What tools do I need to equalize properly?

[astrozombie]

im working on a song i got back from the studio people, they compressed it to death, and it sounds muddy.

i was wondering what I could use to EQ it, and what I could use as a visualizer to see the different bands.

I only have audacity installed here.

[Kosh Naranek]

Steinberg Wavelab Essential. I think it's around $100.

You did keep a copy of hte original song before you sent it out to get compressed to death right?

[Kosh Naranek]

How did you originally record the song? On audacity? I'm not familiar with audacity. Is it studio software?
If you used some kind of recording software, it probably has an EQ that you could process the file of your song with.

[J Moose]

Pressed on time...

To equalize "properly" (never heard THAT one!) you'd need a really good EQ and some monitors that you know very well, in a room that's had a modicum of thought put into acoustic treatment.

And you know... you've gotta listen & have an idea of where to take it.

Can't EQ by eye... music is NOT visual.

If it's over compressed then no amount of EQ will help...

It'll turn to dust.

It's a service industry, if you aren't happy then open a dialogue... tell them you aren't happy, why you aren't happy... how it could be better... and have 'em do it again.

If you want to look at the freq. response then you'll need a spectrum analyzer. You can find hardware ones & software... I don't know if there are any freeware ones out there... I'm sure there must be.

[astrozombie]

Actually, I didnt send it out.

It was recorded live in the studio (this particular track)

its the only song i recorded with them.

I'm satisfied now, i took the track, which sounded like it was mono, and copied it, I then took both copies of the track and placed them left and right, it sounded better, i dont know how to describe it. It sounded fuller.

then I boosted every frecuency from the mid mids to the highest highs a little, and now it shines. I also did some overdubs...


My problems over.

thanks for the suggestions, you guys are right about the compression, and I did tell the engineer I didnt like how it was sounding. he had said ok, tell me what youre going for. after discussing it and showing him some tracks that had the tone i liked... he seemed to do whatever he thought necesary... which as you can tell wasnt what i wanted.

but i did alright.

[That90'sGuy]

Pressed on time...

To equalize "properly" (never heard THAT one!) you'd need a really good EQ and some monitors that you know very well, in a room that's had a modicum of thought put into acoustic treatment.

And you know... you've gotta listen & have an idea of where to take it.

Can't EQ by eye... music is NOT visual.

If it's over compressed then no amount of EQ will help...

It'll turn to dust.

It's a service industry, if you aren't happy then open a dialogue... tell them you aren't happy, why you aren't happy... how it could be better... and have 'em do it again.

If you want to look at the freq. response then you'll need a spectrum analyzer. You can find hardware ones & software... I don't know if there are any freeware ones out there... I'm sure there must be.

Great advice, but I wouldn't expect any less from a professional in the industry

From the little I've been goofing around, I'm falling in love with the spectrum analyzers. It's kinda cool seeing what's going on and it helps kinda point me in the right direction as to what frequencies to bring down and what to boost to make it cut in the mix.

[J Moose]

Great advice, but I wouldn't expect any less from a professional in the industry

HAHAHA

Oh dear...

I really sorta hate the word 'professional' because, without fail, it seems like anytime anybody says... "Don't worry... I'm a professional" thats when it all goes hell in a basket!

hahaha

Spectrum analyzers are great tools... but I don't rely on them. I rely on the ears... which hear what the monitors put out, which are colored by the room.

Spectrum analyzers are useful for pin-pointing specific 'problems' and reinforcing what I'm hearing, especially with low-end. Is that lump at 140Hz or 190Hz? All my ears hear is a low-mid lump...

I totally forgot about this... but there's a really good free plug-in analyzer from RND, a lite version of the full deal. Great piece of kit... I use it a fair amount. Runs on just about all platforms...

http://www.rndigital.org/inspector.html