-gain but can be a little dark sounding
    Marshall 4x12 1960b / SM57.. the SM57 brings out the highs and kills the boomy low end [maybe a little too much but that's ok].. we are not listening for EQ, we are listening to the tonal characteristics.. the 'grain' of the distortion for example..
    so.. my big fat Herbert is now a little boxy, missing deep lows, has nice cutting highs..
    but the overall tone is in the right area..
    in the amp's EQ page I'll fix the issues..
    bass and low mids do not play nice together.. you have one or the other.. but never both..
    low mids are in the 300Hz to 700Hz area [a generalisation]
    I make a cut in the 500Hz band to kill the low mids..
    this has 2 effects... it takes out the boxy tone and has an apparent effect of deepening the bass [without having to boost the bass]..
    I'm happy with everything else so it is left alone [I'll continue building the preset / adding fx etc]

    sweetening happens at the end of the FX chain to sweeten the tone overall [which will include any active FX]..

    things to look for:
    - add definition / energy to rock / hard rock guitar: boost the 2.5k to 3k area
    - add definition / energy to metal guitar: boost 4.5k to 5k [because metal highs are far more aggressive]
    try to avoid boosting the lows unless you really have to..
    why? because the bass guitar lives there.. leave him space to coexist with you..
    in isolation, your tone may be a little thinner than you'd like..
    but in the mix and on stage you will be epic...
    play every note as if it were your first
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 3reaction image Wisdom
  • FarleyUKFarleyUK Frets: 2377
    Clarky said:
    Settled on Celestion IRs, for now. Seem to have gone simple and settled on an SM57 in most cases, just fuller sounding when using a single mic instead of mixing.

    Incidentally, saw this video and decided to peak a PEQ block at 400hz and 2k based on his advice, must say, being a newbie to EQ stuff and not understanding things really, I think it’s sweetened things up and really helps it cut through https://youtu.be/YhuryXGMt1o

    Any other tips you guys like to use?

    The Celestion IRs are good, glad you found something that is working for you.

    Tips is a bit of a broad subject.

    The thing with EQing is you can't really give specific tips for cuts and boosts as it always depends on the source sound, and intended goal.

    Personally I almost always approach post EQ with a subtractive first mindset - what are the things I don't like about this sound, and if I reduce those things does it improve the sound.  Or if you have two competing instruments at the same frequency, can I get it to sit better by reducing that frequency on the instrument I want to be less dominant.

    It takes a while to train your ear to hear what you should be doing with EQ, I'm not sure of where to point you in terms of YouTube channels to teach basics because I didn't learn it that way myself (I just bugged people who were better than me to show me stuff after I'd been unsuccessfully noodling for years).
    Thanks man, I appreciate that. Maybe something that could be easier to give tips on...how do you match levels between clean and distortion without it sounding weird or thin when switching to the other?

    @clarky any thoughts on all the above, mate?
    The fella in the vid is talking about a technique used by mix engineers / producers called complimentary EQ.
    essentially.. each instrument in the mix will have a pair of small frequency bands [one high and one low] where they are most tonally distinctive.. only a single instrument and strongly occupy a given band.. so the other instruments get a small cut to let that through..
    easy example...
    kick drum is nice where the low freq = 90Hz and the high freq = 2.4k [the 'boom' and the  'click]
    looking at the low part... the bass guitar lives in that 90Hz area too..
    during mixing either the kick will vanish or be too strong.. but never quite right because the bass guitar will [on a certain played note] cancel it out..
    so... using a parametric EQ, you cut a narrow [Q=2.5 -ish] notch at 90Hz by around 6dB [the actual value is judged by ear] on the bass guitar track..
    the notch is narrow enough such that the bass guitar don't seem to miss anything..
    and the kick drum has a little 'hole' in the frequency spectrum to pop though..
    now you can hear kick and bass guitar clearly..

