DJ FADE wrote: im very much a beginner, and recording music is just a hobby. i'm a businessman, but when i have some extra time i love to research audio engineering and practice in a small home studio i set up.

i know that eq'ing is a very very important part of mastering, but i have no idea how to do it. is there a website somewhere that says the basic frequencies to make different instruments sound the best? or do you just kind of have to do it by ear? does anyone have any tips? anything would be great. thanks a lot.

What you are asking could take most of the rest of the week to answer and one could generate a ream of paper on the subject if it was all set down in print. Suggest getting Bob Katz's excellent book on mastering and reading it cover to cover. Here is the web address for Mr. Katz where you can order the book. http://www.digido.com. If you have some specific question after reading the book I am sure someone here would be more than happy to help.

Hope this helps.

Thomas W. Bethel wrote: If you have some specific question after reading the book I am sure someone here would be more than happy to help

8-)

learning is a great thing.
Do a search for a program called Studio Buddy. It gives you a good idea where the various instruments fall into the audio spectrum.
My advice to learning anything (including mastering) is to ask as many questions as you can. Don't be afraid to ask the stupid questions. You might get flamed by some but there is always somebody who will help. I'd like to think that I fall into the latter catagory.
Good luck!

thanks paul! i completely agree with you. its hard when i want to learn and dont exactly get the kindness that you showed to me from others. it makes it a little difficult to be willing to ask questions, even if they do seem foolish. i appreciate your willingness to help and your patience with a beginner that wants to learn! and i checked out studio buddy, it looks like it can help me out a lot. thanks again.

We all would like to help whenever we can. There is a ton of info right here in this forum. Just spend one hour a day and plow through it. Most of your questions will be answered as well as some you didn't know to ask.

We all had to start somewhere. I was very fortunate to have some really good teachers as I was learning audio. I also did a lot of independent research and reading to supplement what I was being taught. This forum is a great way to learn a lot about audio in a very short time. The forums are searchable and you can learn much just from reading about what others have asked. If you pose a question that is specific many people will respond with a lot of really good answers. I would only suggest that you do your homework and look at what else has been written on the subject here in this forum before asking a "general" question. Simply typing in EQ in to the search box will get you answers to some of the questions you are asking. There are also a lot of good resources on the web and since you are new to this whole subject a good search of the WWW would be a good place to start. When I was learning audio back in the '60s we did not have the internet and questions about audio would have to be answered by reading a book or by asking someone in the profession. Bob Katz's book is a very good resource and I would seriously suggest that you get a copy and read it cover to cover as a lot of your questions will be answered. If you have specific questions then I am sure you will get a lot of good answers from members of this forum.

-TOM-

DJ FADE wrote: im very much a beginner, and recording music is just a hobby. i'm a businessman, but when i have some extra time i love to research audio engineering and practice in a small home studio i set up.

i know that eq'ing is a very very important part of mastering, but i have no idea how to do it. is there a website somewhere that says the basic frequencies to make different instruments sound the best? or do you just kind of have to do it by ear? does anyone have any tips? anything would be great. thanks a lot.

In my opinion,when you lay the track down is when you have to have a good EQ (flat response)not to much,not to little,it makes it alot easier.
As far playing it by ear,a good set of near field moniters (flat response) or a good set of phones always is a good thing.