Room Correction with Pro Q 2 (2018) - How to Fix your mix room Last Resorts

Room Correction with Pro Q 2 (2018) - How to Fix your mix room Last Resorts // Fix your room before you mix!
Do you mix music? How are your room acoustics? Using any acoustic treatment? If you are new to mixing or have been doing it for years, there might be a way to improve your mixes which you may have overlooked. Correcting room acoustics using eq software or a plugin like Fab Filter Pro Q 2 can change your whole listening experience. Most importantly, it can get you to hear things that you have been missing this whole time. This video helps show a way to get immediate results in your mixing environment through studio monitor calibration using the eq plugin.
Here is the download for the PINK Noise file mentioned in video:
www.cunninghamm...
Here's a link to the reference mic used in the video: goo.gl/fRSVaj
Here are some links to some great videos about acoustic treatment and monitor placement in your rooms:
Monitor Placement: • Video
Acoustic Treatment: • Video
Hope you find this video helpful. Please subscribe for more content!

[@Jupiter1423]

The start of this was so fucking on point. Savage.

[@griffinmusicinc]

Thanks for this video! I found a ecm8000 at a used electronics store here in Japan for 20 bucks and have been trying to find a calibration software to use it with. Since I own ProEq 2, I can save myself some money. You’re a life saver! Thanks!

[@cunninghammanor]

No prob

[@saent_bass]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but pink noise has equal energy distribution across the octaves while white noise has an equal energy distribution across the frequency range. You’re balancing across the frequency range. So wouldn’t you want to use white noise for this?

[@cunninghammanor]

I’ll look into that, that sounds great!

[@migzhaleco]

I personally don't suggest this method. I tried this and compared it to doing the REW and ARC3 mode from TRacks and the compensation is not accurate. Specially the idea of boosting some unnecessary frequencies. I suggest researching on the REW which is the legitimate tool for room calibration. Also, you have to understand the SPL factor. With the right levels to execute this properly. In some cases, this might just worsen your room sound instead of improving it. Though this is a good content, this will help you understand how basic calibration works. 🙂

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks! I like rew, but this does have a usage in cases! But sure! Doing as much with placement and treatment would help avoid such drastic measures!

[@AleLoy]

Thanks a lot for this trick man! It surprisingly works pretty well. I was so skeptical before to try

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks man! Yah, comes in handy when you've run out of options!

[@shastridhanraj3913]

omg.. this is awesome I can't believe my ears thank you so much for making this video

[@EchoReverb6]

this is like manual sonarwork. good idea

[@the_newvoice]

There's a like just for a beginning!

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks!!

[@h.s.t5457]

Thank you very much .i am in srilankan 🇱🇰

[@jaykarimi7123]

Thank you for making this video. It's exactly the info I was looking for. I assume the mic should be placed in the sweet spot where my head normally is?

[@cunninghammanor]

Jay Karimi yes! Thanks for checking it out! Yah, in fact placed behind your head, keeping your ears in line with where the speaker lines would meet, if that makes sense!

[@igeghege8269]

Non danneggia la fase? Si può fare prendendo solo la registrazione stereo? ( I 2 canali insieme? )

[@JORDIIMusic]

Why not just use the EQ Match function with the original pink noise file as the reference? Saves a lot more time lol

[@NealNot]

EXACTLY what I was thinking before I even watched any video on this. lol

[@cunninghammanor]

One factor is the frequency volume in the room will vary. But that might be a good start!

[@zachcunningham7607]

thanks fellow cunningham

[@MrSkyTown]

I want to try this. Sounds and looks like a good option

[@cunninghammanor]

Try it out for sure!

[@FatalBlow113]

If that's the case, why not just put a limiter on and turn the gain up to force everything into a perfectly flat line?

[@davidkeller8084]

In theory this should work. The reality is that it will not. There is a lot more going on in your room other than frequency response. Standing waves, comb filtering, resonant frequencies just to mention a few.