    EQ in general...
    there are two types:
    1 - corrective: this is to mend things [eliminate a boomy low end or shrill high end.. or 'boxy' sounding mids]
    this tends to be 'subtractive'.. you remove want is causing the issue by finding the offending frequency and knocking off it's level [with a parametric or graphic EQ] until it stops offending..
    2 - sweetening: this is a good name for it.. sweeten things up.. to enhance something [add power in the deep lows or make something sound more energetic / exciting in the highs]..
    this usually means boosting something...

    guitars and EQ
    note: this is my personal experience.....
    in the Axe-FX I apply EQ in 2 places [usually cos there is a 3rd place]
    1: corrective in the amp block: 
    - I choose the amp that offers the tone / feel I'm looking for
    - I choose a cab / mic combination that brings out what I'm looking for in that amp [even if the EQ is not quite right]..
    example..
    Diesel Herbert channel 3, thick full bodied hi-gain but can be a little dark sounding
    Marshall 4x12 1960b / SM57.. the SM57 brings out the highs and kills the boomy low end [maybe a little too much but that's ok].. we are not listening for EQ, we are listening to the tonal characteristics.. the 'grain' of the distortion for example..
    so.. my big fat Herbert is now a little boxy, missing deep lows, has nice cutting highs..
    but the overall tone is in the right area..
    in the amp's EQ page I'll fix the issues..
    bass and low mids do not play nice together.. you have one or the other.. but never both..
    low mids are in the 300Hz to 700Hz area [a generalisation]
    I make a cut in the 500Hz band to kill the low mids..
    this has 2 effects... it takes out the boxy tone and has an apparent effect of deepening the bass [without having to boost the bass]..
    I'm happy with everything else so it is left alone [I'll continue building the preset / adding fx etc]

    sweetening happens at the end of the FX chain to sweeten the tone overall [which will include any active FX]..

    things to look for:
    - add definition / energy to rock / hard rock guitar: boost the 2.5k to 3k area
    - add definition / energy to metal guitar: boost 4.5k to 5k [because metal highs are far more aggressive]
    try to avoid boosting the lows unless you really have to..
    why? because the bass guitar lives there.. leave him space to coexist with you..
    in isolation, your tone may be a little thinner than you'd like..
    but in the mix and on stage you will be epic...
    Very very informative - a well deserved wis!

    FYI, I tend to boost 800Hz for solos by a few dBs, as that helps cut through as well - but only in the band with the other guitarist. When I'm with my other band - and hence the only guitarist - I tend to boost around 1600Hz (I think) by a dB or 2.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FarleyUKFarleyUK Frets: 2377
    I keep flip-flopping between a 'standard' signal path in the AX8 and a pseudo-wet/dry/wet one..... I can't decide which I prefer with the dual DXR10s I use.

    To my ears, the wDw setup seems to have a lot more girth and definition to it, but it's slightly higher CPU usage. I'm also aware that I might be losing out on some 'wet' effect seperation, purely as I only have dual speakers, and not a center 'dry' speaker.

    It's basically split after the cab block, with path 1 going direct to out (center balance), and path 2 going into 100% mix delay and reverb (in parallel), then the stereo enhancer block and out.

    Anyone tried this approach? Any takeaways from it?
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • ClarkyClarky Frets: 3261
    FarleyUK said:
    Very very informative - a well deserved wis!

    FYI, I tend to boost 800Hz for solos by a few dBs, as that helps cut through as well - but only in the band with the other guitarist. When I'm with my other band - and hence the only guitarist - I tend to boost around 1600Hz (I think) by a dB or 2.
    remember I mentioned having the sweetening EQ at the very end of the fx chain [a GEQ block]...
    in my presets I have 4 of them in parallel [bybass=mute]
    only one is active in any one scene

    GEQ1 is for my riffing scene [sweetening EQ / level = 0dB]
    GEQ2 is for my soloing scene [contains a few cuts in the highest 3 bands / level = 3dB for a little boost]
    GEQ3 and GEQ4 are for clean and 'misc' scenes [the misc scene varies from preset to preset.. like if I need to do something very softly for example]

    if you're in a twin guitar band you may want your solo tone to step up a little more so the boost would be 5dB or 6dB
    if this is the case, you may also want to make a few small cuts in the lowest 3 bands too to prevent the lows from booming..

