Snare Drum EQ - Mixing Tips - Live Sound & Recording Tutorial

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

I made a companion video with no narration. It is just edited to be snare audio, visuals, and added text. It is here: Companion video- kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJqnf4mZZpx-kLs This How to EQ a Snare video is a followup to the How To EQ A Kick Drum Video. It's actually version 2. I did a couple of tweaks to this version of the snare video over the original to duck the snare during a couple of speaking parts and a couple of additional visuals. I have left the other version available as an unlisted video in case someone has it bookmarked. So it can still be viewed from there. Although I'm using a Behringer mixer here, these concepts apply to ANY mixer... or even DAW and plugins. Companion video- Snare drum audio and equalizer visuals only version, with text and no narration is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJqnf4mZZpx-kLs Other videos: Five Tips For Better Live Vocal Mixes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYGXpJemoNCBnrs 5 Typical Mistakes Behringer XR18 and Midas MR18 Users Make: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5rPh3emaJ50b8k More from the drum series- How To EQ A Kick Drum: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYLKYpJjj69ng7c 5 Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer X32 and Midas M32 Users: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoGalYJoj8ZpmNk Amazon Affiliate Links- Shure SM57: amzn.to/3pNU7qx Shure Beta 56A: amzn.to/3tsUPf2 Shure Beta 57A: amzn.to/3atdChy Sennheiser E604: amzn.to/3azVvGB 3 Pak of E604: amzn.to/3ts1bve Behringer XR18 on Amazon: amzn.to/2LfTpmO Behringer X32 on Amazon: amzn.to/35oCcyo

[@dconsmack]

“If you boost and sweep without hearing any real issues before you do, then just by the nature of exaggerating the frequency response you might find something you don’t like. But, if you didn’t hear that already before you did the boost and sweep, then it likely was fine to begin with. You only made it a problem area when you boosted that area, and presented that area out of context.“ This is a very well stated and valuable piece information. Gold.

[@DJENERGY210]

He should mention the audix mic's

[@DustInTheWindAZ]

I have a "soapbox" issue for ya! When you're switching the EQ off and on to do A/B comparisons, DON'T TALK OVER THE SWITCH! You're masking the difference in the comparison. Let it stand on its own! Say something like "EQ on" before and "EQ off" after (or vice-versa), so we can actually HEAR THE DIFFERENCE!

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

There's a 'no narration' version of the video that only has snare audio, mixer graphics/video, and text: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJqnf4mZZpx-kLs Same for kick with a 'no narration' supplemental version of it as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpaknnalmsqcqbM

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Besides doing the 'no narration' versions following the kick and snare videos as supplemental videos, I made some refinements in the editing and script style for the tom EQing video. And further, a few weeks ago bought new video editing software that makes text MUCH easier to add, and should make it flow and show up better too (both good for pacing and information), so for more recent demo videos like the bass guitar mixing video, I'm able to keep the flow going better, explain things via text in places, and have more of the audio source being demo'ed live. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH_EaJSsmLqIia8

[@HR2635]

some good info here... please dont only solo when eq'ing.. the mix is important!.. too much low-end in the snare will most likely mud up the drum mix :-) .. often the lowend in the snare will be a combination of snare mics and OH and even bleed to other mics.

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Good tip!

[@nilesabel7279]

You made that snare sound great. Love hearing it without EQ and then with. Such an incredible difference.

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Thanks!

[@VancouverMagic]

A friend of mine has the Behringer X16 (and an android tablet) and he does not have the mixer screens as shown on your videos (ie: @ 1:35) He mentioned that he has the latest update, but this is not the screen he has. I'm helping him run sound at a weekly event and would sure like to know how to get this screen on his mixer. Thank you in advance.

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

I'm using X-Air Edit on the PC. There's also a Mac version. Both available for free from Behringer's website. I also use Mixing Station on my Tablet but I don't believe I used it in this video. That said, the EQ sections are pretty similar between the two pieces of software. In this channel walk-thru video (link below) I use both X-Air Edit and Mixing Station (on an Android) so you can compare the GUI's and see how to get to get to where you need to go and what you'll see to accomplish some of the same things no matter whether on X-Air Edit or Mixing Station: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roHWhIOBa7d-sLc

[@VancouverMagic]

@@AlanHamiltonAudio I sent you an email with the photo of the screen we're getting (and would love to have the screen you have)

[@ralphdeonarine9133]

Just a suggestion Alan, switch on the RTA as soon as you start adjusting the HPF and EQ.

[@tobby917]

Being a beginner really good video. Would really like a continuation on the eqing series of drums with the compression and gates settings.

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Thanks! Good ideas and I'll definitely hit on those topics in some future videos.