[@Hogboy345]

That pink noise file isnt flat

[@cunninghammanor]

I’ll look into it

[@jelanisurpriscomposer]

I like this guy

[@cunninghammanor]

Hah! Thanks!

[@audiofrank6747]

So grateful for your video, thanks a lot, I subscribed :)

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks! No prob

[@mcsweet1966]

Is there a reason not to use EQ Matching ? and should I choose Zero Latency, Natural Phase or Linear Phase ? Thanks for the Video

[@cunninghammanor]

You could use eq matching. I’ve found that doing manual broad move is a nice way to approach it. Natural Phase works best for me as it’s fast and sounds great!

[@PaulCassidyOrchestrations]

Thanks for this! So we put these two instances of EQ (one for left speaker and one for right), on our master buss, is that correct, and then remove them before rendering the audio? Also, I have a few other plugs on my master, do I put these EQ's at the top or bottom of the effects chain on the master rack? Thanks!

[@cunninghammanor]

Hey Paul! As long as you are controlling only left and right, that should work. These should be the final plugin before the stereo output.

[@PaulCassidyOrchestrations]

@@cunninghammanor Thanks again. I have Pro Q 2 and Reference 4 is way out of my price range so this is a great alternative.

[@SNAPS90291]

Amazing works 👍🏽

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks so much!

[@martontoth3578]

On the point. Thanks. Why saying this takes 40 minutes to other people and I still end up more stupid when I started?

[@h.s.t5457]

Dear I saw dual mono eq in your system but my one its no showing can you tell me how to get that or how can i find that, normally i work with cubase 10.5system. Tnx

[@cunninghammanor]

If it is on a stereo channel, you should be able to eq left and right. In pro q 2 you can apply to separate channels if dual mono doesn’t exist in cubase (I’m not sure)

[@ryangreer1043]

Thanks so much. So helpful!

[@cunninghammanor]

Ryan Greer you’re welcome!

[@user-xs3db6ox3q]

You boosted the frequency below 20 but isn't that just your studio monitor not producing these frequencies?

[@cunninghammanor]

Yes, I’m trying to boost whatever low end it’s giving me! I’ll take what I can get!

[@califuturist]

At time stamp 1:33, are you saying that the best location for stereo speakers is in a corner?

[@cunninghammanor]

Hey! It should be off the walls a bit. But actually, the best way to set up would be to setup a calibration mic from your ideal listening position, then move the speakers around while observing a live spectrum analyzer (pro q 2) so you can find the spot that has the best response in your room! I’d start there!

[@Kollapz3000]

dangerous method bro :D

[@Cmyth]

Thank you!

[@cunninghammanor]

No prob!

[@fodaseodinheiro]

Hey! Great video. Can we do it with a Sure SM57? Thanks

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks! A 57 really can’t be used, because it has such a limited frequency spectrum and is over hyped in different areas. It’s best to use a flat mic like in the example to get the whole spectrum and as flat as possible.

[@connormckay4755]

@@cunninghammanor How about an AKG p170?

[@L.Lyubomirov]

I have Zoom h5 mic,is it ok to do with it ?Or i have to buy refference mic ?

[@cunninghammanor]

A reference mic is necessary!

[@camploismyalias]

How did you guys miss the fact that pink noise is absolutely not the way to do this. You most absolutely should be using white noise!!! Pink noise should drop -3dbs per octave moving up! Never Flat! It SOUNDS FLAT to the ear.....NEVER LOOKS FLAT ON A REAL TIME ANALYZER!!! White noise does not sound flat to the human ear but READS FLAT ACROSS A REAL TIME ANALYZER!!!....omg =(

[@cunninghammanor]

DR.NNOO thanks for the comment, the settings in the eq are to realign flat, but your right, I didn’t mention that adjustment in the video. Thanks for pointing it out!

