EQ Vocals 101: Fix and Mix

Setting EQ vocals is easy if you know what you’re doing.  Before I get to the “how” part, let’s look at the “why.“  It’s important to know why you are EQ’ing a singer.

Vocals are EQ’ed for three primary reasons:

1. to correct problem frequencies
2. to add an effect, like a chipmunk voice, so the voice sound is noticeably different.
3. to place the vocal in the mix for the best fit, a.k.a “where it best sits in the mix.”

EQ’ing for those reasons should result in a sound that is better (or a better fit) than the original sound.

As a warning, do not EQ a singer’s voice so the sound produced sounds like it doesn’t belong to that person.  This is distracting to the audience.  The exception here would be perhaps a dramatic performance where you are adding effects to a speaking voice, such as changing someone’s voice to sound like a chipmunk.  Hmmm…I’m not sure if “dramatic performance” and “chipmunk” have ever been used in the same sentence.

Correcting Problem Frequencies

First, let’s identify common vocal frequencies.  Vocal frequencies range from about 75 Hz to 1100 Hz.  This is the low end bass to the high soprano.  Here is the breakdown, in Hertz, based on approximate frequencies;

• Bass: 75-300
• Baritone: 100-400
• Tenor: 135-500
• Alto: 180-700
• Soprano: 250-1100

These ranges do not imply frequencies above the upper limit are not used.  Harmonics are present well above these listed frequencies and can be present as high as 8-10 kHz.  Harmonics are produced from waves combining at different frequencies and amplitudes when a sound is created.  Therefore, a soprano singer could have frequencies cut out completely above the 1100 Hz mark but the sound will not be natural.

Correcting problem frequencies might need to occur because of a nasally sound, a muddy sound, the popping P’s and T’s, or a flat (dull) sound.

Reduce a nasally sound by cutting a few dB’s around the 1 kHz mark.  You might need to sweep the mid-range EQ to find the best point in which to apply the cut.  The muddy sound as well as the popping P’s and T’s can be reduced by applying a HPF and cutting out the low frequencies below 80 Hz.  The average vocal fundamental frequencies are much higher (125 Hz) so cutting at 80 Hz does not cost a performance hit.   If you want to “increase the presence“ of the vocalist, boost the frequency in the 4 kHz to 6 kHz range.  This is where those harmonics are important.

There is an option with some mixers to bypass the EQ settings.  If you have this option, use it to see how different your EQ’ed vocal sounds versus the original sound.  Sometimes it’s best to start EQ’ing from scratch if you have gone too far from the original sound.  While the mixer I use does not have that option, I will occasionally reset my EQ knobs when I feel my final EQ sound hasn’t improved the original sound.

Cut Narrow, Booth Wide

Regarding those problem frequencies, the rule is cut narrow and boost wide.  Surgeons cut out the least amount of tissue possible when removing any abnormalities in the human body.  Likewise, when removing problem frequencies, you want to remove only those that are bad.  By removing too much of a frequency range, the “operation” becomes quite noticeable to the human ear.  At it relates to boosts, it’s best to boost a wide range of close frequencies so the listener doesn’t hear a noticeable difference in frequency changes.  However, some of this work is limited to the type of mixer in use.

Adding Effects

EQ’ing can be done for adding effects.  This either can be done by setting the EQ to create the effect or use the effects options that are built into the mixer.  For now, if you are new to effects, test out the predefined effects on your mixer during a rehearsal.  Give your worship leader the chipmunk voice….just don’t tell him it was my idea.

Reverb is a common effect that can help with a pitchy voice or give some presence and depth to an otherwise simple sound.

Best Fit In The Mix

EQ’ing a vocalist so they sit in the mix in the right location is probably the hardest part of mixing.  Every genre of music can have its own generic EQ styling’s with differences then from one song to the next.

The best advice I’ve heard regarding this part of the EQ process is to find out what songs the worship team will be performing for the next service, then listen to the songs as performed by professionals (Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Hillsong, etc) and listen how the different instruments and vocals are EQ’ed and set in the mix.

When it’s time for rehearsal, try applying similar EQ settings (and volume settings) to match that style.  For example, cut in the 3 kHz to 4 kHz range on background vocals and increase the same area on the lead vocal to separate out the two.  You can also increase at the 10 kHz to brighten the vocals.

Finally, never set your EQ levels the same from week to week.  While they can be close to the same for the singer, the fact is they are different from week to week depending on the condition of the singers voice and the needs of the songs and setup of the band.

One Last Bit of Advice

The greatest mixing tool you have is your ears.  The frequency adjustments I have listed are all a good starting place but they aren’t the perfect solution.  When applying any type of EQ to vocals, let your ears be the deciding factor, not the EQ settings.

Check out the Vocal Microphone and Vocal EQ Resource Page!

JOIN MY TECH TEAM

Like what you've just read? If you do, please join over 3,700 fellow church techs who have downloaded my FREE 23-page ebook, How to Get a Great Drum Sound, and currently receive my regular pro tips, notes on new gear, as well as other great stuff in my newsletter! Simply enter your email below:

Subscribe with confidence.