Subtractive EQ for Clarity - Acoustic Guitar EQ

Special thanks to Luchito for letting me use the stems in this tutorial. If you liked the guitar you can hear the full song here:
• Luchito Carrera - Godd...
In this video we demonstrate a method of removing unwanted resonances, boomy frequencies and mud from a recording by using only subtractive EQ.
This method can also be used with Dynamic EQ or a linear phase EQ for a more trasparent result, but regular EQ works great too.
As with all techniques, let your ears guide you and don't be afraid to try something new :)
We show this on some acoustic guitar. When they start layering up, some frequencies fight with the mix and compete with the other elements in the mix (piano and strings). After listening in my speakers, I'd say that I probably pushed this technique a little too far and the result may have been a little thin for some folks liking, but that's why we check on different systems! It's all part of the fun.
For a full FL Parametric EQ 2 Tutorial. follow this link - • The Best Way To Use Fr...

[@Karthikeyan-er7hn]

never stop ur work !!! i'm growing with ur teachings !!!

[@studioaawaj6511]

TRAP TAMIZHAN

[@Karthikeyan-er7hn]

Asif Shariar Asif !!!

[@lincelukose4683]

Same here

[@KipNasty27]

So true

[@JPBofficial]

Really interesting to see which parts you pick for the subtraction. I normally loose my mind after 20 minutes and start hearing weird noises everywhere haha.

[@inthemix]

JPB Regular breaks are needed, sometimes I listen back and realise I've removed something important. It's good to go in with an aim and then you cant go too wrong 😀

[@MicroDotTV]

absolutely!!! take breaks, it does wonders! These guys know what they're talking about!

[@drexflea52]

Hey Michael, I'm 19 and I'm learning a lot from you bro. You literally have no idea about how much I've learnt from you. Thank you bro.

[@devavratdubale5301]

Wow! Got no other thing to say but just how good it sounds when processed.

[@inthemix]

DD's Music Thank you!

[@ameltk]

Once, I used to think that I'd never be able to do these stuffs. Had no idea how n what to do. But thanks to you! I'm 10× better than what I used to be. 😌❤️

[@gustavosalmeron2013]

You are a producer angel. Thank you so much for your effort to help other producers!

[@IzanSoria]

Firstly: THANKS, love your videos, they are the most useful thing I've found on youtube about this matter. I would love to listen a long video like this one but with the whole process!

[@blazbone31]

It's called Search and Destroy...My mentor taught me :D

[@bisonalizer8918]

Your job is awesome! You are really growing us as aspiring producers. Keep it up

[@Epileptick0]

That was such a great explanation. You're not annoying and full of ego like most of these guys. Keep up the good work.

[@thetrvth2245]

Quick, precise, no over explanation... Nice

[@Windklang705]

This is fabulous! Thank you, Mike - great hints for my future projects

[@Jaydogg521]

Good work man, you explained everything so well and easier to understand 💯🙏🏽

[@VIGILANTEmusic]

You guys are awesome! 🤗 Keep up the good work and im w8 for your album😀

[@alphalion1279]

Dang! I learnt something new that was really important and awesome. Thanks a lot teacher! I'm not only a subscriber but also a student to you now!

[@derekfromtauranga6012]

Great tutorial. Good tip about sweeping the bands with a narrow point. 😀

[@xavierpelletier2622]

I find it easy to listen to your video. You teach well! Thank you...

[@wasaththedev]

Finally i found the greatest Guitar EQ tutorial in the universe 👍👍

[@conny15games71]

Another amazing video! Thank you for helping me and everybody else! Keep it up guys!!! :D

[@TheAngelOlguin]

Dude honestly I'm a much better producer than before because of your tutorials. Please keep it up brother!

[@quentin_lgrd]

Professional and straight to the point, thank you

[@MrMrDeeCee]

Perfect 👍🏼 I think I’ve found my favourite teacher

[@ternitamas]

wow the difference is amazing! great job!

[@KaraokeAcusticoBrMoises]

Eu amo esse Canal!!

[@sabboumusicc]

Thank you so much excellent video as usual !!!!

[@angeljohanngarcia]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks!

[@DJZ1O]

Learned a lot from this video. Thanks!

[@SakarSubedi]

Just what I was looking for !!! Thanks a lot !

[@Table-Top]

this is a great technique I never knew this method. thanks.

[@zeerohff]

Wow that was nice guitar playing to listen too!

[@philipdonovan5127]

You were able to show a mistake that I've been making while using this approach on acoustic guitar. I was sweeping with huge gain (+12, +18dB) so as you stated, "everything" sounded odd! I see now that should only 6 or so dB be boosted then just the more extreme resonances and problem frequencies be discovered. I'm looking forward to getting home to Reaper and my acoustic guitar with new Line Audio CM4 and make another go of it. I've also been working to see what extreme EQ will work best for close miced acoustic in the event of playing live and wanting as much gin before feedback as possible. Thanks, very good video.

