Innovative tricks (but not so much) to quickly reach the right Vocal EQ settings for male vocals by our hip hop professional mixing and mastering team.
If you find yourself here, you’re likely a singer or a producer searching for quick and effective tips to enhance the sound of your male vocals. Let’s skip the lengthy introductions and dive straight into what matters – the stuff I despise in blog entries.
Male vocal timbres vary, and the key to find the right vocal EQ settings for male vocals is to address problems right from the start. Grab a parametric EQ, create a narrow bell (or “notch”), and use it to seek out problematic frequencies and resonances. How? Boost that bell up and move it around the vocals. When you hit that point where the sound is irritatingly loud, that COULD BE (not necessarily) a problematic resonance. Now, do the opposite – reduce that frequency range (try widening the bell for a more musical touch or narrowing it for a more surgical intervention that can sometimes feel unnatural).
A list of the most problematic vocal EQ frequencies to check: 200Hz – 500Hz – 1000Hz – 2000Hz – 3000Hz. Around these frequencies, you might encounter numerous awful resonances. To eliminate unwanted noises, set a high-pass filter cutting under 100Hz. Maybe even 120-140Hz, depending on the voice. If it’s deeper, cut less; if it’s thinner, cut more.
Every voice is different; listen carefully to what really annoys you in the unprocessed vocals.
Some Fire.
Now it’s time to add some warmth and character to the vocals. After cutting under 100Hz, boost with a color EQ (I recommend Acustica Audio plugins for this task; truly impressive!) something in that area you just cut under 100Hz (it sounds strange, but you’ll hear it!). Some vocal EQ frequencies for warmth to check in that area for a boost: 40Hz, 80Hz. Alternatively, a low-frequency shelf under 100Hz can also do the trick.
Fresh Air.
Now, let’s introduce some “air.” Always with a color EQ, preferably one with high frequencies not found everywhere (like JADE by Acustica Audio with 34kHz and 40kHz!!), boost the very high frequencies to give that crispy but not annoying feel. Sometimes, a shelf from 18kHz works well; other times, you might need to start above, at 25kHz, 34kHz, or even 40kHz. After that, use a cut (the same JADE has a low pass cut after the EQ section) after 21 or even 18 kHz. Never use a “wall,” a hard cut; always use a gentle curve.
Hint: The JADE equalizer by Acustica Audio incorporates innovative technologies, providing exceptional audio enhancement.
Hope you found this quick guide useful! If you need more assistance or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. For more detailed assistance with your song, please refer to our services page!