    remember.. turning up the level is like boosting all bands 
    so the reason I cut the upper bands in the soloing tone is to soften the highs that get overly strengthened by the 3dB level boost..

    in one preset, GEQ4 is used for my "ballad solo" preset..
    this don't need a boost because it's plenty loud enough given the context..
    but I cut the top three bands anyhow to make the tone less aggressive / prettier..


    play every note as if it were your first
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  • ClarkyClarky Frets: 3261
    edited December 2017

    FarleyUK said:
    I keep flip-flopping between a 'standard' signal path in the AX8 and a pseudo-wet/dry/wet one..... I can't decide which I prefer with the dual DXR10s I use.

    To my ears, the wDw setup seems to have a lot more girth and definition to it, but it's slightly higher CPU usage. I'm also aware that I might be losing out on some 'wet' effect seperation, purely as I only have dual speakers, and not a center 'dry' speaker.

    It's basically split after the cab block, with path 1 going direct to out (center balance), and path 2 going into 100% mix delay and reverb (in parallel), then the stereo enhancer block and out.

    Anyone tried this approach? Any takeaways from it?
    I've not done wDw... my power amp only has 2 channels..
    and I could never fit a 3rd 4x12 cab in my lil' car... lol..
    I play in dual mono and stereo [depending on the scene]

    @Handsome_Chris has though.. and he has a 3 channel power amp.
    play every note as if it were your first
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FarleyUKFarleyUK Frets: 2377
    Clarky said:

    FarleyUK said:
    I keep flip-flopping between a 'standard' signal path in the AX8 and a pseudo-wet/dry/wet one..... I can't decide which I prefer with the dual DXR10s I use.

    To my ears, the wDw setup seems to have a lot more girth and definition to it, but it's slightly higher CPU usage. I'm also aware that I might be losing out on some 'wet' effect seperation, purely as I only have dual speakers, and not a center 'dry' speaker.

    It's basically split after the cab block, with path 1 going direct to out (center balance), and path 2 going into 100% mix delay and reverb (in parallel), then the stereo enhancer block and out.

    Anyone tried this approach? Any takeaways from it?
    I've not done wDw... my power amp only has 2 channels..
    and I could never fit a 3rd 4x12 cab in my lil' car... lol..
    I play in dual mono and stereo [depending on the scene]

    @Handsome_Chris has though.. and he has a 3 channel power amp.
    Yeah, it's not a 'true' wDw setup though - as I only have 2 DXR10 speakers I'm using, so create a 'false' dry center channel between them, with wet FX panned hard left and right.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • @Clarky you're a legend, mate, thank you. I've read through your post thoroughly and will put it into practice this evening.

    It's funny how he says to boost the mids a bit at 400hz but you say to cut them so they don't interfere with the bass, I'll take a look when I get home and will see the results.

    My PEQ looks like a pair of tits on a line at 400hz and 2k with a big cleavage, so it'll be nice to make the whole thing a little less sexual. It doesn't take much to put wind in the sails these days.
    Read my guitar/gear blog at medium.com/redchairriffs

    View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
    1reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FarleyUKFarleyUK Frets: 2377
    @Clarky you're a legend, mate, thank you. I've read through your post thoroughly and will put it into practice this evening.

    It's funny how he says to boost the mids a bit at 400hz but you say to cut them so they don't interfere with the bass, I'll take a look when I get home and will see the results.

    My PEQ looks like a pair of tits on a line at 400hz and 2k with a big cleavage, so it'll be nice to make the whole thing a little less sexual. It doesn't take much to put wind in the sails these days.
    Go on, add a bigger peak at around 1.1k...... just make sure the tip is rounded.
    2reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Filth!
    Read my guitar/gear blog at medium.com/redchairriffs

    View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Anyone want to swap their AX8 for my FX8? The artist I play with is looking to have a silent stage set-up :(

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Anyone want to swap their AX8 for my FX8? The artist I play with is looking to have a silent stage set-up :(

    That old chestnut! You just want an AX8.
    Read my guitar/gear blog at medium.com/redchairriffs

    View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • ClarkyClarky Frets: 3261
    @Clarky you're a legend, mate, thank you. I've read through your post thoroughly and will put it into practice this evening.