[@ronbynum7304]

Nice tips. Subtractive EQ definitely has an effect on “less-than optimally-tracked” instruments or vox. Good rudimentary mic techniques can eliminate the need to fix things later.

[@DavidDorenfeld]

GREAT tutorial thanks!

[@apexwar936]

Thanks for this tutorial

[@bigeddie1669]

“It lets the guitar shine…” ✨

[@serenadesounds_]

Thanks for this! 🙏

[@philipdonovan6510]

Well done and instructive video, this kind of thing is very valuable for a numbskull like me that is often forces to record in small hard paralleled wall rooms. You keep the mics close to capture as much direct acoustic guitar sounds as possible and minimize the terrible room reflection but then end up with a low end mess. And yes, the frequencies that you targeted here just happen to be a couple of the greatest offenders I deal with on my Martin GPC16 rosewood. Those are odd guitars and desperately need 150, 175, 220, 310, 410 Hz addressed or you have a muddy, boxy, woofy mess on your hands - unlistenable really, but, with alot of very diligent subtractive EQ approaches you can get a reasonably decent final guitar freq balance. I've nearly become an "EQ surgeon" first and performer 2nd. This video was a great fine tuning to what I already was aware of so, I'm grateful for the added confidence and techniques garnered from this vid. Thank you so much! Now time to go home and do some acoustic guitar recording in my 14' x 14" hard walled bedroom!

Great Channel man, got a new sub. Thanks a lot!

[@qiqa2433]

Thanks as always :)

[@1ksubswithoutuploadingchal658]

That one guy rotated his phone 180 degree and liked again.

[@EricLund]

Great Video!

[@unplanned8873]

I want to thank you lot I'm really getting better now .. Your words are really true thank you so much

[@travismiddlebrook6754]

Great info thank you !!

[@sherifistyle8201]

great artist you rock

[@mannysinghsingercomposer3]

Thanks man🙏💕

[@guitarofdestiny]

Very helpful. I've heard the term "subtractive eq" before but now I totally get it. Thanks man

[@inuinuchi]

its really nyc.....love you ## in the mix

[@SaintGabriel111]

Thank you!

[@sagarsarkar5130]

Thank you 🙏

[@tjtebbs9221]

My God those guitars sound good.. haha I went to reach for the timeline to start the track again so I could truly enjoy it through repetition..

[@mihovil5806]

Amazing

[@stormcorrosion176]

Thank you bro!!

[@rizkiauliarahman8340]

this guy must be subscribed. i learn a lot.. 👍

[@nicholasindalecio8211]

Good vid!

[@vlogswithankitnayakvlogs]

Thanks

[@ryashock]

Can't thank you enough for this! I'm using the Ample Guitar VST, and it tends to build up these low mid tones of the player hitting the body of the guitar when multiple notes trigger. These techniques helped me minimize them, and overall level out it's sound. Which now allows for percussion and other instruments to fit in naturally! For those of you also using Ample, I high passed at 95hz, with some of the eq tail hitting 50hz. Then I ducked 189hz 10db. (I used pro q 2, but should still work in paramateric) Hope this helps! :)

[@ryusbubbles5236]

Use Electri6ity lol i used to use Ample too but it's just that Electri6ity is much much better

[@lukas_432hz]

amazing

[@mouktik29]

Can you do a Music theory tutorial? Love the way you explain everything! Love from India! ❤️️

[@todorimsir1498]

5:14 Oh wow xD

[@deadmenwalking3013]

Nice vid bud.

[@kettukollagesanthose3762]

Great work. Much appreciated & very helpful, useful. Can you please give us more tutorials on using fl studio 12?

[@honeste6652]

Hey. Like the channel. Keep up the good work! How did you tighten up the EQ? It looks like you used a hotkey or macro. I can do it, but only with the menus. Oh I see, it's the middle button left or right. Neat!

[@DannSmely]

I love the trick where your headphones just magically disappeared from ur head at the end 😂😂

[@yasintonge823]

very useful video for noobs like me. thank you so much man. i even dont have a mic and i am trying to do stuff (with smartphone mic xD) your videos are very helping.

[@Straw_Hat_Leon]

First I just want to say that I love your videos! The styles of music in your examples are wildly different to the music I make but the videos are still extremely helpful and informative. I'm having some huge problems though. I'm a complete beginner with all of this, and when EQing I can hear the sounds changing but can't necessarily pinpoint what sounds good or what sounds bad. For example, in this video when you determine each point to apply the subtractive EQ, I can hear how the sound is different, but not why that particular frequency needs changing, rather than any other frequency. I don't know if I managed to properly explain the issue I have, but I was wondering if you have any advice for me. Anyway, keep up the amazing videos!

