Octave ranges

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BloodyFingers
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Octave ranges

Post by BloodyFingers »

I ran across this article on recording octaves and thought maybe all you home recorders like me could use this. This some good info for the beginers and everyday user's.
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Octave 1 - 20Hz-40Hz - Center 32Hz - (31.5, 31.25, 31)

Description: Chest, Sub-bass, Rumble, Thump

Benefits: all extremely low-frequency instruments (kick,bass, organ) that need a feel of power added.

Caution: causes rumble (cool for FX - post production)
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Octave 2 - 40Hz-80Hz - Center 64Hz (63.5, 63)

Description: Bass, Full/Fat/Round Bass.

Benefits: all low-frequency instruments (kick, bass, etc.) that need more fulness.

Caution: only add to ONE instrument, otherwise you will lose the definition in the low end.
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Octave 3 - 80Hz-160Hz - Center 125Hz

Description: Full, Fat, Body, Boomy

Benefits: Piano, Low Strings, Floor tom, Snare drum Low male vox (around 100)

Caution: cut on kick drum, bass guitar (boomy)
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Octave 4 - 160Hz-320Hz - Center 250Hz
Description: muddy, muffled, ****

Benefits: all mid-range instruments (including vocals) that require some warmth and natural feel to the sound

Caution: use on fewer instruments in the mix, in order to keep the definition.
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Octave 5 - 320Hz-640Hz - Center 500Hz

Description: horn-like, boxy, honky, tubey, raspy

Benefits: when cut, it will make things sound more transparent.

Attack (raspy) bass guitar.
Horns (lower brass)
- Megaphone/TV effect
- Honky-tonk piano

Caution: kick/snare drums sound BOXY when there is too much 500Hz
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Octave 6 - 640Hz-1.25kHz - Center 1kHz (actual center of the frequency spectrum. 1kHz is often used as the reference frequency when doing psycho-acoustic measurements)

Description: Aggressive, Attack, Distortion, Nasal

Benefits: Distorted guitar, snare, anything that
needs more aggressive feel to it. (Screaming low vocals)
- Telephone effect

Caution: higher pitch vocals - nasal sound
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Octave 7 - 1.25kHz - 2.5kHz - Center 2kHz

Description: Crunchy, Gritty, Noisy, Grainy

Benefits - Background instruments, including BG Vox. (synths, strings, etc.)

Caution: too much of 2kHz will reduce the smoothness of a sound.
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Octave 8 - 2.5kHz - 5kHz - Center 4kHz (Human Speech Recognition)

Description: Sharp, Edgy, Presence, Definition, "ouch"

Benefits: Lead VOCALS and soloing instruments.

Caution: too much can cause listener's fatigue
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Octave 9 - 5kHz - 10kHz - Center 8kHz

Description: Metallic, Brilliant, Sizzling, Sibilance

Benefits: all instruments with metallic parts (cymbals, hats), shakers, snare bottom, etc., sax and trumpet

Caution: causes sibilance in vocals (extremely sharp S and T sounds). String noise.
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Octave 10 - 10kHz - 20kHz - Center 16kHz

Description: Bright, Airy, Open, Hissy

Benefits: all acoustic instruments, creates a feeling of openness and air.

Caution: tape (analog) hiss. Careful with samples that were taken from vinyl/tape
KeithReynolds
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Post by KeithReynolds »

I have a really cool EQ chart thats similar to this.
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Killjingle
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Post by Killjingle »

yeah me too. One thing I have learned is that apply a high pass on the low tuned guitars below anywhere between 100 - 80 hz and they will really sit better in the mix. They will really come alive with the bass rounding out 80hz
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