[@cured_bacon647]

Pink noise is used to setup a reference point for your monitors and nothing else

[@GodArmy7711]

@@cunninghammanor so should I be using white noise to do this instead? Thanks in advance!! Great video!!!

[@cunninghammanor]

GodArmy7711 you can use white! Or rebalance the pink noise to look flat! Either way. Pro q 2 can make that happen either way!

[@GodArmy7711]

@@cunninghammanor thanks!!!

[@Max10Cozta]

How did you match the left and right eq together to save the preset for the master track? Are they the stereo eq or separate Left and Right eq? Thank you

[@cunninghammanor]

Hi! Thanks for your question. I used a dual mono version of the plugin, which is available in Logic Pro X. That way you can switch to left and right!

[@chrisbraddock9167]

If you are using LPX why not use the test oscillator plugin to generate the pink noise?

[@cunninghammanor]

That’s a great suggestion! I’ll give that a try

[@MrSkyTown]

Can this be also done with just using a stereo eq plugin , my speakers have similar frequency responses for each speaker but I’m wondering if I need to eq each speaker which is what I did but I realized I do have a dual mono eq plugin to use for this instead of me just using a stereo plugin

[@cunninghammanor]

If they are close enough, just use a stereo

[@franksmith183]

Hi! You state that you should turn of plugins for final max, but won't that defeat the setup? I don't get that part, please explain more. Thanks.

[@cunninghammanor]

Hi Frank! Of course. The plugin is only for your listening space. When you are done mixing, you want to remove the adjustments for the final public product. The plugin is to balance your room, not the mix itself. If that makes sense.

[@XyBeatZHipHopInstrumentals]

Is there really a need to use left and right channels ? Why not use it in center and use 1 recording .

[@cunninghammanor]

Hey, well, it all depends on your room. In my room there is a slanted ceiling, so each speaker has a slightly different output because of the room acoustics. Also, unless everything is perfectly equal in terms of distances from the side walls, and back wall, there can be slight differences between the two. It's a good idea just to check and see at the very least.

[@ventablackrecords1064]

Hey there, do we pan the left and the right channels before sending to a stereo bus? TIA

[@cunninghammanor]

I don’t think that’s necessary!

[@stelthtenau]

Don't do this. It will introduce so much phase shifting. And case extra modal wringing. Don't do it

[@thevisi0naryy]

Just curious but what would make this different than Sonarworks Reference 4? People seem to love it.

[@stelthtenau]

@@thevisi0naryy I don't know how sonar works does what it does. I don't use it. But I can garentee it's not doing crazy eqing like in this video this is horendous.

[@TheeRocker]

well, @@thevisi0naryy, one thing is say 40Hz/50Hz is an issue in your room, , but you hear adjustment at 80Hz/100Hz (in your room),,, when you hear it in the real world, 80Hz/100Hz likely to low, while 40Hz/50Hz was not adjusted and too much,,, Another thing, monitors we use are meant to be in a treated room and some with tonal controls. How hard do you want to push your expensive monitors because you need to boost the correction EQ in the low end. TO me if room is an issue, then likely one is still learning to mix. Learning to mix will not be inhibited in that room, be cause your editing to what you hear in that room. Just don't worry about translation, and learn as well as create...

[@Jupiter1423]

Youre supposed to turn it off before you export it...

[@TheeRocker]

@@thevisi0naryy there is more than eq at work in Sonarworks Reference 4, to get its corrective soilution. And the thing is, when you adjust for a peak or null, your just creating a new peak and null, REW would show that, and how the room modes are affected. Sonarworks is a better corrective solution. Treatment will change the room reflections, which is needed, even with Sonarworks. Most would be surprised at what $1000 of treatment can do for mixing and translation... This plugin is great, but not for this vid suggested use. And it's over $200 wasted if using for room correction, lol... The room mode is the issue, which is inherent with its dimensions.