[@TheKilodaneko]

I know this comment is old, but I thought I'd respond in case someone else has this issue or if you still do. The sounds you're looking for while sweeping frequencies will be really intense, and uncomfortably powerful resonances. They sound like someone added a ton of reverb to a single part of the audio and turned it up all the way. Sometimes it will audibly not sound like the note being played either, almost like a feedback sound from a microphone. In other cases it will still have the same audible note, but it will be incredibly loud relative to the rest of the frequencies. The best way to learn is to just go in and try a few frequencies that might seem different or off putting and see if dipping them about 5db makes a positive or negative impact. I hope this helps someone out there!

[@herz5irie]

Love you

[@davidjeremiahmalazarte7572]

Thanks man...

[@SAZIZMUSIC]

Thank you :-)

[@surajsingh-uu7fe]

Super....❤❤

[@jimmyrichards2909]

Wow, that’s amazing how you can make your headphones disappear like that.

[@jsalhia]

I like to do these kind of things.

[@reasons4171]

thanks for this! but can you guys show us how to make guitar recordings more quantized and fit better into the beat? I'm finding it difficult to get the timing right no matter how many times I try I can't make it perfect. is there any technique that would help? or is it that you just have to be a really good guitar player?

[@xanfow5706]

Hey, thanks for this video, actually I am primarily a guitar player and I hope this things'll help next time I record samples.

[@DannaJo]

every question I have u got it. lmao thank u

[@confusedsapien]

Uploaded 18 hours ago... No dislikes yet... This' really satisfying...

[@dragtr0n]

will it work for electric guitars with stock pickup too.?? coz my stock pickups are a bit muddy its an ibanez 370.. if u have any tips for me

[@AizenIPlannedIt]

could you make a tutorial on your song writing process, like writing lyrics and hooks?

[@Ashish-se6bt]

Plzz explain how to use virtual mix rack

[@ganaorganador]

GREAT VIDEO. A doubt came to me, random doubt: Which video monitor are you using? I've seen some guys are starting to get ultrawide to work in a DAW but in terms of workflow I don't know if it's too much real state in a display for a DAW. And yours seems just what it could be needed. Thanks man- I'me learning a lot from you!!

[@mgmg116]

Dude if you can afford an ultrawide, GET IT. You would never be able to go back. You get SO much more screen real estate, it makes bouncing from one plugin to another and back SO easy and it feels so wide and open an uncluttered.

[@ameyatalwalkar1420]

Can you please do a video on compression!!

[@migats2160]

You can also use a dynamic eq

[@moe6261]

hey, so I've always searched about how to make a sounds better and clearer and just more pro and they always start with EQ like i watched hundreds of tutorials and its always about EQ my question is (is there any other method that could improve ur mix or just the clarity of ur sound other than EQ to make it sound more pro in general ????) love ur videos BTW🤗🤗

[@oblivion1501]

Nice ! how do you solo a whole particular track group ?

[@ianwilson6354]

Is quieting the sound of the squeaky strings a matter of touch only or can it be solved by eq to some degree and if so what frequency should be cut a little bit

[@wildcathawkins]

Dupe the track, blow up the zoom and drag it over a touch if it gets too thin. Just what works for me.

[@ole9917]

Is the quality of your headphone amplifier good enough to do for example mixing and mastering with it? I want louder sounds coming out of my headphones. (I’m using Beyerdynamic dt770 pro 80 ohms)

[@inthemix]

I would say so, there is a small amount of hiss at medium high gain but it's never been a problem. On one of my amps, the output beside the power cable is quite noisy but i think it's a one off fault and I'm sure they are not all like that. As far as the depth, clarity, width etc none of that is negatively affected as far as i can hear in my 1990 pros :)

[@malavshah3959]

Hey Mike could you make a video for compression

[@Thruftinger]

Around 3:20. How to make that third factor more narrow, I saw you use some shortkeys, but I couldn't tell what to do there.

[@hifijohn]

the lowest note on an acoustic guitar in standard tuning is 82hz, so you can automatically cut off anything below that.

[@jeromepenanoh9061]

Mike, what is the difference between panning and stereo separation in mixing?

[@emf2482]

how loud do you mix? like the level of your headphones. Been experiencing some sharp ear pain lately

[@alexandrebanks]

Hey.... How do you do these two "panels" in the playlist? One raw and the other one edited?

[@AT-ly7ud]

Please make a video on how to use virtual mix pack plugin , it is confusing

[@MichaelTimbangOfficial]

I finally hear after I bought a new headphone

[@K-Luxuriant]

Also how is MAGIX Music Maker 2020 for Music Production? Your views?

[@minangmelodi614]

Halo man i have problem mixing and mastering guitar klasik nilon . can u make the tutorial. Thaks😁

[@trippynation8481]

Can you do a video on mastering... Please

[@janberentsen9890]

2:19 you know thers an option in that eq that makes you 'not see' the sound?

[@avion_]

Do this technique is for recordings or it also applies to syths also?

[@longchank0]

i hear that my left have some pick guitar sound and my right have some fingered guitar sound,,, and it's nice,,, anyone know how to do it?