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I mix mostly hard rock and metal songs. I do a lot to make sure that each part is clear and has its own place in the mix. When I get down to the finished mix I use an EQ analyzer just out of curiosity. The low end seems to pump +10-20dB above everything else and the high end seems to be almost nonexistent.

Now don't get me wrong, all sounds good, the kick kicks and the highs shimmer and the guitars are more or less clear and audible. It just doesn't make sense why the mix would be so bottom heavy.

Is this normal for a metal mix?

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jg49 Sun, 08/23/2009 - 09:38

Gee, I was just thinking yesterday we had not heard from you in while, maybe I just missed your other posts. What is in your mix that would be in the upper range, cymbals? Piano? Vocals? If its just cymbals there is not much there in comparison to a distorted guitar signal or bass, bass drum so I would not think that it would be unusual.

Guitarfreak Sun, 08/23/2009 - 10:00

I had a friend visit from out of state so I have been with him the past few days. And now between my night job and my business that I am trying to jumpstart, I haven't had much time to post. I have been watching a few threads lately, but I didn't think I had anything to add that hadn't already been said. Thanks for noticing I hadn't been around though :D It's almost like you missed me 8)

You are right, there isn't much in the high end save for cymbal. I haven't added vocals to many of my projects but the ones that do have vocals seem to have less of the high end drop off that I am referring to. What do you think of the kick thing though? When the kick is balanced in the mix it looks hugely disproportional to the rest of the EQ curve. I know you mix with your ears not your eyes but it looks goofy to me.

Codemonkey Sun, 08/23/2009 - 10:12

Get a graphic EQ (or parametric with a fat width).
Either way, put a V shaped curve on it. Maybe 3 octaves wide, centred around 600Hz. Now, cut as much off as you can with the plugin. Then close your eyes and drag it up until it works. Take it a little further, then pull back again. Then open your eyes. The closer it is to +0dB, the better your EQ was to begin with.

You can try the same with a low shelf, or with a 1-octave at 200Hz, or ...

But really if everything is clear and has punch and clarity, you should be good. You could always get a single great track mastered professionally, then analyse what was done to it, EQ wise.