eq settings for vocals

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:24 am

i'm using a yamaha EMX66M 600 watt powered mixer w/12in peaveys...4pc live (i'm not recording) rock band w/vocals only going through the mixer/pa. any rule of thumb as to eq settings on the graphic equalizer? (i.e. add some freq "X"/or cut on freq "y"). and what are the sweet fequencies to boost for fullness and the "in frontness" that vocals need? i have to sing AND run sound...it's really hard, cause i can't be in two places at once. oh, yeah...does anyone recommend using reverb/delay or not?

thanks

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:38 am

I am thinking in general.

I do you basic notching of the mids (from about after 300 to 1.3k) and then bring up the 'sweet spots" usually in the higher mids. This varies of course.

Then just do what the ears tell you.

tim...

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:50 pm

If you have a low cut, engage it. There's nothing usable for live sound down there in vocals.

If mids are too honkey, a gentle cut around 500-700 can help. If not, use that mid control to add a slight boost around 1.5-2.5k. If you can sweep the mid, give it a 6dB boost, sweep it around a bit to see where it sounds best, then adjust to taste. This'll help punch the vocal through.

Delay is really only necessary to time speakers in different positions. I wouldn't worry about it at this stage. Reverb can be nice, but is easy to overuse and muck up the mix with. Turn it up until you think it sounds good, then back it down a notch.

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:12 pm

Yeah , cut the cheese, er, low end and minimize the mud. I like a "tight" delay on the vocals (80-120msec) to give them a bit of a "boost" without increasing any gains or causing feedback. Sometimes this helps get the vocals over a "busy" band. And, what McCheese said....
Make sure that you have decent vocal mics, too...no Samsons, Nadys, that type of crap.

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:32 pm

With an SM 58, role off some low-end may be kick up 10kHz 2 DB and for heaven's sake, add some compression.

And yes, depending on the music you are doing add a little goopy stuff. Remember less is more.

Now you have the secret recipe.
Remy Ann David

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:07 pm

thanks for the input everybody...all i have to mess with on this is a 7 band graphic eq (125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k Hz) on the overall output and high, mid and low on each channel input.

any recommendations for a good, yet inexpensive (the lifelong quandry, i know) compressor unit i can use inline with the mixer?

oh, i'm using a SM58...great mic

just looking for some good ideas to get a decent sound for the bar gigs.

thanks
chad

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:08 am

There are sooo many compressors out there these days. In your particular situation, where you'll want it patched-in between the mixer outs and the power amp ins, you should probably look at a dbx 166 or 266. Stay away from the Alesis and Behringer units. And whatever you get, make sure that there is a 'Threshold' control and 'Output' control. You don't want the box to squash all your dynamics every time something like a kick drum hits it (if you are micing-up the kick, for example).Raising the Threshold level will prevent this from being a problem.You have to be very careful when you use a single compressor on a full live mix. It can do more harm than good if you don't set it properly. But it can also keep the mix from blowing up your speakers.

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