[@michaelromero9427]

That is a program you can connect with your mixer via macbook?

[@revisethedream8406]

Where do you look to cut unwanted rimshots?

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

I'd probably look to notch 1k - 2k range.

[@revisethedream8406]

@@AlanHamiltonAudio thx!

[@3L3V3NDRUMS]

Awesome video! Helped me a lot man! 🤘🤘🤘

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Thanks! Glad it helped!

[@DavidOxford606]

Wow! Massive improvement!

[@kiddynamite3931]

Man thank you! If I get close to the sound you're getting ill be happy. You just taught me everything I know about frequency 😆

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Thanks!

[@John83118]

I'm addicted to this content. I read a book with similar content, and I'm absolutely hooked on it. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Leo Flint

[@michaelsampson7542]

Much great full

[@leehodgkiss15]

I'd love to see a video on setting levels. Not gain stage, actual levels (moving faders) for a live band Also how to stop bleed from different mics?

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

I keep planning a live soundcheck video, but keep running into roadblocks every time I try to do one. But it's definitely planned. Noise gates, and frequency selective gating, are the best way to mitigate bleed in the mics. I discuss it somewhat in the channel walk-thru video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roHWhIOBa7d-sLc

[@leehodgkiss15]

@@AlanHamiltonAudio I'd love to see a live sound check, once gain staging, eq, compression is done. What do you bring into the mix first, second etc and how should it sit in the mix ....

[@eddychinoda5826]

Smart

[@mattdamico1526]

Good info as always, Alan. Thank you.

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

My pleasure!😀

[@RonnieVDrums]

Hey I have a stupid question I got me a Behringer x32 producer board a while back and I'm wanting to eq my drums like you but how are you doing it on loop? Are your running a daw out from the board? If so could you possibly give me a quick run down on how you are doing it I'm fairly new at this but trying to learn as much as I can. Great Video by the way!

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

I used a sample of a snare that was natural (not already processed and EQ'ed). I used MIDI to play it from a keyboard so it had a bit of natural dynamics and random timing and not just consistently 1, 2, 3, 4... I copied several measures to extend it. I did all of that in the box on Reaper. I then rendered that as a wav file, copied it to my wav player, and input that into the XR18 from my wav player (with the track set to repeat)... And recorded that in real time with screen captures of my EQ work with Reaper. Then synced the audio with the video.

[@RonnieVDrums]

Oh okay gotcha thanks so much for the reply!!

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

@@RonnieVDrums No problem! I'm hoping to record a video from a live show sometime this summer and capture a live soundcheck in process. Especially drums. Unfortunately, the soonest and best one for that was canceled due to the pandemic... for year two now. :( It's not the kind of thing I want to do at just any show, since time, the acts, etc all matter and of course the actual event has to take precedence over the video stuff.

[@jeffreyEsoteric]

@@AlanHamiltonAudio If you look up the phrase "impossibly helpful" in the Miriam Webster dictionary, or any dictionary, you'll find a picture of Alan Hamilton. Look up the phrase "uncommonly patient," same thing, there's a pic of Alan. I could go on. Thank you Sir for the considerable education that you offer to us.

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

@@jeffreyEsoteric Thanks!

[@daviddurnill8243]

Once again some good information here

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!

[@TMPUNITY1]

Enjoyed your tutorials, is there a way to take the Xair audio mix through a USB connected to my android phone to do a FaceBook live video while using the Xair mix?

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

That's one I'm not sure about. I've had it on my 'to do list' to try and see if I can connect to an Android phone/tablet and make one of the Android DAWs work and see the XR.

[@femiogunyemi8215]

Great insight

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Thank you!

[@missepicmandy]

Thanks

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

You're welcome! 🙂

[@youthflash716]

Thanks

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Welcome

[@jeremiahaddo]

What was the software you were using ?

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

I've got the mixer in the video (XR18) connected via Behringer X-Air Edit for the examples.

[@williamsuggs2822]

It will all change when he gets on it

[@AlanHamiltonAudio]

Yeah, the drummer needs to hit the snare like he's going to be playing it. He can't lightly tap it for soundcheck and turn into Animal for the show. The soundperson can hopefully recognize when he/she might be getting sandbagged and nudge them to hit it like they are really playing. "Is that as hard as you'll be hitting it during the show?" That's one reason I like to make sure have the drummer gives me a full beat at some point before moving on, because they are more likely to play closer to normal when they are playing the full kit and going around the toms and throwing a crash or two in as well. Of course, the more professional/experienced the band/drummer, the better the chances they know how to soundcheck properly and quickly and you don't need any psychological tricks to get them to play/hit things at show dynamics.