[@hectormayoral443]

Is the Match EQ not a good idea to use for this scenario? call me a know nothing, but should it not follow the closest EQ to the original sound which is not quite flat, it's slightly slanted with the higher side towards the higher frequencies

[@cunninghammanor]

I totally see that as a first inclination, but in practice I’ve found that doing it manually allows for better results, as you might find some frequencies are still too much or too little, and you can balance by ear!

[@R.W.FilmSound]

Hi! Thanks for sharings this method. I tryed it myself with the same microphone, same eq and I exactly did it like you said. But now i have a problem: When i apply the two dual mono presets of pro q 2 on my master bus, the song sounds heavily distorted. Instead of correcting my room, it made everything worse. I even applied some well known songs in my project to check if it is a problem of my own mixes, but they were distorted as well. Please help!

[@cunninghammanor]

The distortion is probably happening because the master volume on the pro q 2 needs to be lowered back down to match the original output. Sounds like it might be clipping because of all of the boosting in the eq. Let me know if that fixes it!

[@R.W.FilmSound]

Cunningham Manor Hi! Thank you very much for the fast reply! I tryed to lower the output of the signal yesterday, but then i could not realize any difference between the processed signal and the signal without pro q on it. But that is probably because my ears were exhausted due to the huge amount of distortion i heard before. Anyway, the distortion is gone now. Thank you! You really reply to every to every comment. Amazing! That convinced me to subscribe to your channel. Keep up the good work!

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks so much! Some other things I’d suggest is to try to mix quieter, you can hear so much more and it reduces the frequency problems. Keep it to a volume where you can hear your keyboard typing over the mix. This might require you to redo this whole process but it will help for the final result! Good luck!

[@R.W.FilmSound]

Cunningham Manor I think you are right! I tried this method on my finished master, so the Output was very high (commercial level). The reverence was even louder. So hopefully my results will get better in my next mixing session. I always mix with enough headroom, so that won‘t be an issue. Again thank you very much, now I can mix with more confidence! Do you mind if i ask one last question? When i recorded the pink noise from my monitors through the behringer microphone, i had to increase the input gain of the mic drastically. Otherwhise the recorded signal would have been too quiet. Is that okay? Or should I do it again and increase the output of my monitors instead of the microphone Input gain?

[@cunninghammanor]

Nero Voncartall I would set your monitor levels to the volume you are mixing at, so this will give you consistent results, then set the mic level to whatever you need to, to balance it. I have one further suggestion which I was going to do a video on: use this same concept with something like a dbx dual channel parametric eq. This way you dont have to deal with the software side and everything you listen to is represented properly! Second note: move your speakers until you get the best bottom end possible, that way you aren’t trying to add something that’s not there. That’s the setup I’ve moved towards and it’s working great!

[@dancerunik244]

Hi should we EQ the master bus EQ or the Left Right EQ? I am asking this on behalf of my uncle. So that i can explain it to him.

[@cunninghammanor]

Hey! Just like in the vid, the pro q is on the master channel. So you can shut it off when you export! It primary use is to balance the frequencies of the room you are listening in.

[@OswaldPH]

Hi! Did you do another full sweep of the room after you added that eq? It would be great if you did.

[@cunninghammanor]

Oswald PH hey. Sorry for the super late response! I did do a sweep, and saw great results. Again, try to fix things in your room by moving stuff around and putting in stuff to absorb sound, cuz that better to start with than this technique. Only use this as a last measure or final tweet, because if there are too many unaddressed problems like decay then boosting things will move further from the sound truth you want! Cheers!

[@OswaldPH]

@@cunninghammanor well i do have some decent acoustics setup, aside from the corner traps but I'll eventually add them in a month or two. The weird thing is, I did a full sweep but it seems that my rooms response is flat (which I highly doubt) not sure what I am doing wrong here. Made sure too that the input came from my mic

[@cunninghammanor]

Oswald PH roll with it man! That sounds amazing! You may not need to do a thing!