    It's funny how he says to boost the mids a bit at 400hz but you say to cut them so they don't interfere with the bass, I'll take a look when I get home and will see the results.

    My PEQ looks like a pair of tits on a line at 400hz and 2k with a big cleavage, so it'll be nice to make the whole thing a little less sexual. It doesn't take much to put wind in the sails these days.
    thing is... EQ is a difficult thing to talk / write about..
    it's better when someone shows you what to look for..
    in some vids I saw by proper mix engineers, they show you how they eq things..
    you can hear the audio.. you can see them sweeping the freq range as they explain what they are listening for..
    and even then you have to keep rewinding the vid a few times before you get it..
    the difference between before and after can be pretty subtle 

    In the Axe I actually cut the 500 band by about -2db in the 5150 and -4dB in the Herbert
    it's to decongest the low end and to provide an apparent deepening of  the deep lows without having to resort to boosting them.. so it's not a huge cut..

    at the end of the day, it's all about taste really...
    that said.. if you made a huge scoop in the mids.. a wide one centred around 1k you may sound great in isolation, but you'll vanish in the mix.. which is why tits eq don't work that well

    the one thing in that vid is....
    the fella talked a lot, but did not demonstrate.. so you can't hear what he's talking about working / or not working
    so when I saw his huge mid-scoop I was thinking "really?? that big and in that location?"
    play every note as if it were your first
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  • ClarkyClarky Frets: 3261
    edited December 2017

    FarleyUK said:
    Clarky said:

    FarleyUK said:
    I keep flip-flopping between a 'standard' signal path in the AX8 and a pseudo-wet/dry/wet one..... I can't decide which I prefer with the dual DXR10s I use.

    To my ears, the wDw setup seems to have a lot more girth and definition to it, but it's slightly higher CPU usage. I'm also aware that I might be losing out on some 'wet' effect seperation, purely as I only have dual speakers, and not a center 'dry' speaker.

    It's basically split after the cab block, with path 1 going direct to out (center balance), and path 2 going into 100% mix delay and reverb (in parallel), then the stereo enhancer block and out.

    Anyone tried this approach? Any takeaways from it?
    I've not done wDw... my power amp only has 2 channels..
    and I could never fit a 3rd 4x12 cab in my lil' car... lol..
    I play in dual mono and stereo [depending on the scene]

    @Handsome_Chris has though.. and he has a 3 channel power amp.
    Yeah, it's not a 'true' wDw setup though - as I only have 2 DXR10 speakers I'm using, so create a 'false' dry center channel between them, with wet FX panned hard left and right.
    perfectly valid though... cos that's what would happen in both a live and studio mix
    play every note as if it were your first
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • FarleyUKFarleyUK Frets: 2377
    Clarky said:
    so when I saw his huge mid-scoop I was thinking "really?? that big and in that location?"
    Oi-oi!!
    2reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Anyone want to swap their AX8 for my FX8? The artist I play with is looking to have a silent stage set-up :(

    That old chestnut! You just want an AX8.

    Haha, actually no - I'm not a big fan of modeling at all, and would much rather keep my current set-up, but I understand the appeal. 

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Quick question regarding CPU limits. I am running a 'do it all' patch which is currently 72%. When I switch from Amp/Cab X to amp/Cab Y I get an error warning that the reverb has been disengaged to save CPU. Any way around this?
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • peteripeteri Frets: 1283

    Quick fix is - check what the IRs you're using. If you can go down from Ultra to normal res.

    Also, I find that the factory IRs seem to take a little less CPU, don't know why, so maybe try that?

    Is that really the only difference between the scenes?

    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • peteri said:

    Quick fix is - check what the IRs you're using. If you can go down from Ultra to normal res.

    Also, I find that the factory IRs seem to take a little less CPU, don't know why, so maybe try that?

    Is that really the only difference between the scenes?

    Thanks, I think so, as far as I can see...
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
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