Levels go up as I take away frequencies with EQ?

[matb123]

I have noticed this a few time but never payed much notice but its begging to bug me now.

For this example I was EQ'ing a kick drum. I High-passed it to about 65 hertz with a 48db slope.

I noticed as I did this that the level went from -7.9 to -7.3?

Can anybody tell me why this is happening? And possibly a way around this as this is obviously taking up headroom?

Thank you x

[skimpi]

you could have resonance on the cut? but also i dont know why, or how it happens, but i have heard that because how EQ's work is by inverting phase, when you take some frequencies out, it can alter the phase around that area resulting in slightly higher levels. to be honest though, come on, its 0.6 db, just lower your kick by that you probably wont even notice the difference.

[matb123]

you could have resonance on the cut? but also i dont know why, or how it happens, but i have heard that because how EQ's work is by inverting phase, when you take some frequencies out, it can alter the phase around that area resulting in slightly higher levels. to be honest though, come on, its 0.6 db, just lower your kick by that you probably wont even notice the difference.

Thanks for the info mate and i know, thats what I have done but I was just wondering why this happens.

[Digezt]

Not using Logic are you?

[matb123]

Not using Logic are you?

Yes mate why?

[VirtualMark]

A steep filter will actually boost the signal at the cutoff point. Maybe use a gentler filter, 12 or 24db. There'll be less resonance at the cutoff point, and it'll sound more natural. 48db is a steep cut.

Also you could try a little bit of limiting just to take off the peak.

[Digezt]

Ive found the same the same thing using the logic Channel EQ when low cutting basses and stuff. Thanks for the Info VirtualMark.

[matb123]

A steep filter will actually boost the signal at the cutoff point. Maybe use a gentler filter, 12 or 24db. There'll be less resonance at the cutoff point, and it'll sound more natural. 48db is a steep cut.

Also you could try a little bit of limiting just to take off the peak.

Thank you for the info! What would be your advice for stuff like high-passing baselines to make room for the sub then?

I was under the impression that a steep slope would be needed for this to ensure all the lower frequencies are out the way?

[Depone]

Just gonna jump in before you get mis-informed as why this is happening

its not down to any resonance setting of the filter.

Its to do with phase relationships and its shifting frequencies, there's a good explanation here - http://www.dogsonacid.com/showthread.ph ... did=605231

Macc wrote that, and hes a Don. Take any advice you can from him, he occasionally posts here

[hasezwei]

coworker told me a way to avoid that is using shelf filters rather than cuts

[jrisreal]

Same thing happens to me with Parametric EQ 2 on some snares after highpassing them.

and @hasezwei, maybe use shelves and cuts in combination. Shelf + A wide cut

[Digezt]

Cheers Depone, great read that was. Macc should write a bloody book. ~Haha

[Depone]

Cheers Depone, great read that was. Macc should write a bloody book. ~Haha

Its true! Not only is he a top bloke, but hes also a talented drummer and producer. as well as some mastering engineering guff i hear all about these days

[VirtualMark]

Thank you for the info! What would be your advice for stuff like high-passing baselines to make room for the sub then?

I was under the impression that a steep slope would be needed for this to ensure all the lower frequencies are out the way?

My process for basses is to focus on the midbass and get that right, and then add a sub in afterwards. Quite often i'll just duplicate the channel i'm working on, then pitch the sub synth down an octave or two. That way the midbass doesn't have any sub in it and i can use a gentler filter slope. Highpass the midbass, and sometimes low pass the sub. I say sometimes because it isn't always necessary. I like to have a bit of higher harmonics in a sub as it makes it easier to hear on a weaker system.

Again with regard to high passing everything else, i high pass everything but the sub. Kicks get the sub rounded off, snares, hats etc. The main thing is to do it so it sounds nice, not just because you think you're supposed to.