[@chrishenry7645]

what if you mix on headphones?

[@XyBeatZHipHopInstrumentals]

Do not use this If with headphones ... it does not make any sense to use it then

[@cunninghammanor]

Hey Cudi Cold, unless you have a special microphone setup for calibrating headphones, there's no way to get reliable results.

[@chiefrebelangel817]

So many things wrong

[@cunninghammanor]

Cheers

[@h.s.t5457]

Hi.when I export master project with pro Q2 or it should remove and export

[@cunninghammanor]

Turn off before export!

[@lfk1334]

Do you keep the pro Q 2 plugin at the beginning of your master chain or process while it is at the end of your master chain on the stereo output channel when mastering?

[@cunninghammanor]

At the very end! This is for listening purposes only, turn it off for the final print.

[@lfk1334]

@@cunninghammanor Thanks a lot. Love for the quick response. You for sure gained a new follower

[@cunninghammanor]

@@lfk1334 thanks so much!! I really appreciate it!

[@MrSkyTown]

When doing these adjustments, can you use a mono eq for each side left and right also what is the level volume I should be using to reference mine vs the pink noise file, I think I tried this in the past but the volume of my speaker the audio was lower then the pink noise when I saw the audio visualizer

[@cunninghammanor]

Yes! I’m using a dual mono, cuz my room had a slightly different response on each side. That’s something you should test for your room. The volume should be at the level you typically mix at. Lower is a bit better in my opinion. The input gain should matter. So adjust that as necessary to work with!

[@MrSkyTown]

@@cunninghammanor do you record the speaker from the listening position or do I put the mic in front of the speaker.

[@cunninghammanor]

Listening position!

[@MrSkyTown]

@@cunninghammanor i know in your video you gain staged the plugin after adjusting, but let’s say I’m mixing a song and I pull up the eq on the master bus, do I need to adjust the gain according to my mix or should the plugin gainstaging alrresdy be good to go based on adjusting the pink noise when I was fixing eq issues

[@cunninghammanor]

Right, I hear you. So the plugin should be turned off when you print the track, it’s just for monitoring purposes. The main goal is to not clip when it is on, depending on how severe the adjustment is, you will need to drop volume to not clip the master!

[@griffinmusicinc]

How close is your mic from each monitor?

[@cunninghammanor]

It should be in listening position, or basically right behind where your head would be, typically.

[@lordofstringss]

Can this work with a large diaphragm condenser microphone?

[@cunninghammanor]

It’s better to use a measurement mic as they are flat, or close to flat. A large diaphragm condenser would inherently have a colored frequency response. But there is software that allows you to calibrate according to that kind of info, just a bit more work.

[@NlineMusick]

@@cunninghammanor what software would that be? And which of the two would be best, a large diaphragm condenser or an SM58?

[@OznofaMusic]

So when bouncing files I should remove the EQ as it is only there to fix my room frequencies right?

[@cunninghammanor]

Yes that’s correct!

[@OznofaMusic]

@@cunninghammanor So I don't have dual mono plug in of FF Pro Q-3 there any other way o doing this?

[@cunninghammanor]

Yes! In the stereo mode you can select the left and right channels separately to eq! You may need to KZbin a deeper video on pro q to see where those are at! But you can!

[@mrmorpheus9707]

Lost me.. Are you just playing pink noise or the music im hearing as well

[@cunninghammanor]

Hi Shawn, it's just the pink noise to catch the devious frequencies in the room.

[@XxAirocker08xX]

Where do you place the mic?

[@cunninghammanor]

Airocker08 hey! You want to form an equilateral triangle with the two speakers and your head’s listening position. That’s where you place the mic, where your head would be in the triangle. (I.e. 5 x 5 x 5’)

[@RaddDronzy]

Won't a tone generator and wlm meter work as well???

[@cunninghammanor]

You are wanting to use those to manually find the room waves that boost frequencies?

[@RaddDronzy]

@@cunninghammanor Ya. I know its tedious but I guess its more accurate. Correct me if I am wrong.

[@cunninghammanor]

That should work fine! I don’t know if it’d be more accurate! But it’s a solution to see what’s going on! :-)

[@theunconciousmind7314]

seriously if i put this on my master bus. what s the point of eqing anyways.

[@cunninghammanor]

It’s to help you hear the full spectrum and try to get closer to a flat response in your room, so that your end product sounds more balanced everywhere else.

[@joseassuncao7213]

Which mic this?

[@cunninghammanor]

Thanks for checking it out! I've added a link to the mic in the description! It's a BEHRINGER ECM8000!

[@alexygenecastillo2155]

Thanks for the video CM! based from the posted measurement mic link, the new ECM 8000 model was used. i just wonder if the OLD model of Behringer ECM 8000 can also do the job? hoping for your reply... Thanks!

[@1811can]

This is worse thing you can do to yourself Consider that recorded sound is records room sound and monitor sound together and you are analyzing this then you re EQing your monitor output sound . It would be logical if you would be able to eq only room and it would work perfectly but you ear doesnt hear only room sound it hears sound which is coming directly from monitors This method will effect your hearing and mix transition in really bad way it is not a solution oppositly it will cause problems For really huge problems in the room it can be considered to use for only 1 or 2 dB changes on couple frequiencies with wide q

[@cunninghammanor]

Ok

[@donepearce]

So do you block one ear when you mix? This method will equalizes exactly one spot in the room - the microphone location. Even a few inches away - like your other ear - the response is totally different. It is also different when you are sitting in the seat compared to just having the microphone there alone. There is only one way you can flatten a room, and that is surface treatment. The right combination of diffusion and absorption is what you need. I'm sure you are sincere in posting this video, but whatever you are hearing, it is only better by placebo effect. Room equalisation simply does not work.

[@cunninghammanor]

donepearce thanks for the comment, yes, ideally the pinnacle is behind your head, and your ears are inline with the triangle.

[@recordingriot3450]

donepearce umm yes yes it does work, if you’ve ever ran legitimate live sound or seen anyone do it it’s literally the first thing that happens. I first learned about it watching the front of house engineer for a huge event run pink noise at full volume for at least 2 hours and his eq looked pretty crazy. It was the best sounding live event I’ve ever experienced. It sounded comparable to studio quality just really cranked up. 120db to be exact. Also something I’ll add is this is good for correcting your speakers too, not just your room.

[@sayalaperbandel]

Lol just use eq match, but i enjoy the video

[@cunninghammanor]

Saya Laper thanks for checking it out! I hear you. The nice thing about pro q 2 is the great phase engine built in it which keeps everything from going wonky, like other eq plugins might do! I should have mentioned that in the video. Cheers!

[@dijpdepijp2154]

@@cunninghammanor exactly what I was thinking XD

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

that is a good tutorial on how to destroy your sound completely....

[@dahmimortals3236]

This vid is weird, but it's what KZbin recommend while taking a 💩. I only ever use pink noise to calibrate my speakers. But I would modify the KZbinrs method. Like use a rappid frequency sweep to catch the EQ curve live with analyzer and both speakers on, after I had used pink noise to calibrate of course. But anyhoo the best advice is don't do this, it's just content for the youtuber, he needs to eat ya feel me. It's pointless, you're trading a bad room response for a bad idea with a bad room response. NEeD eXaMPle? Well your monitors are colored and preamp and mic and converter and cheap clock and untrained ears and inexperience and... wiping my as...s. Well, I would like to stay and chat but the ring around my butt is grooved deep. Good luck life hackers🤗

[@cunninghammanor]

Dahmi Mortals thanks for sharing. I’m liking the new rolling mix average technique, it’s more accurate too. Good luck with your bowel movements.